h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Bob, for some reason this entry is all over the page - it could just be my skin, but I don't know what's wrong. It's a bit late for me to be reading such serious work, so I'll leave this one 'til tomorrow if that's ok with you.

Fizzy, what skin do you use? What browser do you use?

Ok this end Fizzy composed in Brunel

Gnomon, those are technical questions which I am not qualified to answer.

I have a computer, my skin is classic goo and my browser is - I don't even know what a browser is, but I did an update the other day to internet explorer 7, which may or may not be my browser

Internet Explorer 7 is your browser.

I'm afraid I know nothing of the workings of computers, televisions, telephones, aeroplanes or anything smart like that. If it works I generally don't bother it.

When I went into this entry it was spread out all over the computer screen, and classic goo is hard enough to read without that.

It looks OK to me, even in Classic Goo.

Rather than detract from Bob's hard work, I have left you a message on your PS - somethings not working.

Fizzy did it happen after your first view of the entry or was it always like it.

If it happened half way through turn off the PC and re start it may cure it.

Thanks Bob, may have to do that.

Let us know if it works.

Just have to finish this downloading first.

Ok we can wait

I've had a quick glance at the content of this, now it's been subbed by Alex.

What's a barrow? You should say in the very first section. I don't know what a barrow is. The whole subject is confusing to me and isn't made any clearer by this entry:

1. I know from other entries that Maes Howe in the Orkneys dates from 3000 BC, the Neolithic, and is a passage/chamber tomb.

2. You say in the first sentence that the barrow age started in 2500 BC on the British mainland. I conclude from this that Maes Howe is not a barrow.

3. You say burial mounds can be chamber tombs, cairns or barrows. I conclude from this that a barrow is a different thing from a chamber tomb.

4. You then say that barrows have developed into a number of different forms including chamber tombs.

Now I'm lost!

And I see down at the bottom that barrows were built from 5,000 BC onward.

Ah - you've posted here

The whole what's what thing is making my head hurt and I haven't quite got the coherency thing sorted out I'll see what I can do.

Hi Gnomon

What's a barrow? You should say in the very first section. I don't know what a barrow is. The whole subject is confusing to me and isn't made any clearer by this entry:
A: Yes good point do you mean an elaborated dictionary type definition in the introduction.
Though I thought this covered it...
Though the first long barrows1 first appeared some time after 5,000 BC, the construction of round barrows began on the British mainland c. 2500 BC with the first major barrow builders, the Neolithic Beaker People2. The construction of barrows continued into the late Bronze Age with some examples from the Iron Age, with a lull during the Roman period followed by a final flourish during the Viking age. Burial mounds can be found in a variety of forms including cairns and barrows, both of which cover a burial tomb hidden underneath. A barrow is a mound of earth used to cover a tomb, and so the term is often interchangeable with burial mound and tumulus. On the other hand, a cairn consisted of a pile of rocks laid atop the grave or tomb. During their long history, barrows have developed into various forms including:


1. I know from other entries that Maes Howe in the Orkneys dates from 3000 BC, the Neolithic, and is a passage/chamber tomb.
A: Yes correct maes how is a chamber tomb and not within the scope of what I was trying to do here.

2. You say in the first sentence that the barrow age started in 2500 BC on the British mainland. I conclude from this that Maes Howe is not a barrow.
A: Yes correct maes how is a chamber tomb (communal and reusable repository for bones after exposure) and is not within the scope of the entry I was trying to acknowledge but avoid the area.
I suppose this begs the question what is a barrow we must talk further.


3. You say burial mounds can be chamber tombs, cairns or barrows. I conclude from this that a barrow is a different thing from a chamber tomb.
A: Yes a communal and reusable repository for bones after exposure, but I will listen to any views and it is not to late to expand.


4. You then say that barrows have developed into a number of different forms including chamber tombs.
A: Yes (in the cultures entry) This in turn enabled development of monuments such as:

* Chamber Tombs
* Henges
* Long Barrows
* Mounds
* Standing Stones
* Ring Works
This was the settled farming nature of the population allowing the development of these not that barrows developed into them. If I have been sloppy please advise.

5. And I see down at the bottom that barrows were built from 5,000 BC onward.
A: Yes Long Barrows back to maes how again although it is a chamber tomb the name long barrow is such that to rename it will lead to even more confusion. You are confused I do not like that if I confuse people like you (intelligent and with an enquiring mind) then things must be put right. I know what I mean but thats not the point.


All points taken on board please suggest a cure for confusion.

Thanks for the interest and your time. (I must not take lack of reaction in review for approval) thanks again,

Bob
P.S. Happy Christmas...

Copy to Alex

"Yes good point do you mean an elaborated dictionary type definition in the introduction.
Though I thought this covered it..."

I just added that in response to Gnomon's post

We would have to include it in every entry as well dont you think.

No, I think the fact that this is a project means that it only needs to appear in the Introduction - otherwise there would be overlap, which is something we're supposed to try to avoid.