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

Entry: The h2g2 University Part 3 : Bell Barrows - A18066044
Author: Bob Stafford (Keeper of The Treacle Shadow) - U3151547

please comment I could do with an objective opinion

I'm not in a position to look at these at the moment, but keep reminding me and I'll try and do it over the next few days.

Any chance you could have a look at them sometime in the near future - I've just finished subbing up to disc barrows, and I hope to have the rest done soon.

I have been keeping an eye on your progress, and the project looks fantastic and I am impressed. Well done and thank you.

So please confirm that you have not finished pond and saucer and vking boats left to sub

That's ok I haven't finished the other two yet, but I'll lt you know when I have.

FOR INFORMATION Copy to Alex
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 reviev for approval) thanks again,

Bob
P.S. Happy Christmas...

Copy to Alex

Sorry Bob but I changed the Entry in response to Gnomon's post, which is why it now has fewer mistakes. I've had a look through your post and rewritten a few bits a little bit more - hopefully the whole thing now works in some way or other.

Dont apologise it all looks fine do you think the rest of the points are covered.

Now how about illusrtations. Do you think that we hould ask the artists or the photographers. Drawerings would be clearer I think any ideas.

The general scheme of things is that the artists supply the pictures when asked to, ie for a pick of the day, but the photographers might easily be able to supply several pictures for a series. It's just that simply photos are sometimes easier to produce than careful drawings.

I'll leave a post on the h2g2 photographers page

Lets hope they read the article carefully.
Right I am off to bed on line all day tomorrow after 1100 gmt

Night mate

Goodnight - I've posted a quick message for the h2g2 photographers at F5517734?thread=3763659&post=44176938#p44176938

Right - I've more or less finished subbing it now - could you have a look through and see if all the facts are correct etc

A1 as far as I can see the only problem the Winterbourne link in the Pond barrow entry wont work (at least I cant) and the MONUMENTS PROTECTION PROGRAMME links are a bit techie and a bit dry for the causual reader, no faults with the information contained though.

Please insert.change
# Gun Platforms
# Mounds Man Made Or Natural
# Mill Foundations

The entries are fine and I like everything you have acheived well done.

If I do another do you want to sub it.

Thanks mate enjoy Christmas

Bob...

Ok, I've made that change, moved the MPP links to the references section and got that link working

If you do another let me know and I'll see if I've got the time
Oh and remember that this one still has to go through Peer Review...

Merry Christmas

Alex

It will be after this has been published, you have ben very quick with this and you seemed to enjoy the work.
It has been a pleasure to have you edit the entry.


That looks finished now thank you for all your work.

Bob...

That's ok

However, the next step we have to go through is putting the main page into PeerReview, as nothing can get into the Edited Guide without being reviewed.

I need you to remove the project link page from the EGWW:

Please go to <./>RF2</.> and click on the cross next to 'A18104717 The h2g2 University Project Link Page : British Burial...'

Thanks,

Alex

Remove as requested

Ok, I've submitted it to PeerReview - you should get an automated message saying I've submitted it. The Entry now has to spend at least a week in Peer Review, though it will probably take longer due to Christmas and New Year's.

A good job well done (so far) lets sit tight and wait for the action.
So how do we do this

I get the questions and comments sort them out and you do the work on the entries.

Thanks again


Bob...

Yep - that's how it works.

Oh and please stop thanking me - I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't want to

Alex