Joanne Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I doubt that most reporters spend a couple of
> hours in "decent" libraries checking technicals
> and what are essentially fine points debated
> between experts on any subject they cover. In the
> Bosnian case, the difference is that they failed
> to check out the alleged expert.

One of the perpetrators of complacent reporting, according to Archaeology Magazine, took enough time investigating to determine that the lead archaeologist was a Mr. and not a PhD. I also notice that BBC very carefully used the words “ might be a pyramid” rather than “is” a pyramid. After a little closer look at this story, I see it was a PhD that requested more ground tests.
[tinyurl.com]
Geophysicist Amer Smailbegovic, Ph.D:
“the author recommends that the area should be ground-truthed for possible evidence of anthropogenic activities.”

From BBC again:
“The team found two intersections with other tunnels leading off to the left and right.
Their conclusion was that it had to be man-made.”
"This is definitely not a natural formation," said geologist (Ms) Nadja Nukic.

Mr Osmanagic is one thing, but do you think the rest of these people are “alleged” experts also? I’m not saying there is a pyramid, but at the same time I don’t see anything shady being reported by the BBC as Archaeology Magazine suggests. Further investigations seemed in order, isn’t that what science is about, falsifying hypotheses? I think Archaeology Magazine is overreacting. Some of their other unnamed sources claimed skepticism also. You don’t suppose Archaeology Magazine could be setting up a wooden man to trash in order to boost sales next month do you?

>
> As for the rest of your post, no one is ever going
> to convince you that people do things and believe
> things for reasons besides racism, so I'm not
> going to waste any time trying...

Sure, money being high on the list also. As I read it, Kenuchelover’s comments (at least this time) seemed to be mostly pointed at the Kennewick affair.

Let’s see what some of the local Native Americans in the Kennewick area think about the issue of racism.

[tinyurl.com]
[www.umatilla.nsn.us]
[www.seattleweekly.com]
[www.seattleweekly.com]

I don’t expect you to read all the URLs, but it seems Kenuchelover may have a point.

Downey: “That "Gordy" says a lot. Appalled AWA members heard it a lot when they called friends in Colorado asking why an archaeologist under suspicion of a serious violation of professional ethics would be chosen to lead the state organization. I heard it myself when I asked another officer the same question. "We felt a little funny about it, but Gordy had already been asked to serve when the trouble started, and some of us hinted that maybe he should step down, but he didn't want to. And nobody wanted to . . . I mean, Gordy is a really great guy."
Everybody seems to agree that Gordy Tucker is a really great guy. Archaeology has long been a guy's game, and being a great guy has long been all it took to shield a brother from inconvenient questions from outsiders, especially Native American outsiders.”

How about a comment from a local archaeologist (from a paper submitted to the court in the Kennewick Man case):
Roderick Sprague: “More recently there has been an expression of racial discrimination and prejudice in the application of various reburial regulations by federal agencies. In my own experience as a consultant to the U. S. Army Corps, I know that the normal contract costs for removing and reburying a white grave prior to flooding, in the 1970s, was about $3,000. This was for undertaker, excavation, transportation, box, liner, plot, reburial, and brass plaque.
During the same time period it took strong tribal pressure, threats of action for apparent racial discrimination, and hard work by a few dedicated workers within the Corps before the colonel would allocate $300 per Indian grave for relocation.” DOI 00660

$300 per? Only when they couldn’t get away with bulldozing the Native American bones into the Snake River. Think things have changed a lot since the 1970s? Think again.
I could go on, but I’m sure you are already convinced that there are other reasons besides racism for the dichotomy in burial practices here in the NW, so I won’t waste any more time.....

Lee


>
> Joanne
>
>
>
> If God did not want me to ruminate, why was I
> created with four stomachs?