On Thursday Sorry if my solutions are somewhat visceral
AS you’ve surely noticed, I graze on all kinds of ‘ologies, and this week it’s anthropology – or possibly archaeology. First came news that some finds in the Americas have put human presence there back maybe 5,000 years, which is pretty big news. Obviously, it’s always a problem that we have to extrapolate our understanding from isolated tiny snapshots of finds. Dates are always being pushed back by new discoveries, and this one is important, as it helps explain one of anthropology’s mysteries… how did humans appear right down in Patagonia 10 metaphoric minutes after they’d traipsed across the Bering land bridge? That’s a long way away when you’re on foot.
Another bit of such trivia which speaks loud – to me at least – is news of some flutes. I’m 12 years behind the curve on this, and it was lately passed on to me by a flute maker chum. See, someone grubbing in caves in Southern Germany in 2009 found some bone and ivory flutes, dating back at least 35,000 years. And after detailed scans, and subsequent 3D printing tech, a replica of one shows it was perfectly tuned. Mr Contempory Flutie assures me – quite heatedly – that this absolutely isn’t a case of knocking some random holes in a hollow bone and discovering it makes a pleasing tootling sound when you blow down it.
Indeed, the more I think about it, the more profound I realise this discovery was. Mr Ug, the erstwhile Stone Age flute maker, was alive 25,000 years before farming. He, or someone around him, had to go and catch breakfast every day, never being absolutely sure there was a ‘tomorrow’. There was no double glazing or central heating, no Bic lighter to kindle the fire, no Tesco’s. There was nothing but the skill in his hands and his ingenuity to adapt what lay around him. But somehow, he had enough spare time to not only learn how to make flutes, but to perfect the technique. And it’s reasonable to guess he could play them too… otherwise you’re suggesting he – or she – developed and made the flutes for someone else who could play. This raises some extraordinary concepts, because that would be a ‘trade’ – something he/she did for reward. Then, did he learn the skill alone, or was he taught some of it by a predecessor? There’s no reading and writing, so knowledge could only be passed on by mouth. He didn’t look it up on the internet. Although even as I type that, I have to assume there’s some ironclad proof somewhere on the web that aliens taught cavemen how to make musical instruments, and the website address hidden in the Lascaux cave paintings...
Still on such matters, another pal was walking on Dartmoor lately, and picked up a nearly complete flint arrow head. It’s an exquisite piece of work, so fine as to be almost translucent. It shows a degree of dexterity and skill that’s hard to grasp. And more to the point, the nearest supply of flints I can think of is 20 miles distant, and from recollection they aren’t anything like the quality you would want to be making this kind of thing. Curiouser and curiouser...
I notice I was told off for being so negative backalong. I’m not sure it’s a fair criticism. I’m generally a pretty happy go lucky soul. I wake up and charge at life every morning, admittedly working on the somewhat pessimistic presumption that each day might be my last. I occupy my time grubbing about with simple honest trades and tradesmen, mostly very close to the dirt from which everything has ultimately sprung – often right in it.
When I look outwards, and consider the world’s problems, I can only judge it by these simple standards around me. I know all too well what happens when you over exploit a resource, or keep too many hens in the henhouse… mother nature pops round and gives you a kicking. So if I might appear glum about some of this environmental stuff, it’s because I understand exactly what’s happening, and how it inevitably ends. And pretending we can control ourselves currently looks like futile baloney.
To illustrate this concept, I would momentarily focus your attention on something. Even now, it’s perfectly acceptable to buy a petrol powered leaf blower, and burn smoky old 2-stroke mix to pointlessly puff some fallen leaves around the garden...
I’m more than happy to turn my attention to resolving our collective plight – I can see obvious positive steps we should be taking. Unfortunately, a lot of people would find my solutions somewhat, er, visceral.
I notice I was told off for being so negative backalong. I’m not sure it’s a fair criticism