Re: Etymology and archaeology


"celia" <c_a_blay@xxxxxxxxxxx> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:1144394778.316890.142820@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Uwe Müller wrote:


snip >

But this could only hold true in a market economy. try picturing this in
an
economy relying on everybody to produce everything he/she needed
themselves.
There would be little for a merchant to buy, as nobody would produce much
more than he needed for his own consumation. And the local farmer would
need
little only a trader could supply.

Gift exchange would in this case be a more sensible approach, leading
towards added production in a specialised field.


All this shows that I have never read any economic history, of course.
But
even the evidence
of language has to be considered, intangible as it is.

Language isn't as straightforward as other data is, but it keeps memories
of
older forms of interactions alive. Consider the 'Morgengabe', as
mentioned
in germanic laws, surely a transaction of great importance, but not
readily
expressed in terms of economic theories.

have fun


Uwe Mueller

Fine workmanship must add to the value of an object
over and above the value of its materials but was the
'exotic' prized because it was unusual ?

As every body made his own tools etc fine workmanship was expected, at least
there was no cheap mass produced stuff. There would certainly have been
those, who treasured the unusual, those that would travel to the edges of
the world, just for the thrill. And there were those that wouldn't do
anything, that their fathers and grandfathers hadn't done.

I am thinking of a porcelainite axe head from Ireland
found in my part of Berkshire (ritual object)
My area has large flint mines and traded flint tools.

Than it should be possible to locate flint from your area in Ireland, where
the axe head originated. There was talk of putting up a database on flint
sources and artefacts on the Internet.

Possibly one of those net-wizzards might turn away from horned-hats vikings
and address this minor business. Maybe there is even an Irishman or two
lurking here, who has always wondered where those funny exotic flints came
from. :-))

have fun

Uwe Mueller





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Relevant Pages

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