I am so happy that people are sending links for their blogs! I just
completed a large literature review regarding archaeology and new media
for my dissertation wherein blogs played a part. The different genres
(including personal, group, and work-site related) are each interesting in
their own right, and I wonder if they will fall along the same lines as
defined in Carol McDavid's work with websites with frequency in updating,
interest levels, etc.
For what it is worth, even the most popular archaeology blogs rarely get
comments. I think a more useful metric is hit and link
monitoring--something that isn't available on a lot of services, but is
available on wordpress.com. I find mine useful to update to keep track of
my studies, but also to make my processes a bit more transparent and
accessible. It can be intimidating to be so visible to students and
colleagues, and occasionally frustrating when you wonder if your ideas are
being poached, however unlikely that may seem. Overall, I find that it is
a good exercise in considering your audience, writing for the public, and
keeping instant, public interpretation in mind while you are doing
archaeology.
Colleen
--
Archaeology PhD Student
Anthropology Department
University of California, Berkeley
http://middlesavagery.wordpress.com
> To be honest, I rather lost enthusiasm for mine and haven't updated for a
> while as it was losing direction (http://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/j.c.mabbitt).
> It's really been a bit relegated to the position of somewhere to link to
> hard to find http publications that I may have produced . I think
> individual blogs are always going to be a bit difficult, not least because
> of the worry that no one is reading all those pearls of wisdom or taking
> notice of your rants, which doesn't really help your confidence. The only
> thing that kept it going so long was my wife adding the comment 'update
> your blog' every couple of weeks.
>
> On the other hand, the one that I did with Tyne and Wear Museums and
> Northumberland County Council that was set up around the Berwick Workspace
> excavation (www.past-present-future.info/index_2col.php?pid=3&bid=0) was a
> lot easier to keep up (we were contracted to, so I couldn't really afford
> to lose interest), though to be honest, I should have added more in the
> post-ex section, but there was a real focus to it and a story to be told,
> which is one of the things that I enjoy doing as an archaeologist.
>
> A least I'm a bit more inspired now, and I'll go away and think of a
> better way of doing things on my own blog. I may even update it.
>
> John
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: Discussion List for Contemporary and Historical Archaeology on
> behalf of Paul Belford
> Sent: Mon 17/12/2007 17:03
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Archaeological Blogs and Webscapes
>
>
>
> If we are allowed to plug ourselves then of course we mustn't forget...
>
> http://ironbridge.blogspot.com <http://ironbridge.blogspot.com/>
>
> Paul
>
>
>
>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Discussion List for Contemporary and Historical
>> Archaeology [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
>> Behalf Of DE Ops South-LMS7c1c (Brown Martin Mr)
>> Sent: 17 December 2007 16:13
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: Archaeological Blogs and Webscapes
>>
>> I absolutely agree. In fact at one point I posted asking if
>> I was talking to myself...
>>
>> http://plugstreet.blogspot.com <http://plugstreet.blogspot.com/>
>>
>> Martin
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Discussion List for Contemporary and Historical
>> Archaeology [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
>> Behalf Of zoharesque
>> Sent: 12 December 2007 02:18
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: Archaeological Blogs and Webscapes
>>
>> Blogs are a bit like radio: you can talk, but you don't know
>> if anyone's out there listening. Unless they post a comment
>> ... I have one myself, which I think is perhaps too personal
>> at times:
>>
>> http://zoharesque.blogspot.com/
>>
>> If anyone does visit, please post something!
>>
>> Alice
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Dr Alice Gorman
>> Department of Archaeology
>> Flinders University
>> GPO Box 2100 Adelaide 5001
>>
>> Mobile: 0428 450 418
>> http://ehlt.flinders.edu.au/archaeology/staff/gorman.php
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>> ---- "Krysta Ryzewski wrote:
>> > For those interested in Archaeology in the Information Age, this
>> > recent posting from British Archaeology on the web (Issue
>> 96) may be of interest:
>> >
>> > http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba96/ontheweb.shtml (text also below)
>> >
>> > Where is the personal touch?
>> >
>> > Caroline Wickham-Jones finds time to read some archaeological blogs.
>> >
>> > The internet is no longer simply a remote provider of
>> information: it
>> > offers more personal services, the most popular of which
>> must be the blog.
>> > From travel journals to the risqué doings of Washington
>> interns, many
>> > people take the opportunity to parade their activities and thoughts
>> > before a world-wide audience. Many people enjoy reading
>> them. Some are
>> > instructive, others whacky. What does archaeology offer?
>> > Interestingly, there are surprisingly few truly personal
>> > archaeological blogs to be found. Links to many so-called
>> blog sites
>> > produce mundane listings of recent news with little comment or
>> > discussion. This is not a blog. One of the few true blogs
>> comes from a
>> > site that has appeared on these pages before: Thetford Forest
>> > Archaeology (On the web May/Jun 2006) provides an archaeo blog
>> > (spamandchips.net/archaeology/blog.htm)
>> > comprising a set of (interesting) ramblings on various
>> topics vaguely
>> > connected by archaeology. Sadly, there does not seem to
>> have been an
>> > entry for a while.
>> > Another nicely personal site is Remote Central set up by Tim Jones
>> > from London (remotecentral.blogspot.com). Is he an
>> archaeologist? The
>> > minimalistic profile does not tell us, but his
>> contributions are wide
>> > and stimulating. Archaeogeek, in contrast, gives us plenty of
>> > background
>> > (www.archaeogeek.com/blog) and provides a good mix of
>> serious thought
>> > and useful discussion.
>> > Archaeoseek (archaeoseek.ning.com) describes itself as a social
>> > network for archaeologists. This is a us based site, but
>> the reach is world-wide.
>> > The topics look appealing but unfortunately it is not
>> possible just to
>> > browse. Anthropology Net (anthropology.net), allows one to read the
>> > entries in full, though registration is necessary to post a comment.
>> > There are some wide-ranging entries, and the theme is not as
>> > palaeolithic as it may seem at first. These are communal
>> blog sites,
>> > as is Archaeolog (www.archaeolog.org). Here you will find
>> less of the
>> > meanderings of the solo diary, but it does provide personal
>> insights
>> > into the concerns and work of archaeologists around the world.
>> > Despite their web address Archnetwork (arch.blogware.com/blog/ichi)
>> > hides its blogs well (check the menu at the bottom left for
>> reports).
>> > This is a good example of the way in which the internet can
>> transmit
>> > experience, but
>> > beware: unless you are a participant you will be envious.
>> > What about the UK mainstays? The Council for British
>> Archaeology's new
>> > Community Archaeology Forum (www.britarch.ac.uk/caf; see On the web,
>> > May/Jun) offers potential as a blogspot, though as yet it
>> deals only
>> > with information on specific projects. There are some interesting
>> > links, but no personal accounts so far.
>> > Current Archaeology's new website (www.ilovethepast.com)
>> also misses a
>> > trick and seems to provide mainly static articles and dig listings.
>> > BAJR, the British Archaeological Jobs Resource
>> (www.bajr.org), which
>> > long ago outgrew its modest name, also does not (yet?)
>> offer any blogs
>> > despite the eclectic and nicely alternative viewpoint of the
>> > information and services that it offers.
>> > The general lack of personal archaeological weblogs is
>> disappointing
>> > for they can provide a popular means of communication to a wide
>> > audience, as many have found in other walks of life. What
>> are all the
>> > archaeologists or archaeologically-interested doing? Too
>> much work obviously.
>> >
>> > Historic Webscapes
>> > * The Tell es-Safi/Gath Excavations Official (and
>> Unofficial) Weblog -
>> > gath.wordpress.com An excellent mix of academic thought
>> and personal
>> > gossip.
>> > * Archaeogeek - www.archaeogeek.com/blog Jo Cook from Oxford
>> > Archaeology treats us to a view of her world.
>> > * Remote Central - remotecentral.blogspot.com Don't be put
>> off by the
>> > essay on aliens - the entries are eclectic and range worldwide with
>> > many useful links.
>> > * Archaeolog - www.archaeolog.org
>> > Everything from the most recent tag to graffiti as archaeology.
>> > * Aardvarchaeology - scienceblogs.com/aardvarchaeology
>> > Apparently the world's number one archaeology blog.
>> >
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