Professor Bonkers and the mad, mad World of Archaeology

August 3, 2024 Trebor2510

Summary

We have examined the efforts of Professor Ray in his endeavour to prove that transporting bluestones by land to Stonehenge using sledges and dragging is feasible. He believes the journey is relatively flat with gentle gradients, based on his walk on modern roads engineered for gradual steepness over the last thousand years. However, he failed to consider the reality of the steep drops and river valleys the original journey would have encountered. (Professor Bonkers and the mad, mad World of Archaeology)

Even if his assumptions about the terrain were correct, such an endeavour’s logistics were not considered. He is not alone in this oversight, as other established professors have maintained over the years that the ‘ox cart’ route was feasible.

We employed AI intelligence to calculate the logistics of this project. It revealed that such a task would have required recruiting 4% of the able-bodied men of the Neolithic period and taken 3.4 years to complete. This calculation does not include the carbon dating evidence suggesting that further stones were taken to replenish the old stock that lasted a millennium.

In stark contrast, we asked AI to calculate the logistics and feasibility of using a boat from the quarry to Stonehenge. The results showed that the journey could be completed in just 5 days with a team of 12 people per trip—6 people per boat (a total of 145 days). This approach seems far more feasible, as the river provides a fixed direction with minimal need for navigation markers, unlike the land route.

Professor Bonkers

I was recently asked to share my thoughts on Professor Keith Ray’s ambitious 222-mile journey from the Preseli mountains’ quarries to Stonehenge. He undertook this trek to gather information and generate publicity for his upcoming book. Initially, I thought he was quite mad; anyone reasonable would recognise that modern roads didn’t exist during the original bluestone journey, making his trek rather pointless. Moreover, I doubt he would wade through rivers, especially the Severn, to demonstrate how “easy” the journey was, particularly given his age.

What I didn’t know was that Professor Ray had previously completed a similar journey along Offa’s Dyke. His forthcoming book, “Offa’s Dyke: Encounters and Explanations,” caught my interest, primarily since I had recently published my book on Offa’s Dyke. I was curious if he had incorporated any findings from the first-ever LiDAR survey of the Dyke. Unfortunately, it seems his research missed crucial aspects. His press release claimed that the Dyke was built in the eighth century, a notion the LiDAR survey conclusively disproves. (Professor Bonkers and the mad, mad World of Archaeology)

Even more puzzling is his reliance on outdated information from Sir Cyril Fox’s earlier work on the Dyke. In my book, I showed that Fox’s observations were misinterpreted, such as the “defensive banks” being on the wrong side of the Dyke and non-existent evidence supposedly being buried underground, which LiDAR proved never existed.

Professor Ray also suggested that the boundary doesn’t align with the modern one because it has shifted over time, yet he provided no evidence. A glance at the conclusions in my book, freely available to anyone doing basic research, would reveal that 60% of the Dyke no longer exists, with much of it now being rivers. Why not the rest if rivers account for 60% of the boundary? The fact that both the river and the Dyke run parallel in some parts, with less than 50 meters separating them, makes the boundary idea completely illogical. This brings us back to his Stonehenge walk—another exercise in futility, in my opinion.

The conclusion of Professor Ray’s press release certainly raised my eyebrows, particularly regarding his qualifications and position as an Honorary Professor of Archaeology in the School of History, Archaeology, and Religion at Cardiff University. This is new to me, but it might explain the recent trend among archaeologists to excessively refer to ceremonies, religious sites, offerings, and beliefs, which have no place in scientific discourse. Cardiff seems to consider archaeology a social science rather than a hard science, which is evident in Ray’s subjective observations of Offa’s Dyke.

Regarding his 222-mile hike to Stonehenge, he has yet to reveal the exact path of his journey, likely keeping it a secret for his future £30 book. However, the problems with this endeavour are manifold, demonstrating how impractical and impossible the journey would have been. This is the same professor who walked 209 miles without realising that 60% of the Dyke is not visible, relying instead on Fox’s outdated observations, which LiDAR has since proven false.

Ray’s qualifications include a PhD in the archaeology of Igbo Ukwu, eastern Nigeria, from Cambridge, which some might consider a mark of infallibility. However, this background does little to validate his flawed conclusions. Previous peer-reviewed works have perpetuated the same mistakes, making them socially acceptable in archaeology. (Professor Bonkers and the mad, mad World of Archaeology)

His Stonehenge trek raises fundamental questions. If one is leaving the Preseli mountains, which way is Stonehenge? The notion that a group of men picked up stones and followed a straightforward path to Stonehenge is illogical. The people of Stonehenge must have come to the quarry first, perhaps leaving breadcrumbs to find their way back. Maybe Professor Ray has stumbled upon a theory involving a long string to guide their return, reminiscent of a prehistoric paper chase.

Had the renowned professor consulted my recent LiDAR map of the quarry (though it’s unclear which quarry he started from), he would have seen that starting from the primary quarry required crossing a much larger river in ancient times. However, photos of him setting off show him on an excellent, flat road. There are only two roads from the site: one leading the wrong way to the coast and the other heading northeast, while Stonehenge is southeast. Thus, he begins his journey in the wrong direction unless he plans to invent a non-existent pathway (untraceable by LiDAR) or start incorrectly to return home quickly via modern roads that go around the country the wrong way…. But are flattish!

Overall, his hike to Stonehenge appears to be another exercise in pure folly, much like his observations of Offa’s Dyke, an exercise to sell books rather than discover the true history of Britain. (Professor Bonkers and the mad, mad World of Archaeology)

The logistics

Even if it was feasible, the professor may have overlooked the logistics of such an endeavour:

Grand Plan for Transporting Stones from Craig Rhos-y-Felin to Stonehenge

Preparation:

Reconnaissance:

Visit Stonehenge: Key planners visit Stonehenge to understand its location and surroundings.

Route Planning: Identify the best route using natural landmarks, rivers, and terrain features.

Navigation Techniques:

Sun and Stars: Use the sun for daytime navigation and stars at night.

Landmarks: Identify and memorise prominent natural landmarks.

Oral Tradition: Rely on oral tradition to maintain route guidance.

Surveying Techniques: Use basic surveying to align the route with known points.

Execution:

Quarrying:

Extract Stones: Quarry the 4-tonne bluestones using available tools and techniques.

Transportation:

Initial Movement: Use wooden sledges and rollers to move stones from the quarry to the nearest waterway.

Water Transport: Construct rafts to float the stones along rivers, utilising the natural flow.

Land Transport: Use sledges and manpower to move stones overland to Stonehenge.

Logistics:

Food and Shelter:

Temporary Camps: Establish camps along the route.

Food Supplies: Organise a supply chain with regular intervals for food and water.

Shelter: Construct temporary shelters using materials from the surrounding environment.

Manpower:

Workers and Support Staff: 100 workers for moving stones and 500 support staff per 100 workers, totalling 600 people per stone.

Additional Manpower for Supply Chain: Assuming a further 200 people dedicated to supply logistics.

Support Personnel:

Ratio: 5 support people per worker.

Total Support Workers: For 100 workers, 500 support workers are required.

Total Workforce: 800 people (100 workers + 500 support workers + 200 logistics personnel).

River Crossings:

Rivers Along the Route:

Key Rivers: Transporting the stones from Craig Rhos-y-Felin to Stonehenge would likely involve crossing several major rivers, including the River Teifi, River Wye, River Severn, and River Avon.

Tree Felling for Rafts:

Number and Size of Trees: Constructing a raft to float a 4-tonne stone requires several large trees.

Felling Time: Cutting down trees with stone axes is a time-consuming process. Each tree may take several days to cut down and shape.

Crossing Procedure:

Arrival at River:

Disassemble Sledges: Temporarily dismantle sledges for transport.

Build Rafts: Construct sturdy rafts using timber and other materials.

Loading Stones:

Lift Stones: Use manpower and leverage techniques to carefully load stones onto rafts.

Secure Stones: Ensure stones are securely fastened to prevent shifting during transport.

Crossing the River:

Navigate Rafts: Use poles and paddles to guide rafts across the river.

Monitor Weather: Choose optimal weather conditions for safe crossing.

Disembarkation:

Unload Stones: Carefully unload stones on the opposite bank.

Reassemble Sledges: Reconstruct sledges for continued overland transport.

Supply Chain Logistics:

Food Consumption:

Daily Requirements: Assuming an average consumption of 2,500 calories per person per day.

Food: 2,500 calories/person/day x 800 people = 2,000,000 calories/day.

Weight: Approximately 2 pounds of food per person per day.

Total Weight: 2 pounds/person/day x 800 people = 1,600 pounds of food/day.

Water Consumption:

Daily Requirements: Assuming an average consumption of 1 gallon of water per person daily.

Water: 1 gallon/person/day x 800 people = 800 gallons/day.

Clothing and Shelter:

Clothing: Seasonal clothing would be required for the workforce, likely made from wool, leather, and woven plant fibres.

Shelter: Temporary shelters made from local materials like wood, thatch, and animal hides.

Feasibility Based on Population:

Neolithic Population Estimates:

The population of Southern Britain during the Neolithic period is estimated to be around 100,000 people.

Assuming that approximately 20% of the population were able-bodied adults fit enough for this kind of labour, that gives us about 20,000 potential workers.

Workforce Requirement:

Direct Workforce: 600 people (including 100 workers and 500 support staff) are required for the transport operation.

Additional Manpower for Supply Chain: Assuming an additional 200 people dedicated to supply logistics, the total workforce needed would be 800 people.

Percentage of Population Involved:

Total Population Fit for Work: 20,000 able-bodied adults.

Total Workforce Needed: 800 people.

Percentage of Population: (800 / 20,000) * 100 = 4%

Timeframe Adjustments:

Total Duration: Around 3.4 years (1,230 days) to complete the mission, including increased logistical requirements.

Food Consumption Over Time:

Daily: 1,600 pounds of food/day (including additional logistics personnel).

Total: 1,600 pounds/day x 1,230 days = 1,968,000 pounds (984 tons) of food.

Water Consumption Over Time:

Daily: 800 gallons/day.

Total: 800 gallons/day x 1,230 days = 984,000 gallons of water.

Summary:

Manpower: 800 people (including additional logistics personnel).

Total Duration: 3.4 years to account for increased logistical requirements.

Logistics: Establish temporary camps, maintain supply chains, and ensure efficient coordination for continuous progress.

Feasibility: Engaging 4% of the able-bodied adult population in Southern Britain over 3.4 years is feasible but unlikely due to other commitments.