3129: Archaeology Research - Revision history

82.132.236.196: /* Explanation */ There were some useful explanatory points in the two entirely deleted paragraphs. Like that archaeologists do do what he might have initially done, etc. Reinstated them in cut down/rewritten form.

2025-11-17T17:16:46Z

‎Explanation: There were some useful explanatory points in the two entirely deleted paragraphs. Like that archaeologists do do what he might have initially done, etc. Reinstated them in cut down/rewritten form.

Elektrizikekswerk: /* Explanation */ Removed incomplete tag

2025-11-17T13:30:32Z

‎Explanation: Removed incomplete tag

Elektrizikekswerk: /* Explanation */ Removed some stuff that didn't really explain the comic.

2025-11-17T13:29:23Z

‎Explanation: Removed some stuff that didn't really explain the comic.

73.190.108.81 at 18:40, 2 November 2025

2025-11-02T18:40:27Z

82.132.245.239: /* Explanation */ Tidy up additional comment. (This is one good reason why you shouldn't linefeed before your signoff tildes, folks! And I know the new person isn't writing in Talk page, but effectively they think they are, and should have signed too...)

2025-08-29T10:14:23Z

‎Explanation: Tidy up additional comment. (This is one good reason why you shouldn't linefeed before your signoff tildes, folks! And I know the new person isn't writing in Talk page, but effectively they think they are, and should have signed too...)

129.228.49.105: /* Explanation */

2025-08-29T08:13:43Z

‎Explanation

71.46.92.136: Undo revision 384926 by 2001:67C:2628:647:32:704:0:357 (talk)

2025-08-24T18:16:19Z

Undo revision 384926 by 2001:67C:2628:647:32:704:0:357 (talk)

2001:67C:2628:647:32:704:0:357 at 17:54, 24 August 2025

2025-08-24T17:54:41Z

Hdjensofjfnen at 01:46, 24 August 2025

2025-08-24T01:46:40Z

2001:67C:2628:647:37:1300:0:306 at 01:42, 24 August 2025

2025-08-24T01:42:58Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:16, 17 November 2025
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	The caption below the comic tells us that Cueball has based his entire {{w\|dissertation}} on the false proposition that an archaeologist's job is to advance technology from some historic level, rather than revealing it. This would be considered disastrous for Cueball, as dissertations take a large amount of time and effort to complete, and he may have instead used the effort to effectively reengineer several thousand years of human development, leading away from the original subject, if not just have taken on entirely modern techniques and learnt nothing of any value at all. He even calls the process he uses "my method", perhaps implying/claiming that it is a personal innovation with ''no'' historical standing.		The caption below the comic tells us that Cueball has based his entire {{w\|dissertation}} on the false proposition that an archaeologist's job is to advance technology from some historic level, rather than revealing it. This would be considered disastrous for Cueball, as dissertations take a large amount of time and effort to complete, and he may have instead used the effort to effectively reengineer several thousand years of human development, leading away from the original subject, if not just have taken on entirely modern techniques and learnt nothing of any value at all. He even calls the process he uses "my method", perhaps implying/claiming that it is a personal innovation with ''no'' historical standing.
		+
		+	Some archaeologists put considerable effort into researching the processes used to create ancient technologies to determine how they were achieved, when historical records do not include that information, and asking questions such as which processes could have led to the objects that we see now. Researchers into stoneworking methods do examine extant flint arrowheads, and the locations in which they were made, and then test knapping procedures for themselves to find out what gives results consistent with the evidence.
		+
		+	Cueball might have initially pursuing this approach, but has then skipped to an entirely different set of materials and processes. Also, though there were indeed copper arrowheads in subsequent pre-history, there is no sign that he even tried to match and recreate what he is doing now against what evidence suggests actually directly superseded the use of flint.

	The title text claims that his 'discoveries' are unappreciated ''not'' because they are useless (in a completely different context, they might be an exciting academic pursuit), but because the academic 'establishment' has a stranglehold on the arrowhead industry and too many vested interests in flint-knapping to allow the {{w\|disruptive innovation}} that this new change to copper weaponry might herald. This is a humorous mashup of two classes of conspiracy theories, those of academia suppressing "the TRUTH" (according to pseudo-historians) and of oil, pharmaceutical, or other industries suppressing "free energy" or other such "innovations". In addition, {{w\|Industry (archaeology)\|"industry"}} is a term used in archaeology to describe specific types of tools made with the same methods; Cueball's technique would, technically, be its own new industry.		The title text claims that his 'discoveries' are unappreciated ''not'' because they are useless (in a completely different context, they might be an exciting academic pursuit), but because the academic 'establishment' has a stranglehold on the arrowhead industry and too many vested interests in flint-knapping to allow the {{w\|disruptive innovation}} that this new change to copper weaponry might herald. This is a humorous mashup of two classes of conspiracy theories, those of academia suppressing "the TRUTH" (according to pseudo-historians) and of oil, pharmaceutical, or other industries suppressing "free energy" or other such "innovations". In addition, {{w\|Industry (archaeology)\|"industry"}} is a term used in archaeology to describe specific types of tools made with the same methods; Cueball's technique would, technically, be its own new industry.

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 ==Explanation==
-{{incomplete|It could use a cleanup, some info isn't relevant to the comic. Or, put another way:
+[[Cueball]], tasked to look at details of active {{w|Paleolithic}} culture (the "Old Stone Age"), has 'discovered' developments that render obsolete the practices that he was supposed to be studying. He presents {{w|Copper extraction#History|the use of metals}} as his improvement over the stone {{w|arrowhead}}s used by early humans.
 The caption below the comic tells us that Cueball has based his entire {{w|dissertation}} on the false proposition that an archaeologist's job is to advance technology from some historic level, rather than revealing it. This would be considered disastrous for Cueball, as dissertations take a large amount of time and effort to complete, and he may have instead used the effort to effectively reengineer several thousand years of human development, leading away from the original subject, if not just have taken on entirely modern techniques and learnt nothing of any value at all. He even calls the process he uses "my method", perhaps implying/claiming that it is a personal innovation with ''no'' historical standing.

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 <!-- but don't you feel you actually *learnt* some things? -- signed: your friendly neighbourhood source-tidying editor -->
 :TLDR: Cueball is supposed to study how Stone Age people made flint tools, but instead he “invents” copper arrowheads—jumping thousands of years ahead of history. The joke is that he confused archaeology (studying the past) with technology (improving it), so his dissertation is useless. {{unsigned ip|129.228.49.105|08:13, 29 August 2025}}
-:-}}[[Cueball]], tasked to look at details of active {{w|Paleolithic}} culture (the "Old Stone Age"), in the era that extended until not quite 10,000&nbsp;BCE, has 'discovered' developments (roughly equivalent to those that occurred from around 6,500&nbsp;BCE to 5,000&nbsp;BCE) that render obsolete the practices that he was supposed to be studying. He presents his improvement over the stone {{w|arrowhead}}s used by early humans, which were produced through {{w|Knapping|shaping flint}} by expertly knocking flakes off a suitable raw piece of stone. In contrast, once {{w|Copper extraction#History|the use of metals}} is developed, a far more scalable industry can eventually cast smooth copper arrowheads as depicted in Cueball’s presentation.In real history, this was initially with lumps of copper nuggets being taken and cold-hammered into objects.
+:-}}[[Cueball]], tasked to look at details of active {{w|Paleolithic}} culture (the "Old Stone Age"), has 'discovered' developments that render obsolete the practices that he was supposed to be studying. He presents {{w|Copper extraction#History|the use of metals}} as his improvement over the stone {{w|arrowhead}}s used by early humans.
 The caption below the comic tells us that Cueball has based his entire {{w|dissertation}} on the false proposition that an archaeologist's job is to advance technology from some historic level, rather than revealing it. This would be considered disastrous for Cueball, as dissertations take a large amount of time and effort to complete, and he may have instead used the effort to effectively reengineer several thousand years of human development, leading away from the original subject, if not just have taken on entirely modern techniques and learnt nothing of any value at all. He even calls the process he uses "my method", perhaps implying/claiming that it is a personal innovation with ''no'' historical standing.
 The title text claims that his 'discoveries' are unappreciated ''not'' because they are useless (in a completely different context, they might be an exciting academic pursuit), but because the academic 'establishment' has a stranglehold on the arrowhead industry and too many vested interests in flint-knapping to allow the {{w|disruptive innovation}} that this new change to copper weaponry might herald.  This is a humorous mashup of two classes of conspiracy theories, those of academia suppressing "the TRUTH" (according to pseudo-historians) and of oil, pharmaceutical, or other industries suppressing "free energy" or other such "innovations". In addition, {{w|Industry (archaeology)|"industry"}} is a term used in archaeology to describe specific types of tools made with the same methods; Cueball's technique would, technically, be its own new industry.

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 <!-- but don't you feel you actually *learnt* some things? -- signed: your friendly neighbourhood source-tidying editor -->
 :TLDR: Cueball is supposed to study how Stone Age people made flint tools, but instead he “invents” copper arrowheads—jumping thousands of years ahead of history. The joke is that he confused archaeology (studying the past) with technology (improving it), so his dissertation is useless. {{unsigned ip|129.228.49.105|08:13, 29 August 2025}}
-:-}}[[Cueball]], tasked to look at details of active {{w|Paleolithic}} culture (the "Old Stone Age"), in the era that extended until not quite 10,000&nbsp;BCE, has accidentally 'discovered' developments (roughly equivalent to those that occurred from around 6,500&nbsp;BCE to 5,000&nbsp;BCE) that render obsolete the practices that he was supposed to be studying. He presents his improvement over the stone {{w|arrowhead}}s used by early humans, which were produced through {{w|Knapping|shaping flint}} by expertly knocking flakes off a suitable raw piece of stone. In contrast, once {{w|Copper extraction#History|the use of metals}} is developed, a far more scalable industry can eventually cast smooth copper arrowheads as depicted in Cueball’s presentation.
+:-}}[[Cueball]], tasked to look at details of active {{w|Paleolithic}} culture (the "Old Stone Age"), in the era that extended until not quite 10,000&nbsp;BCE, has 'discovered' developments (roughly equivalent to those that occurred from around 6,500&nbsp;BCE to 5,000&nbsp;BCE) that render obsolete the practices that he was supposed to be studying. He presents his improvement over the stone {{w|arrowhead}}s used by early humans, which were produced through {{w|Knapping|shaping flint}} by expertly knocking flakes off a suitable raw piece of stone. In contrast, once {{w|Copper extraction#History|the use of metals}} is developed, a far more scalable industry can eventually cast smooth copper arrowheads as depicted in Cueball’s presentation.In real history, this was initially with lumps of copper nuggets being taken and cold-hammered into objects.
 The caption below the comic tells us that Cueball has based his entire {{w|dissertation}} on the false proposition that an archaeologist's job is to advance technology from some historic level, rather than revealing it. This would be considered disastrous for Cueball, as dissertations take a large amount of time and effort to complete, and he may have instead used the effort to effectively reengineer several thousand years of human development, leading away from the original subject, if not just have taken on entirely modern techniques and learnt nothing of any value at all. He even calls the process he uses "my method", perhaps implying/claiming that it is a personal innovation with ''no'' historical standing.

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 {{incomplete|It could use a cleanup, some info isn't relevant to the comic. Or, put another way:
-:''God damn this explanation is too freaking long!
+:''God damn this explanation is too freaking long! [[Special:Contributions/2603:800C:1200:596A:536F:4ACD:2A93:BEC8|2603:800C:1200:596A:536F:4ACD:2A93:BEC8]] 20:50, 19 August 2025 (UTC)''
+:UXER02: Yeah that was a ridiculous read.
-UXER02: Yeah that was a ridiculous read.
+<!-- but don't you feel you actually *learnt* some things? -- signed: your friendly neighbourhood source-tidying editor -->
-TLDR: Cueball is supposed to study how Stone Age people made flint tools, but instead he “invents” copper arrowheads—jumping thousands of years ahead of history. The joke is that he confused archaeology (studying the past) with technology (improving it), so his dissertation is useless.
+:TLDR: Cueball is supposed to study how Stone Age people made flint tools, but instead he “invents” copper arrowheads—jumping thousands of years ahead of history. The joke is that he confused archaeology (studying the past) with technology (improving it), so his dissertation is useless. {{unsigned ip|129.228.49.105|08:13, 29 August 2025}}
+:-}}[[Cueball]], tasked to look at details of active {{w|Paleolithic}} culture (the "Old Stone Age"), in the era that extended until not quite 10,000&nbsp;BCE, has accidentally 'discovered' developments (roughly equivalent to those that occurred from around 6,500&nbsp;BCE to 5,000&nbsp;BCE) that render obsolete the practices that he was supposed to be studying. He presents his improvement over the stone {{w|arrowhead}}s used by early humans, which were produced through {{w|Knapping|shaping flint}} by expertly knocking flakes off a suitable raw piece of stone. In contrast, once {{w|Copper extraction#History|the use of metals}} is developed, a far more scalable industry can eventually cast smooth copper arrowheads as depicted in Cueball’s presentation.
 In real history, this was initially with lumps of copper nuggets being taken and cold-hammered into awls, chisels, ornaments and spear heads (perhaps by first trying to apply stone-knapping techniques upon different kinds of rock, in areas where different geology forced such experimentation with 'inferior' raw materials), before later learning that heat from campfires could be used to soften and rework it in completely unprecedented ways. After that, it took improvements in the management of fire and heat to to be able to fully melt, refine and cast it (leading eventually to deliberate alloying with the contents of tin-bearing rocks to create the ''next'' 'age' of development).

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 | imagesize = 381x433px
 | noexpand  = true
-| titletext = The academic archaeology establishment is suppressing my breakthroughs <big><big><big><big><big><big><big><big><big><big><big><big>CRAPPED{{:{{PAGENAME}}}}because of the disruption it would bring to their prepared-core flake-based toolmaking industry.
+| titletext = The academic archaeology establishment is suppressing my breakthroughs because of the disruption it would bring to their prepared-core flake-based toolmaking industry.
 }}

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 :''God damn this explanation is too freaking long! [[Special:Contributions/2603:800C:1200:596A:536F:4ACD:2A93:BEC8|2603:800C:1200:596A:536F:4ACD:2A93:BEC8]] 20:50, 19 August 2025 (UTC)''}}[[Cueball]], tasked to look at details of active {{w|Paleolithic}} culture (the "Old Stone Age"), in the era that extended until not quite 10,000&nbsp;BCE, has accidentally 'discovered' developments (roughly equivalent to those that occurred from around 6,500&nbsp;BCE to 5,000&nbsp;BCE) that render obsolete the practices that he was supposed to be studying. He presents his improvement over the stone {{w|arrowhead}}s used by early humans, which were produced through {{w|Knapping|shaping flint}} by expertly knocking flakes off a suitable raw piece of stone. In contrast, once {{w|Copper extraction#History|the use of metals}} is developed, a far more scalable industry can eventually cast smooth copper arrowheads as depicted in Cueball’s presentation.
-{{comic
 In real history, this was initially with lumps of copper nuggets being taken and cold-hammered into awls, chisels, ornaments and spear heads (perhaps by first trying to apply stone-knapping techniques upon different kinds of rock, in areas where different geology forced such experimentation with 'inferior' raw materials), before later learning that heat from campfires could be used to soften and rework it in completely unprecedented ways. After that, it took improvements in the management of fire and heat to to be able to fully melt, refine and cast it (leading eventually to deliberate alloying with the contents of tin-bearing rocks to create the ''next'' 'age' of development).