“Decolonising” Hadrian’s Wall?
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“Decolonising” Hadrian’s Wall?
Can someone explain what this means please? Is Hadrian’s Wall to be knocked down?
So, first off, it’s for an entire area, not just Hadrian’s Wall
This is from the scoping document that prompted the post:
“Note: There is no agreed definition as to what Decolonisation means for museums and it can often be misrepresented or misunderstood. Here we use the term to describe how we can acknowledge that the origins of collections might be connected to the acts of colonisation of other countries, and how we can ensure these stories are not overlooked. It also acknowledges that decolonisation is about addressing institutional power structures.”
“The history of the collections at the Great North Museum: Hancock (GNM) spans over 250 years. This means that a number of our objects are inextricably linked with Britain’s colonial past and systemic racism. We acknowledge this and are working towards using these collections in an equitable and just way. ”
A key point (from the job ad): “Fee: Up to £5,700 including VAT and travel. This work is offered as a freelance contract, for a fixed fee including VAT and all expenses. The appointed individual will be responsible for all tax, national insurance, etc. This equates to approximately 12 days’ work.”
Considering they have an ethnography collection, and a maritime history collection, it is probably worth those 12 days of sitting, talking to collection specialists and formulating a strategy.
The Daily Mail are lying scum, who knew?
They can start by changing the name. I’m fairly sure that ruling class fucker didn’t build it. All of the credit and none of the bastard work!
It really annoys me when people say things like “Cardinal Wolsey built Hampton Court” no he didn’t, the fat bastard. The bloody workers built it, like everything bloody else!!!
‘“And this also,” said Marlow suddenly, “has been one of the dark places of the earth.”’
There is an interesting argument to be had about the role of antiquity and the imaginary Roman Empire in justifying the British Empire (and today it emerges in some of the fash right who look back to Rome).
The Wall did not ‘keep the barbarian’s out’ – I read somewhere it was as much about tax and regulating trade as anything. Likewise, ‘unconquered Scotland’ forms part of the imaginary ideology of national identity that is worth picking at a few threads of.
‘unconquered Scotland’ forms part of the imaginary ideology of national identity that is worth picking at a few threads of.
Including the fact that it doesn’t go any where near Scotland. It always winds me up when they use the term “North of Hadrian’s Wall” to describe Scotland, not only is there a huge swaith of Northumberland, most of Newcastle and North Tyneside as well as parts of Cumbria north of the Wall, the Border acually runs more or less North to South, large parts of Dumfries and Galloway are further south than Newcastle!!
The whole thing was a statement of might and of terror.
A recent documentary i recall spoke of the Roman terror raids on Pictish tribes, slaughtering large numbers of people. The Antonine Wall was an earthwork which was booby trapped with lethal stakes for impaling unwary people, even after the Romans had left it so.
The Wall itself was used to police a large area and it ruthlessly curtailed movement which had been free and peaceful too, and not just warlike. The northern tribes might have hoped it might “keep the Romans out” instead of themselves, but no such luck. The Romans raided numerous times, sowing havoc and fear.Scottish nationalism has no bearing on the Wall.
Not only were there no Scots in Caledonia until the 5th century,
but the “Scots” of today are of Anglo-Saxon and Norman ancestry.We know that but do the Scots Nats? I imagine Alba, the name of Alex Salmond’s breakaway party, is also based on a myth or at least a misrepresentation.
Albion was the Britons’ (the Welsh) name for the whole island.
Bede the Saxon is really still the finest source for information on the British Isles.
“ but the “Scots” of today are of Anglo-Saxon and Norman ancestry”
The small Norman population of Lowland Scotland was absorbed into the “Scots” fairly quickly. The Language/dialect some call Scots is actually based on Old Northumbrian.
Sometimes people tell me that my accent sounds like I’m Scottish. The reality is that actually they sound like me.🤣
Lowland Scots are not Scots. The Scots were the Gaels from Ireland who migrated to the Pictish Highlands and Isles in the 5th century, settled and mixed with the Picts, whom they absorbed.
In the 18th century Lowland and English redcoats would taunt Highland prisoners by yelling at them in broad “Scots'” dialect, which the Highlanders couldn’t understand a word of, being Gaelic speakers.
But of course, all such divisions are linguistic and cultural, since all humans are humans, cousins to chimpanzees. Nationalism is ridiculous.
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