From: gknysh
Message: 64586
Date: 2009-08-03
> And evidence to the contrary are stray finds of straying weapons etc.****GK: The above is just one meaning of "stray find". There is of course another meaning: objects found independently of a formal burial (just "lying around" or as part of a hoard or something similar). Some such objects may be evidence of something concrete depending on the context of the find. For instance a Yazigian arrow imbeded in the defense walls of a Zarubinian fortress is properly interpreted as proof of a military assault (esp. because there are many such in such positions. A single arrowhead might have proved very little. Dozens in many places with accompanying evidence (burnings) is another matter.) One has to analyze such stray finds carefully. A sword lying on the ground could mean many things. The more vague possibilities the less secure the conclusion.*****
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> GK: Just shows your hermeneutic incompetence. Stray finds are just that. If you want to know who is buried in a grave you have to study its shape, the body position, the ritual, the inventory. Stray finds of Persian goblets or Chinese swords in Alanic graves were never interpreted by professionals who know what they are doing to mean that a Persian or Chinese was buried there.