[Terrapreta] The Science of Terra Preta Formation

[Gerald Van Koeverden]

In classic discovery, the forming of a hypothesis comes first;  
checking for the evidence comes second.  Until one has a hypothesis,  
one has no idea as to what evidence to look for.

But at this point, we do have a hypothesis: that pottery, besides  
being used for food and water, was also used for human excreta  
collection and storage.  Now we have to discover if any  
archaeologists also had that idea and have checked for it in the  
remains of the pottery unearthed.  (Just because pottery tested  
positively for food, is no proof it wasn't also used for offal later  
in its life as a used vessel.)

And if we can't find one such person, can we persuade one?  Mind you,  
it will be difficult to persuade one to do so;  very few societies  
are known for such an enlightened attitude to their excreta, anymore  
than our own modern Western society which is very content to flush it  
all down the toilet into the water table.

We won't have any idea whether the hypothesis can fly or flops until  
an archaeologist tests for it.

Gerrit

On 5-Apr-08, at 10:36 PM, Sean K. Barry wrote:

> Hi Kevin,
>
> There is much archeolgical evidence about pottery shards in TP. As far
> as I know, nobody has presented a proven, credible explanation for the
> presence or purpose or significance of the pottery shards found in TP.
> I think it might be more productive to observe what pottery  
> evidence there is and speculate to form a hypothesis for how it was  
> used, rather than speculate or hypothesize a use and then go  
> looking for evidence to support that speculation.  The reason I say  
> this is that the evidence supports the whole process, development  
> of the hypothesis and support of that hypothesis.  It is a weaker  
> argument only to confirm the consequence or http://en.wikipedia.org/ 
> wiki/Argument_from_ignorance
>
> Regards,
>
> SKB
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Kevin Chisholm
> To: Tom Miles
> Cc: 'Terra Preta'
> Sent: Saturday, April 05, 2008 5:28 PM
> Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] The Science of Terra Preta Formation
>
> Dear Tom
>
> Tom Miles wrote:
> > Kevin,
> >
> > One example is petrography used by paleobotanists and  
> archaeologists to
> > identify the mineral components in terra preta pottery shards, as  
> described
> > in references like Amazonian Dark Earths.
> >
>
> That good work is more of an observation of what we can see now about
> Terra Preta, but it tells little or nothing about how Terra Preta was
> made, or how to make it now. That is more "The Archaeology of Terra
> Preta", rather than "The Science of Terra Preta Formation."
>
> Once a credible theory or hypothesis for Terra Preta Formation is
> presented, THEN we will know what archeological evidence to look  
> for to
> confirm or negate the hypothesis.
>
> There is much archeolgical evidence about pottery shards in TP. As far
> as I know, nobody has presented a proven, credible explanation for the
> presence or purpose or significance of the pottery shards found in TP.
>
> Do you have a credible explanation for why the pottery shards, as
> Archaelogical realities, are found in Amazonian TP?
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Kevin
> > Tom
> >
> >
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Kevin Chisholm [mailto:kchisholm at ca.inter.net]
> >> Sent: Saturday, April 05, 2008 2:10 PM
> >> To: Tom Miles
> >> Cc: 'Terra Preta'
> >> Subject: The Science of Terra Preta Formation
> >>
> >> Dear Tom
> >>
> >> Tom Miles wrote:
> >>
> >>> ...del...
> >>>
> >>> We've had both science and speculation about how it all began in
> >>>
> >> Terra
> >>
> >>> Preta de Indio in the Amazons and how it can be recreated. And  
> we've
> >>> tried to maintain a modest reading list/bibliography on the  
> website.
> >>>
> >>> http://terrapreta.bioenergylists.org/biblio
> >>>
> >>>
> >> What would you say is the Science of Terra Preta formation?
> >>
> >> Thanks.
> >>
> >> Kevin
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
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