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May 14, 2007
Of Sheep Droppings and Fish Sauce
It's funny how one perceives of one's work. Probably the biggest problem with the "scholarship" of the type I am involved in is that you lose sight of the bigger picture - the reason why you do what you are doing - very fast. It seems futile really, since to be honest, who really cares about what kind of economic activity was going on 1500 years ago? It scarecely makes any difference to how we live today! It is a sort of blessed luxury, one that is rather unusual since I really don't have any money to afford luxuries, but even better yet, a blessed ignorence. A voluntary exile in the middle of the society. True "anchorite" monasticism in midst of the crowds!
But I suppose I should say something about what I do. I talk about what I like a lot, but maybe not about what I work on specifically. Ok, as stupid as it sounds (and indulge me please, it does sound stupid and it is stupid), I work on rural surpluss production and its relations to trade in the Late Antique Near East! Basically, I look at orchards and try to figure out what was planted in them and how it was marketed and what role this cycle played in the total economic and commercial exchange of the society.
Now, the other day, I am lying down on my sofa and reading this book intensly when I realise that I just read 45 pages of scholarly article about sheep droppings! Yes, important stuff, since it was used for manuring, but pretty funny you have to admit. I can just tell you that I have read too many articles about fish sauce as well. In lack of ketchup and peppers and spices, fish sauce was all your ancient man (or woman) had to spice her (or his) food! It is a pretty digusting thing actually: fermented fish with a lot of salt! But hey, our ancestors lived on it!!!
So, this is what my life consists of: reading about sheep droppings and fish sauce, and trying to write an article about vinyards in 6th century Northern Afghanistan. Honestly, considering the fact that I don't have any money in my bank account, I should probably go and work at the McDonald's or something!
Posted by Khodadad at May 14, 2007 10:54 PM
Comments
aaaahhh...the bohemian life of an academic! enjoy it while you still can. I just finished law school and will have to start working again after I take the bar in June. BTW - I just read this article in BBC on a new film adaptation of Tintin http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6656635.stm So I came to your web site expecting you to have posted some comment about it since you are such a fan. So what do you think of Spielberg and Jackson directing the first two films? And the big question - if you could pick the third director to direct the third film, who would you pick?? cheers and have a great summer!
Posted by: Bahram at May 15, 2007 07:32 PM
How does one research orchard production from 1500 years ago? Do you have actual written records? Hey, I am interested! So, what sort of fruits were being grown back then?
I have no problems with manure. I really like the idea of organic farming. The production of modern fertilizers is very energy intensive, and I hate what pesticides and herbicides are doing to the environment. Some years ago, I read something that really struck a chord with the environmentalist within me. The construction of the Aswan High Dam in Egypt stopped the annual floods along a vast stretch of the Nile River. These floods used to bring sediments rich in nutrients to farmers fields every year. Now, a substantial portion of the electricity generated by the dam is used to produce artificial fertilizer. It is an expensive substitute for what the farmers once got for free!
There is a modern equivalent to your fish sauce called gefilte fish. It is a traditional Jewish food made of ground up fish patties in a sauce. I think of it as the Jewish equivalent to SPAM (the kind that comes from a can, not in your email box ;) ). If you are curious, you can buy a bottle of the stuff in the Jewish section of any major grocery store. I ate some for the first time in years recently. Its pretty good served on crackers. This link will tell you more about it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gefilte_fish
Well, I suppose that fish sauce is yet another item that was once transported in Roman amphorae. ;)
Posted by: David at May 15, 2007 08:12 PM
I am sorry about missing the Tintin story. Honestly, since the whole Foundantion Herge thing that closed down the fan page one of my best friends had put together, I have been trying to avoid anything to do with Tintin, besides re-reading it. This was the last draw. Herge specifically refused to allow the Spielberg gang to make movies based on Tintin...
As for orchards 1500 years ago. Well, it is a combination of archaeological records (pot sherds and things of the sort) and textual records. Fruits were similar to what we have today, but apples, grapes, dates, pears, and pemmegrantes were common in the Near East.
Other than olive oil, fish sauce, and wine, the amphorae were used for (guess what?): manure! Usually human waste, and then they were broken down in the middle of the fields and spread. Hence the ability to calculate the extent of cultivation based on the extent of sherd spreads!!!!
Posted by: Khodadad at May 16, 2007 05:20 PM
I had no idea about the Herge Foundation controversy and his rejection of a Spielberg project. Interesting. For some reason, reading about the Tintin film reminded me of seeing The Twelve Tasks of Asterix as a 7 year old kid in a movie theater in Iran in 1977 or 78 (I was only there for a year) and it's still a very fond memory of mine 30 years later.
Posted by: Bahram at May 16, 2007 09:38 PM
I never heard about the human waste amphorae! Well, I guess the chamber pot (thunder mug) concept must be quite old indeed. I have seen pictures of amphorae. The opening at the top is rather small. So, did the ancient business doers use a funnel or something? ;)
Btw, what countries do you include in the ancient Near East? I tried to find some links on that term, but the references I saw spanned from North Africa to Iran. So, where exactly does Near end and Middle begin?
Posted by: David at May 17, 2007 10:24 AM
I love the 12 Tasks of Asterix and I had no idea they showed it in Iran. Asterix is great. Have you read Iznogoud?
I think the waste amphorae had a larger opening than the trade ones. Good question though!!!
Near East is an awful term and your confusion shows how inefficient it is, and of course it is east and near in relation to Europe. How about "West Asia" which is what I really included in my prospectus? I am concentrating on Central and West Asia...
Posted by: Khodadad at May 17, 2007 10:49 AM
I just looked up Iznogoud on Wikipedia. I had not heard of it, but it looks very funny and amuzing...i just might have to look for a copy now. Thanks for the introduction.
Posted by: Bahram at May 18, 2007 04:49 PM
nice blog.
well done, keep it on ...
Posted by: Ali Sanaei at May 21, 2007 01:35 PM