History Blog Award Nominations #1

Inspired by the Cliopatria awards I thought I’d write about some sites and writing that’s caught my eye.

First up is the nomination for best group blog. I like Debra Hamel’s efforts with Blogographos. However as a group blog it’s not working alas. I love to be proved wrong over the coming year.

Archaeography is interesting, but not really a history blog.

The one I have nominated is also not exactly a history blog, but it is cognate. The Megalithic Portal remains hugely impressive. The main focus is prehistory, which by definition isn’t history. It’s also hugely integrated with the Megalithic Map, which is a hellishly impressive piece of programming. Andy Burnham is a hero for maintaining the site, but he is aided by some excellent editors and also the support of a strong community.

I don’t agree with everything that appears on the site, but then I doubt anyone agrees with everything on it. Nevertheless it seems to have that magic formula that allows alternative views to sit alongside the mainstream with neither side falling to gibberish. Instead the two sides inform each other.

It also works for me because of the integration of the blog with the supporting features, like the photo gallery, the map and the county guides. This means the blog entries aren’t necessarily ephemeral, but often have lasting value.

I suppose there is an obvious drawback. It is embarrassing that academia hasn’t come up with anything remotely close. You’d think universities would have the resources and people to do this and that funding bodies like the AHRC might have in interest in engaging the public with archaeology and history. But if anyone asks me to recommend a website to look at on prehistoric Britain, then the Megalithic Portal is always my first choice.