[Ansteorra] Can someone confirm/deny for me?

[Chris Zakes]

At 11:15 AM 8/18/2010, you wrote:

>I understand the importance of the oral tradition that we use in the SCA. In
>period that is how it is done, but if rely only on the passing down in oral
>tradition now we stand the chance of losing some of the greatest songs and
>stories in the SCA.
>If they would have known how to write them down, I am sure they would have.
>
>Lord Devin


Well yes and no. *Writing* dates back about 6000 years, so it 
certainly existed all through the time period we study. But, as 
Master Michael said, some things didn't get written down because 
everybody already knew it, so it wasn't considered necessary. And in 
some cases, the manuscripts that existed were lost between then and 
now. Don't forget that before the printing press was developed in the 
mid-1400s, books and suchlike were done by hand or not at all, so you 
wouldn't have print runs of thousands of books like you see in the 
modern world.

Being a fossil myself, I'm all in favor of preserving our history, 
but *in this particular case* the author has specifically requested 
that the song not be written down, and I'd be inclined to follow his wishes.

         -Tivar Moondragon