Archaeologists have given the term "history" a
whole new meaning.
By providing hard evidence and getting their hands dirty archaeologists and
those training to advance in this field have provided the world with more than
just stories and artifacts. They have shown us true history, the kind that
isn't always 'pure and true' but rather 'real and bold'. But when you brush a
bit of dirt away from the earth's surface with a footprint or a brush are you
disturbing a little something else?
Let me start though by also saying I personally appreciate
all work that archaeologists have done. But to what cost has it been done to?
Upon my morning visit to the bakery I frequently run into
the city’s local archaeologist who is now retired from that field and spends
his days teaching grade two and three at the elementary school. He is always
telling me fascinating stories about his previous work. Yesterday he brought to
my attention how some former archaeologists’ dating back used to preserve their
findings in cement.
Holy Cricket! Cement? Gracious providence!
Now some of you might have to jog my memory here because I
vaguely remember the details of the location and exact type of architectural
building it was but…
It was quite a find, a whole building, something rather
important and one archaeological scandal to remember. The archaeologist
preserved the building in cement. Now a few decades later, under the weight and
wear the building has collapsed. A good portion of it far from disturbed and well
defined as destroyed. But something needed to go under investigation. It was
that the ‘layering’ of the cement was not
quite right. Where on the outside it showed carvings and beautiful
structures, there was in fact flat surface on the inside. This archaeologist
wanted to be remembered for a ‘great finding’ and so detailed the cement to
make such an impression. The building was still of great importance for its
time however it was not as ‘extravagant’ as made to be when the cement had
dried.
This made me think and before I could ask any questions, he
had long disappeared out the door with his coffee and pastry in hand. Were
there any other scandals like this and how many are there? Perhaps the greatest
rival of the archaeologist is not to ‘keep from disturbing the hard facts’ but instead,
‘to keep from falling to one’s own ego’.
What’s your take?