Re: Archaeological problems

Years ago, actor/singer Theodore Bickel gave a presentation as an
archeologists of the 25th century reporting on his findings of a long lost
civilization. He concluded from deciphering the inscriptions on the remains
that they called themselves "us" because of the ubiquitous symbols of US,
though he preferred to call them the "We'uns." He found fragments of what
was evidently their capital, which he called "Pound Laundry" (Washing Ton),
littered with the remains of numerous monuments (apparently) covered with
pidgeon poop. It gets funnier when he begins to interpret some individual
artifacts. Wish I could remember.

The point is self-evident.

Bob

----- Original Message -----
From: "bivalve" <bivalve@mail.davidson.alumlink.com>
To: <asa@calvin.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2004 9:40 PM
Subject: RE: Archaeological problems

> >There was a famous Mad magazine article on what a future archaeologist
would think of a modern house. The toilet bowl was a ceremonial/ritual
bowl. The seat was a collar worn by the priest. It was a real hoot.<
>
> You may be thinking of David Macaulay's Motel of the Mysteries, an account
of the excavation of the Toot 'n Come on Motel, with an undisturbed
"funerary room" complete with Do Not Disturb seal. (20th century US was
obliterated and buried when the post office lowered the junk mail rate.)
>
> A more serious publication making a similar point observed that a kid
playing with trash arranged it into various patterns. Such arrangements of
objects would probably get all sorts of symbolism read into it if found in
an archaeological excavation. I think I read it in junior high, though, so
I don't have an exact citation.
>
>
> Dr. David Campbell
> Old Seashells
> University of Alabama
> Biodiversity & Systematics
> Dept. Biological Sciences
> Box 870345
> Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0345 USA
> bivalve@mail.davidson.alumlink.com
>
> That is Uncle Joe, taken in the masonic regalia of a Grand Exalted
Periwinkle of the Mystic Order of Whelks-P.G. Wodehouse, Romance at
Droitgate Spa
>
>
Received on Tue Feb 24 22:47:31 2004