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Aardvarchaeology

Martin Rundkvist's blog. Archaeology, skepticism, Sweden. And books and music and stuff.

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Cesspit Incavation

Category: Archaeology
Posted on: July 11, 2008 7:59 AM, by Martin R

I often dig old crap out of the ground, so today's chore at the summer house provided some novelty. I won't say welcome novelty: I re-cut the cesspit and emptied the outhouse barrel, burying new crap.

In recent years, there has been a vogue among archaeological museums to host "incavations". Museum visitors are invited to bring stuff that has meaning to them, and it is ceremonially buried in the museum grounds. It's basically a pomo version of the time-hallowed custom where the town mayor and his buddies would bury a metal box with papers and coins under the cornerstone of the new post office.

In my mind, incavation sorts with the rest of pretentious pomo museum wankery. But I don't really belong to the museums' target audience. I guess anything that entertains the punters and keeps the place funded is good. And professionally, I must of course applaud any activity that leads to find combinations ending up underground. After all -- the only artefact I have buried today is toilet paper.

Comments

What's a "pomo"?

Posted by: Erik | July 11, 2008 11:21 AM

Whispers:
"Post-modernist"

Posted by: Mattias Niord | July 11, 2008 12:02 PM

Perfecto. "After all -- the only artefact I have buried today is toilet paper"

Posted by: Suki Fuller | July 11, 2008 12:05 PM

WORD!

Posted by: Roggae | July 12, 2008 3:04 AM

I read "p o r n o"...

Posted by: m | July 16, 2008 2:34 AM

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