"U" is for "unearthing." In writing, unearthing a future event can be done by foreshadowing. Unearthing a character's past can be the use of backstory. In the real world , if lucky enough to participate in an archaeological dig, you can literally unearth the past in the form of fossils, lost artifacts, and abandoned structures.
Since the official theme for the challenge is "books, writing craft, and the writing life with some personal thoughts sprinkled in," this post is a diversion from books to a more personal insight. I have been fortunate enough over the years to be part of several archaeological digs.
Hunting in the cool waters of a tree-shaded creek on a hot day rewarded you with fossilized shark teeth. Items found on a Revolutionary War battlefield using the Bag-tag-and-flag techniques contributed to the history of the site. Horseshoes and hard-forged hinges were unearthed on my family's farm. Finding and recovering coins of the various ages may not be of high financial value due to their decades buried beneath the grass, but the memory was as precious as the antique buttons found.
If you have followed my blog for any period of time, you might remember I have also visited the dark side and written non-fiction. As part of my work in the museum field, besides the above, I have been involved in traditional trowel and sift archaeological research including a survey dig at a colonial-era home. Now to set the stage, a survey dig does not uncover the entire site. Open squares are separated by untouched earth to allow future researchers access to undisturbed ground. The reason for this is important because sticking out of the wall of one of the areas being dug was a decorated piece of porcelain. The urge to remove it was strong so there would be a displayable artifact. "No one will know."
~till next time, Helen
If you're following other blogs in the challenge, here's the master list of the other participants.
Since it's Wednesday, this post is doing double duty. The rest of the Book Hooks hop is at http://mfrwbookhooks.blogspot.com
I've always been fascinated by the past, hence thought for a while of going into archeology. When I learned more, though, I realized I definitely did not have the necessary fastidious and disciplined character necessary to actually do the job. More fun to just read about it!
ReplyDeleteI'm also intrigued by archaeology. I have a series with an archaeologist that's set in the distant future. She's uncovering sites that would have been created 1000 years ahead of us.
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