Random cute archaeology piece

[annwfyn]

I found this in the introduction of a 1931 site report:

This work is nothing more than a Report on certain excavations and as such follows the modern fashion of being as colourless as possible. In the last century a similar work would have included musings on the brevity of life, scraps of poetry and various other frills. Now archaeology has become so stern a study that I have not even dared to describe our feelings when a skull at Holywell Row began to walk away with a young rabbit inside it. Most readers would surely prefer the older method.

Unsurprisingly, the writer of this (a man called TC Lethbridge) proceeded to retire, and gain far greater fame as the writer of a number of books on the theory that England was once inhabited by a race of giants, and I suspect in this later career he was far far happier.

I find men such as this oddly inspiring.

Comments

[castorpollux23.livejournal.com]

Hmm... Ha, ha, that's a great random fact.

I think you're right, and that he was happy more in his later career.

Academia can become way too sterile sometimes.

[commlal.livejournal.com]

*snigger* Mental image there of that walking skull now :D

[puddingcat.livejournal.com]

That is indeed wonderful :)

We have your skull !!

[lapinenoireuk.livejournal.com]

If you want it back just leave 5 kilos of "lettuce" outside the burrow (grin)