Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2014 20:17:47 GMT -8
“A field school of mine was recently out in the country and brought back a few boxes worth of things.” Heracles lectured to the small group of students in the laboratory as he gently set a large, packed cardboard box on the study table. “I warned you in the beginning of the semester that you’ll probably want a tetanus vaccination at some point – just in case. This is why.”
As students observed he opened the flaps of the box to reveal the items within, each of them wrapped securely in newspaper (which was in turn wrapped around think tissue that contained the artifacts, as Heracles was obsessive about security and care.) In addition small, loose artifacts jingled around in paper bags. In general, the bags tended to be full of nails or screws, or other metal bits. It was usually only the much larger (and rarer) artifacts that ended up being given the most attention. Long story short, Heracles had a shit ton of nails in the collection and didn’t care to have more.
He pitied the poor fool who was stuck on nail duty, but not because it was dangerous.
“Most of the things in this box probably aren’t older than a hundred years, so if you were excited about handling things from the Middle Ages, I have to crush your hopes and dreams.” With that, Heracles began to remove items from the box, none obvious and all hidden from view by their wrappings. Unbeknownst to the students, it was a collection mostly consisting of cans and old cloth, bottle caps and bottles galore, and lots and lots of nails.
What the collection did have in addition, though, was pair of old coins, corroded beyond the most basic of identifications.
“We’re doing some pretty basic things today. The first step to studying artifacts is to make sure they’re clean of dirt and grime. Since these aren’t of particular historical value,” As opposed to an ancient temple or a stash of Roman coins, “I won’t break your hand too badly if you ruin something – but still, be careful.”
The box was finally emptied and its former contents were laid strewn upon the tabletop.
“Water, brushes, picks – basic tools. The goal is to clean the items without destroying them.”
Little did the students know that this project of their was of usual participation credit. Heracles was more or less using these students as a labor source while at the same time doing something relevant to their methods course. He had no plans to reveal that. He also cleverly did not include the important artifacts in the pile, just as a precaution.
“Any questions?”
As students observed he opened the flaps of the box to reveal the items within, each of them wrapped securely in newspaper (which was in turn wrapped around think tissue that contained the artifacts, as Heracles was obsessive about security and care.) In addition small, loose artifacts jingled around in paper bags. In general, the bags tended to be full of nails or screws, or other metal bits. It was usually only the much larger (and rarer) artifacts that ended up being given the most attention. Long story short, Heracles had a shit ton of nails in the collection and didn’t care to have more.
He pitied the poor fool who was stuck on nail duty, but not because it was dangerous.
“Most of the things in this box probably aren’t older than a hundred years, so if you were excited about handling things from the Middle Ages, I have to crush your hopes and dreams.” With that, Heracles began to remove items from the box, none obvious and all hidden from view by their wrappings. Unbeknownst to the students, it was a collection mostly consisting of cans and old cloth, bottle caps and bottles galore, and lots and lots of nails.
What the collection did have in addition, though, was pair of old coins, corroded beyond the most basic of identifications.
“We’re doing some pretty basic things today. The first step to studying artifacts is to make sure they’re clean of dirt and grime. Since these aren’t of particular historical value,” As opposed to an ancient temple or a stash of Roman coins, “I won’t break your hand too badly if you ruin something – but still, be careful.”
The box was finally emptied and its former contents were laid strewn upon the tabletop.
“Water, brushes, picks – basic tools. The goal is to clean the items without destroying them.”
Little did the students know that this project of their was of usual participation credit. Heracles was more or less using these students as a labor source while at the same time doing something relevant to their methods course. He had no plans to reveal that. He also cleverly did not include the important artifacts in the pile, just as a precaution.
“Any questions?”