Last week I came face to face with my first real live dead Roman. The experience was so incredibly surreal I can scarcely think of words to describe it. To imaging you were in the presence of a person who lived and breathed 1500 years ago is honestly a little difficult to even fathom.
My excitement at finally being able to put all my archaeological
theory and method classes into real field work was pretty spectacular. I had to
admit though, dealing with death is always a tricky business and not just
because our century old skeletal remains were more than a little fragile. I found
that although my days were filled with excitement and contentment at being able
to engage in my passion, my nights were troubled by nightmares of the dead who
could not rest in peace. The job of a bioarchaeologist is certainly a
controversial one even for them. The ability to study and understand more about
a past society is extremely fulfilling and rewarding and yet… I have mixed
feelings about disturbing the earthly remains of a fellow human being. It is a
surprising position to find myself in since I truly believe in the value of archaeological
inquiry for everyone but I find myself wondering what my tomb occupants would
have thought if they could see us fussing over their bones 1500 years in the
future? Would they be horrified and appalled?
Would they laugh? Would they want to tell us more? Would they care? I can
only hope that by treating these remains with the utmost respect and dignity
that our actions are not offending our grave occupants.
