A is for Archeology

Okay, people, this is the first in my alphabetically triggered blogs, in response to the gauntlet cast down at my feet. (For more, see the “Challenge Accepted” blog recently posted.) So, after some consideration, I decided to write about Archeology.

Whoa. Archeology? Why? Certain readers, those who know me after a fashion, may be thinking, “that came out of left field.” But others, those who know me best, are well acquainted with my love of history, historical places, watching documentaries about delving into the past, the careful hunting for artefacts (another “A” word) at places of historical significance, staring open-mouthed at the plethora of YouTube videos on the subject, and yada, yada…

I am fascinated, enamored, awed.

Oddly enough, in my early aspirations about what I wanted to do with my life, Architect and Author (more A’s—does anyone detect a pattern?) topped the list. I never even considered I could be one of those folks with their hands in the soil, searching for evidence from the lives gone by. I don’t know why not. Well, I sort of know why not. I sometimes “sense” things from tactile manipulation of objects from the past. That has a name, it turns out. Psychometry.

Psychometry is a psychic ability in which a person can sense or “read” the history of an object by touching it, holding it. These impressions can be perceived as images, sounds, tastes, smells, emotions. I know, perhaps I should have saved this whole thing for a blog titled “P is for Psychometry,” but I decided to mention it here in this blog because I believe this is why I avoided heading into the archeological field. Not deliberately, but a back of the mind, egads, I’d go nuts sort of thing. That, plus the fact there are degrees which people who are expert in the field possess. Need to possess. Proudly possess. I surely didn’t have the stamina or gumption for that.

But, as always, I digress.

These days, I feel more and more as though I could deal with the “psychometry” and should push myself forward, in an Amateur (another “A”—see what I did there) fashion. I know a cave was recently discovered in Buckingham, Pennsylvania which may (or may not) have been one of the many hideouts of the infamous Doan Brothers, robbers, thieves, and British spies during the time of the Revolutionary War. What more could you ask for? I have considered inquiring if they accept amateur assistance, diggers, so to speak, with a gentle hand and a massive interest. I mean, I’m not getting any younger, right? I should go for it.

However, in the meantime, or in addition to, I plan a little more delving this Spring around the 1700s outbuilding foundation in the front corner of my property. My eldest son and I went halfsies on a metal detector. It wasn’t an expensive one. I expect digging will be required BEFORE the thing can recognize a metal object below the surface. But it’ll be fun. When the Lehigh Historical Society did some checking along the roadside before the bridge out front was replaced, they found quite a few artefacts, more on this side of the road than the other, despite the original and stunning 1745 house across the street. The most amazing thing, to me, anyway, was the discovery of a girl’s shoe from the 18^th century. Well, hell, how cool is that?

I have a connection to the past. We all do, to our personal pasts, the days of our parents, relatives, extended family back through the years. But I’m not sure everyone feels the connection to ALL of the past. To me, it’s like countless connective strings emanating from bygone ages entering and tying around my gut. Calling me. Constantly.

Might be time I answered in earnest.