When archaeology and art collide

Okay, how's this for weird...the erudite and always interesting RogueClassicist has just posted on his blog that archaeologists this month have made a new discovery at the sanctuary at Vravrona.  They've uncovered -- at an unexpected spot -- wooden votive statues, a pair of fine sandals, and other bibs and bobs.

Not such a big deal, you might think.

 But Vravrona is the modern name for ancient Brauron. And the sanctuary at Brauron is the setting for my fourth book.

These guys are digging up my murder scene.

OMG. If they find anything that destroys my plot, I'll have to insist they bury it again.

6 comments:

Sarah W said...

If anyone should be safe from crime scene tampering, it's you, Gary.

My fingers are crossed for exciting finds that support your plot and vindicate your imagination!

Gary Corby said...

Sarah, if they find any evidence to support my plot...well...all I can is they were having a bizarre time in Brauron 2,500 years ago.

Actually, when I'm doing book research I live in fear of missing some vital piece of archaeology that affects my devious plot. But this is the first time people have been digging up my scenery even as I write the book.

Loretta Ross said...

I can see it now...

Gary visits the dig. Strolls up, props casually hidden behind his back.

"Hey, guys! Lovely day! What a nice dig you have here. Oh! Look!" (pointing) "It's the Goodyear Blimp!" *drops props into dig* "Oh, you've found a dagger!"

Gary Corby said...

That would make a good story in itself, Loretta!

E.L.S.O.S. said...

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/17/arts/secrets-of-archimedes-at-walters-in-baltimore-review.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2

The words of Archimedes were scraped off so the paper could be recycled for a 13th century prayer book, lost, found, sold to get it's Jewish owner out of Nazi Germany, had medieval drawings foraged onto it, and was finally bought by an anonymous billionaire who paid scientists and experts to restore it... And to find the original works of Archimedes on its pages.

(Posted because of the word Stomachion and what it apparently means.)

Gary Corby said...

You know, I never realized that about stomachion, but of course it's right. Thanks for posting that, ELSOS!

I did write about the Archimedes Palimpsest ages ago (it's here: http://blog.garycorby.com/2008/11/archimedes-palimpset-is-now-on-google.html) but I haven't followed the story since. It seems Archimedes was close to discovering calculus. He would have made a fine story detective. (I don't think anyone's used him as a character.)