 |
Paleontologists and anthropologists
learn more about human history each
time that an ancient grave is found.
Often only ashes remain, or perhaps
small fragments of bone. Burial sites
are treasure troves of clay shards with
carved images or writings about our past.
Fortunate are the finds that contain
artifacts that give clues about how our
ancestors formed families, hunted or
prospered. Graveside clues tell us what
people treasured, feared and believed.
The oldest known human burial ground
was found in 1969 near Lake Mungo in
western New South Wales. It contained
the cremated remains of a woman..
Five years later, a skeleton of a man
was found nearby. These remains trace
our existence back forty millenia.
Advice to the photographer
Don't bring just photographic
equipment to a cemetery. Also bring
respect and curiosity. There is much
more here than what we see. There
is a record of people who have lived
lives much like our own. Their story
continues in the monuments prepared
by their survivors. The challenge to the
observer is to discover the clues that
have been left behind
learn more about human history each
time that an ancient grave is found.
Often only ashes remain, or perhaps
small fragments of bone. Burial sites
are treasure troves of clay shards with
carved images or writings about our past.
Fortunate are the finds that contain
artifacts that give clues about how our
ancestors formed families, hunted or
prospered. Graveside clues tell us what
people treasured, feared and believed.
The oldest known human burial ground
was found in 1969 near Lake Mungo in
western New South Wales. It contained
the cremated remains of a woman..
Five years later, a skeleton of a man
was found nearby. These remains trace
our existence back forty millenia.
Advice to the photographer
Don't bring just photographic
equipment to a cemetery. Also bring
respect and curiosity. There is much
more here than what we see. There
is a record of people who have lived
lives much like our own. Their story
continues in the monuments prepared
by their survivors. The challenge to the
observer is to discover the clues that
have been left behind
This photo essay was completed on St Patrick's Day, just a
few days before the summer solstice. The mind tends to
wander a bit at this time of the year and it is only reasonable
that a wide range of funereal topics should come to mind.
Not the least among these is “Finnegan's Wake.”
“Finnegan's Wake “ is a task of prodigious workmanship.
Therefore I have never read if cover to cover; and I don't
recommend that you read it either. The most popular
apprehension of the novel is based on an American Irish
ballad of the same name.
A hod carrier by the name of Tim Finnegan had a very
friendly relationship with poteen, a highly spirituous liquor.
Since Mr Finnegan's craft required him to carry bricks and
mortar up a ladder many times a day, the relationship was
bound to end in disaster. It was not a surprise to anyone
therefore when Tim lost his balance, and was killed when
he fell from the top of the a chimney.
Tim's cold body was carried home where he was wrapped in
a good clean sheet. They placed a gallon of whiskey at his
head and barrel of porter at his feet.
'Twas natural when a Party broke out, someone spilled
whiskey on Tim Finnegan, he rose from the dead and the
party lives on.
This legend bears little dramatic comparison with the heroic
acts of the Vikings. But when you are recounting an Irish
fable, you have to play with the hand you are dealt.
The photo serving as background for this parable is of a
monument to Anna Livia, a character from the novel. Anna
is a symbol of the River Liffey which flows through the heart
of Dublin. Since There is more symbolism in the single statue
than there is in the entire ballad we will keep our retelling of
the story simple and refer to this fabled monument as “The
Fluzzie In The Jacuzzi”
few days before the summer solstice. The mind tends to
wander a bit at this time of the year and it is only reasonable
that a wide range of funereal topics should come to mind.
Not the least among these is “Finnegan's Wake.”
“Finnegan's Wake “ is a task of prodigious workmanship.
Therefore I have never read if cover to cover; and I don't
recommend that you read it either. The most popular
apprehension of the novel is based on an American Irish
ballad of the same name.
A hod carrier by the name of Tim Finnegan had a very
friendly relationship with poteen, a highly spirituous liquor.
Since Mr Finnegan's craft required him to carry bricks and
mortar up a ladder many times a day, the relationship was
bound to end in disaster. It was not a surprise to anyone
therefore when Tim lost his balance, and was killed when
he fell from the top of the a chimney.
Tim's cold body was carried home where he was wrapped in
a good clean sheet. They placed a gallon of whiskey at his
head and barrel of porter at his feet.
'Twas natural when a Party broke out, someone spilled
whiskey on Tim Finnegan, he rose from the dead and the
party lives on.
This legend bears little dramatic comparison with the heroic
acts of the Vikings. But when you are recounting an Irish
fable, you have to play with the hand you are dealt.
The photo serving as background for this parable is of a
monument to Anna Livia, a character from the novel. Anna
is a symbol of the River Liffey which flows through the heart
of Dublin. Since There is more symbolism in the single statue
than there is in the entire ballad we will keep our retelling of
the story simple and refer to this fabled monument as “The
Fluzzie In The Jacuzzi”
| "Poll na Bron: An Irish Portal Tomb c3500BC Click on photo for larger view Click on link for more information about topic |
| To get the most from this wesite, be sure to click on links for more information. By clicking on photos you will access larger images. |
