Romanov Resurrection

As of February 2008, the Romanov case was stamped with an official “case closed” label and filed on a shelf to collect dust. However, an article released by the RIA Novosti; Russian news and information agency, has announced that additional excavations are planned for next year.

The Romanov’s are more famously remembered as the Tsar of Russia and his family. After the Rebellion in 1918, Tsar Nicholas and his family, along with a few servants and the family doctor were killed by the Bolsheviks. The bodies were then stripped and discarded into a grave, dosed in sulphuric acid and buried. Another two bodies were located in a grave near the main burial.

Recent DNA testing of the Tsar and Tsarina’s living relatives has confirmed the identities of those found in the main grave as being the Romanov’s (excluding two of the five children) and their servants. The two bodies in the second grave were identified as Maria and Alexi, the two children missing from the main grave.

There isn’t anything funny about this story; I’m just very interested in this case.

And I’m more than a little bit happy that archaeology was able to say “AAHA! In your face Disney and other silly people who suggested that Anastasia escaped! You are INCORRECT!”…or something like that…

For more info on this amazing story check out the article by Peter Gill (et. al) 1999 – Identification of the Romanov family by DNA analysis - you can find it in the Nature Genetics journal, or at http://en.rian.ru/russia/20081027/117976408.html

Old Habits Die Hard

We all know how hard it is to break a habit, smoking, excessive drinking, messing with information pages on Wikipedia…etc. But I think this one takes the cake.

Photo: http://ded-i.deviantart.com/gallery/

An American Civil War re-enactor was shot in the shoulder during a documentary last month.
While injuries would not appear to be uncommon, (if you ask me, carrying around firearms and swords is just an accident waiting to happen) authorities have stated that it does reiterate the importance of “safety first” procedures for all re-enactment enthusiasts.

But, this story does get a little better, the gentleman who was shot was re-enacting a Union Soldier. The Isle of Wight Sheriffs office launched CSI: Virginia, using the film footage of the battle re-enactment to narrow down the list of suspects.

It was found that the shooter was indeed a confederate re-enactor.
Yeah, you wanted realism Hollywood you got it!

I don’t know about you, but if I was the currently hospitalised 78 year old Union soldier, I would be asking some questions…or use my nerdy knowledge and powers of seduction to find out the shooters name and place of residency and then...I'll let you use your imagination.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081025/ap_on_re_us/re_enactors_safety

Tiwanaku = Junkies!

That’s right Ladies and Gents, the Tiwanaku were Junkies! Archaeologists have discovered the first solid evidence of Ancient drug use in the Andes.

Trace amounts of a chemical known to have hallucinogenic properties has been found on the hair of two mummies found in the Apaza Valley, Chile.

The Tiwanaku are believed to be the precursor civilisation to the Inca, and have a rich but somewhat enigmatic cultural history. However, 'Snuff Kits' are some of the most common finds associated with the Tiwanaku mummies.

Ergo, ANCIENT DRUG USE!

Some archaeologists argue that the drug itself may have been used for medicinal purposes, such as pain relief.

Others suggest that the skull damage identified on cranial X-rays of the recovered mummies is evidence of continued ritualistic drug use.

To fully understand if the latter is a legitimate possibility, I suggest a cranial X-ray comparison of the Tiwanaku mummies and Kate Moss.

For more information see http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/10/081022-drug-mummies_2.html

The first and a story of the last.

Hello and welcome to on being unexceptional...

The purpose of 'on being unexceptional' is not to make particularly well informed judgements and recommendations about current issues in society. Rather, it provides me with an outlet to:
a) Splurge my insane nerdy rants,
b) Procrastinate from things i should be doing, like being an adult etc.
c) Take the piss,
d) Report on the many weird and wonderful events that take place in my life on a daily basis.

Although I can't promise hard hitting political commentary or socio-cultural exposes, on being unexceptional will give great insight to the mind of a slightly chemically unbalanced individual with a unique outlook on life. There is every chance that this will be hilarious...but maybe not.


My advice - Remember your seatbelts!


I feel that blogging is quite a lonely little pastime. We are very much faceless and indiscernible entities in the big virtual pool known as the inter-web. To rectify this situation I have decided to spin a little tale that will reveal a bit more about myself.

I’m a student in Archaeology at the University of Queensland.
I’m Nineteen.
I’m weird, stubborn, argumentative, shy, optimistic (usually), honest and competitive…otherwise known as a pain in the ass.
Therein lies my problem.
After several years of obscure situations, I’ve come to accept the fact that all sorts of weird and wonderful situations happen to me on a daily basis.

Today I wish to share with you my latest…and sadly last adventure in a humble antique store.

One fine afternoon, a few of my University amigos and I decided to go on a little antique store scavenger hunt. We were visiting such store when I came across a lovely dinner set. It was beautiful! Well designed, elegant, only missing a few bits and pieces.

Let us call the antique dealer Fred.

Fred: It’s a lovely collection, isn’t it?
Me: Beautiful!
Fred: Yeah, it’s Chinese porcelain too, very lovely.
Me: Really? It is pretty, but unfortunately, I’m only a poor uni student, I can’t afford that price and still eat this week hahahaha….(Haggling)
Fred: Aw, that’s too bad. (Walks away)

First I couldn’t believe my haggling attempt had failed, where was his heart?!
And secondly, I had a really hard time believing that the set was porcelain. The pieces were quite heavy, I don’t know, it just didn’t feel like Porcelain.

I asked a friend for her car keys, which, ever so conveniently has one of those LED laser lights on them, you know the ones – they can interfere with the navigation systems in aeroplanes.

Anyway, my point is, porcelain is a translucent ceramic.

What does that mean? It means light will pass through it, so if I shine a laser through one side of the piece, I should be able to see it from the other side.
I did so, using the Laser.

No light!

The beautifully crafted ceramics were NOT PORCELAIN!

Me: Um, excuse me…(to Fred)
Fred: Change your mind about the set?
Me: It’s not porcelain
Fred: Yes it is.
Me: No, it isn’t.
Fred: YES! It is. I know porcelain when I see it!
Me: If that were true, then you wouldn’t call that set porcelain!
Friends: (Maybe we should stop here, I think we should go, damn it Jordan why can’t you just let it go?)
Fred: And what the hell would you know?!
Me: Well obviously a hell of a lot more than you! Porcelain is translucent, that set is not! Therefore, NOT PORCELAIN!
Fred: I have been in this business for years!…
Me: Clearly not long enough for you to learn to distinguish between types of ceramics then!
Fred: If you don’t like the price you can go elsewhere! That is an authentic…
Me: Yeah! An authentic fake!

By that point, my friends were dragging me out by my arms and Fred was shaking his fist as we drove off.

A life time ban was my punishment.