Experts to repair (Viking) 'faeces fossil' (Poopie in the taxpayer pool alert)

BBC ^ | 6/6/03 | BBC

[Diddle E. Squat]

Archaeologists are carrying out one of their most delicate projects to date - the careful restoration of 1200-year-old human faeces. Measuring 20cm by 5cm, the exhibit is thought to be the largest fossilised human excrement ever found.

But despite surviving for well over 1,000 years, the Viking relic was broken into three pieces during a recent school visit to its home, the Archaeological Resource Centre (Arc) in York.

Now team member Gill Snape, a student from the University of Bradford, has the unenviable task of restoring the artefact to its former glory.

But despite admitting she has "never done anything quite like this before", the 21-year-old told BBC News Online it was not quite the revolting job people assumed.

"It's rock hard, it doesn't smell and it's certainly not squishy," said Ms Snape.

Centrepiece attraction

Museum chiefs are desperate to see their star exhibit glued back together because it is popular with the schoolchildren that make up a large percentage of their visitors.

"The kids loved it," Ms Snape added.

"We've even had thank you letters saying 'thank you for showing us the poo'."

After it is delicately glued back together, Ms Snape said the fossil would be mounted on perspex for visitors to "fully appreciate its glory as the centrepiece of the Arc".

And she had a message for anyone who doubted the impressive stature of the item, which was discovered in 1972 on land now occupied by Lloyds TSB Bank in York.

"It's huge - and bear in mind it's shrunk since it was deposited," she added.

[Diddle E. Squat]

"The Viking fossil is a key attraction at the museum"

[Navy Patriot]

Of course the duty to post this would be deposited on YOUR doorstep.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Its a crappy job, but somebody has...

[Nateman]

I'll give em a fresh one, for only half the cost!

[ClearCase_guy]

But despite admitting she has "never done anything quite like this before"

And if she had, would she admit it?

[conservativeammom]

Well now, this little project will surely look good on Ms. Snape's resume...Yes indeed!!!!

[expatpat]

Those vikings were obviously not tight-*ssed baseturds like the modern Scnadanavians.

[Chewbacca]

Fossiliezed poop that is only 1,000 years old?
Wow. All the evolutionists claim it takes millions of years to make a fossil.
Maybe dinosaur fossils are only a few thousand years old.

[BenR2]

Fossiliezed poop that is only 1,000 years old?
Wow. All the evolutionists claim it takes millions of years to make a fossil.
Maybe dinosaur fossils are only a few thousand years old.


///
Hey, you're not respecting the foundational theological premise of humanism! (Even if you are stating the obvious implications of the situation.)

[kezekiel]

My advice: Waste the most taxpayer money possible, and launch it into space.

[Genesis defender]

And on that note, time to go make another future fossil....

[Xenalyte]

And as we all know, Unified Feces would make a great name for a band!

[CommandoFrank]

"It's rock hard, it doesn't smell and it's certainly not squishy," said Ms Snape.

That doesn't mean it's over 1000 years old. Hell, I've done a few of those myself...

[general_re]

I think Big Viking should open for Unified Feces. Hell, I think Big Viking should be the frontman - "Big Viking and the Unified Feces"...

[Xenalyte]

You, my friend, have an absolute genius for this!

[general_re]

LOL - wasn't there a vanity thread about the worst possible band names last year? I think Bella_Bru might have started it - there were some real gems on there, as I recall ;)

[uglybiker]

Measuring 20cm by 5cm, the exhibit is thought to be the largest fossilised human excrement ever found.

circa 1000 a.d.

"I heard a loud rumbling.
I turned and saw the giant avföring and
I knew it must be a sign from Thor, The God of Thunder!
.
We sang songs about it to the children...."

[Diddle E. Squat]

Your post 16 should have pinged her...

[Cloud William]

[general_re]

Yep. My bad. I really don't remember if Bella started it or not, but I do remember that she was there. It was one of those late-night threads where folks get a little goofy, as I recall ;)