Walking out on the shores of Rennell Sound earlier this week we passed an array of cultural artifacts. Each was a curious snapshot of human activity, but with varying longevity and visual appeal.
A culturally modified tree. This one has had the bark stripped on one face.
An old spray can with Russian writing. What tale could this trash tell?
A piece of light blue beach glass. Not many bottles are this colour anymore. Could it be part of an old Japanese fishing net float?
As I walked passed each of these things I found myself pondering the sometimes blurry lines between anthropology and rubbish.
I’d hazard to say that the only difference is time.
Komaroff is a russian insecticide (mosquito) spray….the tales the tides tell…
I agree with S.Ball: anthropology = garbage + time. Then we call them “middens”.
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