What is this "future archeology" picture book?
March 31, 2012 2:56 PM Subscribe
Help me find a funky "speculative archeology" picture book from the mid-nineties in which archeologists discover 20th century items and ponder what they may have been used for.
Circa 1994 I was in the brief possession of a really neat picture book. It was a fictional account of an archeological dig as if performed in the distant future, on the remains of 20th century civilization. I recall it being written from the POV of the archeologist and/or team, providing a record of each item recovered and what they speculated it was used for. All of the items were commonplace, and the interpretations rather whimsical.
The only example I can recall was a toilet, which the book explained was most likely a "sacrificial urn"
I recall very large and detailed hand drawings in black and white. I only had the book for a few days before it was stolen (I'm pretty sure), but to this day I think about it and wonder what it is.
I'm almost positive my mother ordered this book for me through one of those *Insert Name of Publisher* Book Club order forms they used to (still do?) send to schools every quarter.
Circa 1994 I was in the brief possession of a really neat picture book. It was a fictional account of an archeological dig as if performed in the distant future, on the remains of 20th century civilization. I recall it being written from the POV of the archeologist and/or team, providing a record of each item recovered and what they speculated it was used for. All of the items were commonplace, and the interpretations rather whimsical.
The only example I can recall was a toilet, which the book explained was most likely a "sacrificial urn"
I recall very large and detailed hand drawings in black and white. I only had the book for a few days before it was stolen (I'm pretty sure), but to this day I think about it and wonder what it is.
I'm almost positive my mother ordered this book for me through one of those *Insert Name of Publisher* Book Club order forms they used to (still do?) send to schools every quarter.
Definitely Motel of the Mysteries - the toilet seat bit was a required reading in one of my college classes.
posted by Wylla at 3:05 PM on March 31, 2012
posted by Wylla at 3:05 PM on March 31, 2012
Best answer: Motel of the Mysteries definitely had the toilet. A bunch of David Macaulay's books were reissued in the 1990s to tie in with some TV work he was doing then, so it makes sense it would have been a book club offering even though as a reissue.
posted by Sidhedevil at 3:05 PM on March 31, 2012
posted by Sidhedevil at 3:05 PM on March 31, 2012
O, wow. This is wonderful stuff, thanks. Are there any more books or sources dealing with the archeological potential of the 20th century?
posted by ouke at 3:43 PM on March 31, 2012
posted by ouke at 3:43 PM on March 31, 2012
"Body rituals among the Nacirema"
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 4:04 PM on March 31, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 4:04 PM on March 31, 2012 [4 favorites]
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