Which to my mind is evidence that "culture" is dynamic and perhaps is a poor tool to use as a benchmark.

Then we err on the side of caution and leave the graves the *bleep* alone.

Not necessarily. Just because something has lain undiscovered doesn’t mean it was deliberately hidden. There have been untold millions (perhaps billions) of people buried since the dawn of humankind; the vast majority of which have never been (and probably never will be) uncovered. In some parts of the world, discovering (and the subsequent archeological examination and removal of) buried remains on construction sites is a common occurrence. If these sites were to be left undisturbed when discovered, then very little would ever get built.

Yes! I've seen that as well, featured in a pretty decent documentary on Pompeii. Cool.

Been to Pompeii, they have several of the casts. They are really fascinating in that the people died (generally killed by the noxious gases that poured out of Vesuvius after the initial eruption but before the ash reached them), were covered by ash, and then their bodies decomposed. But the ash kept its form so a negative impression was left of their death pose. Once the excavators realized this, they started to pour plaster into the empty space to take the molds.

As I said, there are several of them on display around the ruins. They are incredibly haunting, some of the people appearing to have been caught screaming when they passed.

And then there's the famous cast of the dog. That one always breaks my heart a little.

oh, now see? that would absolutely kill me

I know, mine too! He was left chained up and survived the first eruption. :(

What gets me is the instantaneous "love" interpretation.

Two infamous thieves, the Bonnie and Clyde of their time, are discovered in their lair and are killed on sight. As the bodies of dishonest people are not to be shown any respect, a thin hole is dug and both corpses are thrown in. Without much room at the bottom, the two happen to land face to face, limbs entwined.

A man confront his wife's female lover and slays her in the dark. After digging a hole in a hidden place and tossing the body in, he finally decides that he can't live with the guilt. His flint knife draws his own blood and he falls in the grave.

A young man and woman get officially married but neither loves the other. It is a marriage of convenience. He has a penchant for men, which he needs to hide. She wants only the status she gains from the union. When the elders discover this ruse against their gods, they ritualistically slay the couple and bury them as intimately as they can. In death, these two will forever atone for their false pretenses by making love for eternity.

Plenty more where that came from...

Party killer.


















something about red longjohns comes to mind.