The Doggerland Skull, by Huinárë

[huinare.livejournal.com]

B2MeM Challenge: ‘There is a modern-day archaeological discovery that ties in with Elves and proves they did exist (in the manner of finding King Tut or Richard III). Of course, there still a few elves still living... somewhere. They're just super-talented at not being noticed.’ - Samtyr

Format: Ficlet, drawing

Genre: Gen, epistolary, experimental

Rating: G

Warnings: Osteological geekery? Also, large embedded image.

Characters: OFC, mystery character

Pairings: n/a

Creators' Notes (optional): I am not sure that this fulfills all aspects of Samtyr’s very inspired prompt. My initial reading of the prompt focused on the evidence itself and not quite so much the possible ramifications for any of the Eldar who still linger among us.

Dear taggers - no, I do not want that character tagged. =)
Dear readers - if the image is too large to see properly on the community page, clicking on the image should take you to the full version.

Summary: Two academics discuss a recently-excavated prehistoric skeleton.

Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2015 05:28:04
From: lagank@hinteru.edu
Subject: Doggerland Skull
To: maclaa@hinteru.edu

Actually, I tried the tea and I still couldn’t sleep. Instead I continued to pore over the data, drew up some new diagrams for the layperson, and also tripped over the cat [he’s still mad at me] and am the more convinced of my rightness.

I think I should hand my diagrams out at the next faculty meeting!

Y/N?

Kassandra Laganà, PhD
Professor of Osteology and Archaeology
Department of Anthropology
Hinterlands State University

_____________________________________________________________


Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2015 10:19:32
From: maclaa@hinteru.edu
Subject: RE: Doggerland Skull
To: lagank@hinteru.edu

I’d reconsider that after sleeping on it (I trust you are currently sleeping now, and not lurking about in some café on your third mocha with a manic grin on your face).

Your data is intriguing, but you have very little support.


Sent from my iPhone

_____________________________________________________________


Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2015 10:46:53
From: lagank@hinteru.edu
Subject: Re: RE: Doggerland Skull
To: maclaa@hinteru.edu

It’s only my second mocha. Give me some credit Mac.

Maybe you’re right. But you didn’t see this thing! the conclusions are very obvious, at least to an osteologist. All right so maybe what I need to do is present the data (that’s data ARE intriguing btw) at the conference, plenty of exposure so someone is bound to see the light.

Kassandra Laganà, PhD
Professor of Osteology and Archaeology
Department of Anthropology
Hinterlands State University

_____________________________________________________________


Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2015 11:04:08
From: maclaa@hinteru.edu
Subject: RE: Re: RE: Doggerland Skull
To: lagank@hinteru.edu

Peer review. I thought you physical anthropologists were all about cruel scathing soul-rending peer review before presenting stuff.


Sent from my iPhone

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Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2015 11:08:22
From: lagank@hinteru.edu
Subject: Re: RE: Re: RE: Doggerland Skull
To: maclaa@hinteru.edu

Yes and let’s just say it won’t pass muster because my staid and honorable peers mistake my assertions for some kind of whimsical supernaturalistic mumbo-jumbo. One anonymous reviewer said and I quote: “Laganà has been reading too many fantasy novels.”

I should just leaflet at the conference tomorrow!

Kassandra Laganà, PhD
Professor of Osteology and Archaeology
Department of Anthropology
Hinterlands State University

_____________________________________________________________


Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2015 11:12:00
From: maclaa@hinteru.edu
Subject: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Doggerland Skull
To: lagank@hinteru.edu

NO.


Sent from my iPhone

_____________________________________________________________


Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2015 11:12:47
From: lagank@hinteru.edu
Subject: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Doggerland Skull
To: maclaa@hinteru.edu

Why not

Kassandra Laganà, PhD
Professor of Osteology and Archaeology
Department of Anthropology
Hinterlands State University

_____________________________________________________________


Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2015 11:17:31
From: maclaa@hinteru.edu
Subject: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Doggerland Skull
To: lagank@hinteru.edu

Because that will make you look precisely like the sort of crackpot you don’t wish to be construed as? Then perhaps the Museum won’t let you back to see the bones again?

For pity’s sake do get some sleep before making any decisions on this.


Sent from my iPhone

_____________________________________________________________


Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2015 11:29:06
From: lagank@hinteru.edu
Subject: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Doggerland Skull
To: maclaa@hinteru.edu

You know, you’re probably right. Not sure why you took such a keen interest in this research if you’re so eager to shut me down, but I guess someone has to do it.

Kassandra Laganà, PhD
Professor of Osteology and Archaeology
Department of Anthropology
Hinterlands State University

_____________________________________________________________


Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2015 12:37:26
From: maclaa@hinteru.edu
Subject: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Doggerland Skull
To: lagank@hinteru.edu

I want to “shut you down” precisely because it’s interesting. Don’t try and do anything with it until it can be credible to others.


Sent from my iPhone

_____________________________________________________________


Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2015 13:09:48
From: lagank@hinteru.edu
Subject: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Doggerland Skull
To: maclaa@hinteru.edu
Attachment: DOGGERLAND SKULL SUTURE CLOSURE FOR DUMMIES.PNG

Thanks, Mac, I probably wouldn’t have lasted this long if my colleagues didn’t sometimes reel me back in.

But just have a look at the simplified thing I made last night. The ramifications! I’m not rabid about this for nothing!

Kassandra Laganà, PhD
Professor of Osteology and Archaeology
Department of Anthropology
Hinterlands State University



_____________________________________________________________


Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2015 19:44:13
From: maclaa@hinteru.edu
Subject: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Doggerland Skull
To: lagank@hinteru.edu

That’s really fascinating, Kass!

As you know, my understanding of the subject matter is pretty limited so it’s difficult for me to offer comments. However…and I’m not saying there could not have existed a long-lived species such as this! In fact, you make a compelling argument for it…however, if I understand the suture closure thing correctly, I would doubt that any of these proposed long-lived human beings would still be alive today. I mean, would the bone keep growing after the sutures were fully closed? Wouldn’t their skulls get too thick and heavy or possibly the bone would intrude on their brain? Maybe there is a reason this proposed being is evidently extinct.

In any case, I am as ever impressed by your extensive knowledge and innovative hypotheses. Please keep me updated.

Aiken Maclaren, PhD
Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology
Department of Anthropology
Hinterlands State University

_____________________________________________________________

Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2015 04:43:27
From: lagank@hinteru.edu
Subject: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Doggerland Skull
To: maclaa@hinteru.edu

Thanks for having a look. An animal whose skull kept ossifying to the point of endangering its brain would be selected against obviously. So yes, either it would have died out, OR: ossification does not continue after complete suture closure. I don’t see why it would [continue]! That’s not the way it works in healthy individuals of any species that I know of.

Would you believe I slept 12 hrs? Off to class soon, I’m showing Intro that video today that at least one person inevitably gets righteously offended by. Have fun at the orchestra flash mob thingy.

Kassandra Laganà, PhD
Professor of Osteology and Archaeology
Department of Anthropology
Hinterlands State University

Comments

[zopyrus.livejournal.com]

I thought this was a great execution of the prompt--any more detail about Kassandra's mysterious friend would have been distracting, so I'm glad you kept him on the margins. I liked the science, too--I didn't know that about bone sutures and your explanation of what might happen to an elf skull over time seemed plausible to me!

Also, I loled at the orchestra flash mob line.

[huinare.livejournal.com]

Thanks thanks! I must here confess to being pleased if this fic could inform people a little about osteology (a current passion of mine, although I am by no means an expert /disclaimer).

I added the orchestra flash mob in at the last minute, as it seemed to be missing something!