Normally I sit behind a desk, in front of a computer and talk on the phone/email these cool people. But on Monday it was extremely important that I see one of these said people in her entomology lab at NMNH (National Museum of Natural History). I felt oh so important as I flashed my badge and passed all the school groups and families on spring break--definitely a perk of working at SI.
(For the record, large masses of tourists make my life that much more complicated. Life won't be the same until next winter)
As I walked through the museum, I recognized some of the security guards that used to be at my building--they've gone up in the world. The Rotunda was filled with super excited kids, super excited about the super exciting elephant housed there--no, the Rotunda does not house a dinosaur. (One point to the Natural History museum in NYC).
I made my way through the museum, down the stairs, to the heavily guarded staff elevator. Again I flashed my badge. "Floor Three please," I told the elevator operator (who seemed a bit bummed that he had to sit in an elevator all day. Not one of the cool glass elevators in the department stores in Taiwan. Oh, no. This was one of your typical old school elevators that cramped and hot--one that you certainly hope you never get stuck in).
I left the elevator and found myself in a hallway with no signs. I panicked for a brief moment, but then remember that I had directions. But those directions only got me so far. I found my way past the Anthropology department and turned right as told, but then there were walls and walls of cases (probably for itemized bones), and didn't know where to go. "Do you know where such and such a room is?" I asked another security guard. He didn't. Apparently he didn't normally work on that floor.
But a young intern came to my rescue! ....And told me to continue down the hall.
I finally arrived at the designated room. The door was opened half-way. I poked my head in and saw table and tables of skulls and other such things. "Is such and such scientist here?" I asked, as I couldn't see anything past the bones. Luckily she was.
Now I really wish that I knew taht something like entomology existed when I was younger. Who wouldn't like to study bones and figure out how people died? This scientist that we're working with has done some pretty amazing things. At the moment, she and her team were getting the remains of Native American itemized and ready for re-patriotism (which basically means giving them back to the different Native American nations). I asked her if, by looking at a skeleton, you could tell which part of the world someone came from. I learned that there are three basic categories for skeletons--European, Asian, and African--but it gets tricky as people mix all the time. Fascinating, no?
Looking at all those bones made me think of this place:
"Why?" you ask.This is a church in Kutna Hora, Czech Republic. During the plague the town was hit hard and they ran out of room in the cemetery to bury all of their dead. Their solution was to decorate the interior with the sanitized bones.
Pretty awesome, huh? Definitely one of my favorite place in the CZ, and now the entomology department could quite likely be my favorite department at NMNH. After the gemology (who doesn't like the Hope Diamond?)
