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I should have been an archeologist?

January 29, 2015 By Talya Tate Boerner

I should have been an archeologist or geologist. I may have missedย my calling.

I took severalย geology classes at Baylorโ€”as many as I could and still graduate on time with a business degree. Daddyย wouldn’t hear of any major other than business even though history and rocks and things buried beneath the earth’s crust always heldย a special interest for me.ย ย Who knows why certain people are drawn to certain things,ย but as I think back, there is a commonย threadย in many of my memories.

I grew up living on the New Madrid Fault whereย earthquakes were a way of life. My best summer days were spent exploring the streams and trails in the Ozark Mountains and jumping from theย rocky cliffs around Lake Norfork. Our delta fields often presented treasures such as arrowheads and other Indian artifacts.

And there are related snippets too, like buying a jar of rocks in Hot Springs and digging up pearly shells and pieces of rusty tin on the banks of Little River.

Obviously the Earth was filled with mystery. Literally.

Today as we install a sprinkler system and churn up dirt in our new backyard, I’ve been findingย shards of creamware and potteryย and chunks of heavy glass. Much like the sugary Florida beaches where a fresh batch of seashells wash up each morning, pieces of old stonewareย and glassย work themselves up from the ground daily. Okay, I’m sure most people prefer seashells to broken glass, but this sort of thing fascinates me.

I found this collection (below) during a five minute stroll through the backyard.

found in our garden.

To most, this may only look like trash, and back in the early 1900s, it probably was. Without city trash pickup, garbage was often tossed out the back yard to the pigs or dumped in low spots near streams. Paper and food items disintegrated but glass and pottery waits to be discovered.

To me, these broken pieces are treasures. Bits of history left behind.ย I enjoy these shardsย not only because of the unique craftsmanship represented, but I like to imagine the familyย who used the dinner plates etched with faint blue flowers. What were the peopleย like who lived in theseย hills at the turn of the century?

i should have been an archeologist

This next piece was completely covered in mud. I didn’t realize there was a design until I rinsed it off.

I should have been an archeologist

And what aย thrill to find aย piece with preserved words. A few keystrokes later, I discovered this stampย was the markย of chinaย manufacturerย Edwin M. Knowles China Company. The three numbers indicate the date of this piece asย 1918.

antique china shard

If you are still reading (thank you), I have one more pieceโ€”a heavy piece of glass with scalloped edges. This one reminds me of quartz.

old glass buried in the yard

I can’t imagine all the treasures buried beneath the surface of the Earth. Real treasures, never to be discovered.

I wonder what tomorrow will bring?

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

โ€œYou can either be a victim of the world or an adventurer in search of treasure. It all depends on how you view your life.โ€
โ€• Paulo Coelhoย 

Musical Pairing:

Whole Wide World – Mindy Gledhill

Filed Under: Arkansas, Home Tagged With: Fayetteville, found things, history, Washington-Willow Historic District

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Comments

  1. Renee says

    January 29, 2015 at 7:48 am

    Great perspective, thanks! I could see you with a metal detector checking places out

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 1, 2015 at 8:33 pm

      I’ve never done that, but it would be interesting, Renee.

  2. Lyn Fenwick says

    January 29, 2015 at 8:29 am

    Not sure if you have followed all of my blogs, but we certainly do share the interest in rescuing pieces of the past from the earth. Our construction has unearthed pottery, China, glass, bottles, jars, tools, and probably my favorite, a W.W. I toy “tin” soldier. Haven’t found a sack of gold coins yet but I’ll keep looking!!

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 1, 2015 at 8:34 pm

      I haven’t seen this post, but I’ll look for it. Yes, we do share similar interests. I’m looking for gold too:)

  3. pat laster says

    January 29, 2015 at 8:43 am

    Going thru someone else’s burn pile with a cousin was the starting point of my love for old things. I also like stones and rocks from other places (think Eureka Springs). Great post.

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 1, 2015 at 8:36 pm

      I remember looking through an old junk pile behind the chicken coop at my aunt’s house. Lots of old snuff cans and glass bottles. Maybe that was my beginning.

  4. Barbara Tate says

    January 29, 2015 at 9:39 am

    Loved this post. “A little girl with great big plans.” That is you, Talya Tate!

    • Colene says

      January 29, 2015 at 7:32 pm

      I was thinking the same thing as Barbara…”a little girl with great big plans”. We enjoy digging around and finding treasures here too.

      • Talya Tate Boerner says

        February 1, 2015 at 8:36 pm

        Thanks Colene!

  5. Barbara thompson says

    January 29, 2015 at 11:13 am

    Refreshes old memories growing up on the farm exploring pastures & finding old animal skeletons & rock fossils. Thanks for the memories..

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 1, 2015 at 8:37 pm

      Thanks Barbara!

  6. Tim says

    January 29, 2015 at 11:54 am

    Awesome post, Talya! We have so much in common…sorry, if that scares you…haha…anyhow, knowing that you spent time in Piggot, AR at the Pfeiffer home, I’m sure you thoroughly enjoyed the “rock” collection displayed there. My Geology class from ANC went there for a class tour. It was Incredible, to say the least.=)

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 1, 2015 at 8:37 pm

      Yes, I love the Pfeiffer mineral and gem collection. Very cool!

  7. Jeanetta says

    January 31, 2015 at 9:55 pm

    We both missed our callings. You should have those shards made into pendants or maybe a wind-chime.

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 1, 2015 at 8:38 pm

      Jeanetta – I’d like to use them in a mosaic piece. Maybe a bowl.

  8. Dorothy Johnson says

    February 3, 2015 at 9:07 am

    I love your treasures. Especially the blue china. I also think the idea of a mosiac

  9. Dorothy Johnson says

    February 3, 2015 at 9:22 am

    Lola took over the keyboard while I was on the phone and posted my comment before I was finished! I think the idea of a mosaic is wonderful.

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 4, 2015 at 8:07 am

      Maybe we could teach our pets to do all our blogging:))

  10. Debbie says

    February 4, 2015 at 4:26 pm

    There’s something about girls who prefer digging in the dirt over ballet. This is partially why we garden, don’t you think?


Hi! I'm Talya Tate Boerner. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (2022)

THE THIRD ACT OF THEO GRUENE (coming 2025)

Recent Ramblings:

  • Sunday Letter: May 25, 2025
  • Sunday Letter: May 4, 2025
  • Sunday Letter: Rainy Day Edition
  • Spiderwort: my love-hate relationship
  • Sunday Letter: March 23, 2025

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