So what have I concluded?

It would seem that the Bed, in its definitive layers and inherent horizontality, must be extremely attractive to the archaeologist. Each horizon could be stripped away and replaced with ease, and the very shape of the bed follows the Cartesian framing that most archaeology depends on.

But to most archaeologists, the Bed is an impenetrable form. Ultimately, it’s inseparable relationship to the body means that any excavation would be an invasion- a dissection- of the sleeping human. It’s archaeology transgresses boundaries of sex and death- two ends of the human spectrum that academic objectivity often aim to avoid.

With these thoughts, I push the boxes back under my bed, in the same order that I found them. I replac the layers of the mattress that I had pulled apart, leaving the two top-most horizons at the foot of the bed as I insert myself between. I am now a new layer; or an artifact. Maybe someone will discover me in the middle of the night, then categorize me, collect me, and describe me as an object in a paper.

I close my eyes,

And sleep.

-- Kristian Woerner