My own grave goods?

This week's blog prompt was asking what we would want Archaeologists to find in our graves, what would best tell them about we were as person when we were alive. I also asked my friends and family on Facebook to pitch in what they would put in my grave, most responses had some humor in them - perhaps because that is just who I am as a person; instead of who I am in society (although I suppose being a student working min. wage at Starbucks, my grave would be full of textbooks and green aprons).

My friends said stuff like: gluten free chocolate cake, red velvet cupcakes, red lipstick, Disney paraphernalia, high heels, a half sweet black tea lemonade, and robots ..oh and my dog (not sure how I feel about that one yet, he's probably going to be dead long before me).
I feel that these suggestions fit who I am, for the most part, although not necessarily what I would want to say about myself in the afterlife. Archaeologists might interpret from these items that I am a hooker with a auto-immune disease, a tendency for overeating and a obsession with America's most popular theme park.

I, personally, would want to send a message of what matters most to me in life: family, food, travel. (Yes, we can all agree on the food). Perhaps souvenirs from the places I traveled to and loved most, photographs of my family in places we are happiest, and foods from my favourite restaurants from around the world. Although these items don't really speak of who I am in society, they speak of who I am as a person. I want to send the message that today your standing is in society does not matter as much and is not as limiting, but that what you do with your life is what matters.

Mmmmm Macarons

Sushi AND Cake.. why not?

Funeral in the Stars?

This week's blog prompt was to investigate alternative funeral practices. Instantly, I was reminded of a unique funeral practice that was brought up in an archaeology class I took last semester: lunar and celestial burials. In my class last semester, the final unit was a discussion on archaeology of the moon and, surprisingly, there are indeed human remains on the moon's surface, as well as in orbit. Eugene Shoemaker is one of the most well-known lunar burials, whose remains were placed on the moon in 1997. There are even websites offering to deliver the cremains of your loved ones to sit among the stars, for a fee. For $995 your departed can be launched into space and then brought back down to earth, but for $2000 they can remain in earth's orbit. The most expensive service, called The Voyager Service, costs $12,500 and will send 1gram of your loved one's cremains deep into space. Although expensive, this method of funerary practice is certainly unique and also helps with the growing problem some countries face of overcrowding in their graveyards.

Callisto, a moon that orbits Jupiter

Who am I...

Hi,

My name is Jaylene (Jay) and I am a 3rd year anthropology student at UVic. I am from Vancouver originally, and this is only my second semester at UVic. I've changed my major a few times, but Anthropology is something that fits and fascinates me. I am passionate about many aspects of anthropology, particularly Medical Anthropology and Forensic Anthropology. When I saw the topic of this course, I didn't hesitate to enroll. I am fascinated by how certain aspects of the dead and their burials can tell us about who they were when they were alive. I feel this course will really pique my interest.
Other things you should know about me: I love to travel, am a foodie, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't like Bones...