Vintage Fashion: Artifacts From Years Gone By

Look at the pages of the latest issue of a prominent fashion magazine and you are sure to find it. Look online at the numerous

celebrity blogs and you will be sure to find it. Visit your local consignment clothing store and you are absolutely sure to

find it.

What is this “it?” The “it” is vintage fashion and it continues to be all the rage in fashion circles year after year. The

definitely of vintage, or retro fashion, depends on the person writing about or wearing the artifacts from years gone by.

But one thing in fashion is apparent: fashion comes and goes in cycles and what was in style when you were young will most

likely be considered vintage fashion when you grow up and have children of your own.

For several years, vintage fashion boasted artifacts from the 1960’s: mini-dresses and knee high boots. Then it was the

1970’s vintage fashions of afro hair styles and bell bottom pants along with wedge heels and flowing disco tops.

Now, look on the pages of fashion magazines or blogs and the newest fashion artifacts are considered fashions from not that

long ago: the 1980’s. Slouch socks, neon prints, tons of jewelry, big hair and make up are coming back in to style in stages

and it is funny to see fashion writers discuss how this is now vintage fashion. People who were born in the 1980’s are still

in their twenties: hardly artifact-type people!

But people have had to deal with fashions coming back in and out since the beginning of clothing. People have always been

concerned with being the best dressed and as time passed, ideas for fashion started to wane and styles and ideas were repeated,

hence the continued popularity of vintage fashion.

The best way to approach fashion is to mix vintage pieces with other items that are not considered to be artifacts. Mixing

the old and the new will show others that you are a fashion forward type of person who is able to confidently mix up fashions

without appearing overly made-up or ridiculous.

Fashions will continue to come in and out of style as long as there are fashion designers and people there to write about

and buy the clothes. We will not escape fashion, especially vintage type fashions, so we might as well embrace it and wear

it proudly.

You will not be considered an artifact if you do indeed adopt retro or vintage fashions. Instead, you will be looked at as

a fashion forward person who is continually looking for new ways to push the fashion envelope. Wear the clothes right and

you could be considered the newest “it” person on the covers of the magazines and soon be walking the runways of Paris and

Milan.

Okay, not really, but it is fun to dream, right? And vintage fashion can help you escape to a time where life was simple.

So travel back in time and look good doing it with vintage fashions.

What Will People Consider Artifacts in 100 years?

Do you ever stop to think that one day, the life we living now will be considered history? A weird thought because we think

of the past as back in the “olden days” where people had to walk barefoot to school both ways in the snow and they didn’t

have the Internet or radio to keep them company on boring Saturday afternoons.

An interesting thought is what will people consider to be artifacts when they look at us in 100 years? Will they look at

our high tech cell phones and laugh because we were so amused by the simple things in life? Will they look at the war in

Iraq and realize that it was the point when the world really started to break down? Will they curse us for ruining the

planet and the natural beauty of the Earth for them?

Chances are, they will look at our technology, our blogs, our photos and celebrity obsession and take that as the artifacts

from these years of our lives. It is not necessarily a bad thing, we do not know if the world will be in ruin in 100 years

or if it will be this utopia where world peace reins and world hunger has ended. What we do know is what we have here today,

and what we have is not that bad.

We have terrorism, we have war and we have enough violence to last lifetimes. We also have a lot of peace, love and hope

that can serve as lasting artifacts for the future. Future generations can look back at the artifacts we leave and know we

were a body of people who were trying to do the right thing while getting stuck in the mistakes of the past.

Hopefully people of the future will continue to learn from our mistakes and use our artifacts as guides to continually

improve the world. They could also just take a look at the party pictures that we leave and laugh because we at least knew

how to have a good time!

People can sit and hypothesize about the future and remember the past for what it was. What we can do is make our mark for

the future to show others and make them understand what we as people were all about. We worked hard, we played even harder

and we loved to make a difference. In the end, that will be all that matters.

Then, maybe in 200 years, the people will look back at us in history and recognize that this was the time in history when

people were really focused on doing the right thing and creating a better life for everyone in it, including the people of

the future.

Can they get all of this from the artifacts we leave behind? Of course! We have learn from past generations that way,

haven’t we? That is why we leave behind our mark, to show the people of the future what we did and where we are going. Who

knew artifacts told that whole story?

Is That for Real? Fake Artifacts and the Truth

People love to collect things: especially artifacts and other collectibles that they deem to either have personal or monetary

value. Unfortunately, with the growth of this popular pastime comes the people who are out to take advantage of these people

who wish to purchase artifacts for their collections.

These crooks only want to defraud the innocent people of their money while preying on their desire to have something unique

and original. Until these people are all caught, it will continue. However, the sad fact is that there will continue to be

sideways crooks that will prey on unsuspecting people until the end of time.

So, if you are a collector, take note. If you are looking to purchase any sort of collectable from someone who claims to

have something original, make sure you take the time to research the claim before you shell out your hard earned cash.

How can you be prepared to avoid crooks? Well, it surely is not easy, but here are a few steps you can follow to try to

protect yourself, your interests and most of all, your cash:

* Only buy from a reputable antiques or collectables dealer. These people will have references and contacts in the industry

that will prove that they have the goods

* Never buy from someone who approaches you about buying something unique or rare. Most times these people are trying to

take advantage of your interest. Instead, only buy things you have had the time to research in advance.

* Go with your gut, if you look at something and it seems too good to be true, it of course probably is just that.

* Do not let your excitement get in the way of your good judgment. You may be excited at the prospect of purchasing a

unique artifact, but do not let that cloud your good judgment and make sure you research your purchase before buying,

by confirming on historical records, etc.

* Develop relationships with your dealers and buyers. That way you will build trust and you can be assured that you will

be able to trust these people and know that what they are saying is the truth.

There may come a time when you do get bilked out of your cash and end up losing some of it due to a bad business deal. Do

not dwell on that, it can happen to even the savviest of collectors. Instead, brush it off to a hard lesson learned and

then get up and try again. You will no doubt have the opportunity to purchase many find artifacts and collectables in

your life. Some will be amazing, some not so much. In the end you will have a great collection of artifacts that will make

you proud to show off to your friends and family. It will take some time to assemble this amazing collection, but once you

do, you will be amazed at the satisfaction you get from it.

Strange Artifacts Abound!

We have become familiar with the term artifacts and what that means. Usually things like animal bones, arrowheads, ancient

documents and complex statues are what comes to mind when we think of things like artifacts. However, like with everything

else in life, there are plenty of strange artifacts that have been found by archaeologists that defy reason and have no

explanation. Here are a list of several strange artifacts that have been found over the years:

Strange Fossils: Modern science has led us to believe that people have not been around in our current forms for that many

years. However, researchers have found strange looking fossils that have defied traditionally accepted ideas. Like for

instance, several handprint and footprint imprints have been found that scientists have dated back millions of years. This

is much longer than people have been thought to be around. There has even been a fossil unearthed that looks like a man

wearing a sandal that appears to also be several million years old. Who can explain it! No one, yet.

Metal Spheres: People have been digging up odd metal spheres in Africa for years now. These metal spheres are perfectly

round and some have designs etched into them. No one can explain what they were used for, but one thing is for certain.

They have been around for billions of years and do not look like they are going anywhere anytime soon.

Ancients Discs: Researchers have unearthed amazing looking gold discs in Chinese caves that look to be ancient version

of records. What were they used for? I guess we will probably never know.

Ancient batteries: Researchers have found examples of batteries developed by ancient people in the Middle East that are

similar to that of the batteries of today. Amazing to think of the technology that could have existed millions of years ago.

Aircraft Shaped Artifacts: Scientists have unearthed artifacts in Egypt and South America, two entirely different continents

that are shaped unusually similar to modern aircrafts. Did they have the technology and the know how to make flight back

then? WE will probably never know.

Huge Spherical Balls: Balls, perfectly circular, have been found in the jungles of Costa Rica and Central America for

decades. Some of these weigh a few ounces, others a few tons. Though they are clearly man-made, it’s not clear what purpose

they actually served for the people who made them.

The list of strange fossils can go on and on and the debates that go along with them will last forever. What can we make of

the strange findings of scientists and researchers? Well, civilizations could have been much more advanced that we have

previously given them credit for. Or, other beings have inhabited the Earth earlier than we realize. Who really knows for

sure? One thing is for certain: it is pretty amazing what ancient people could do and what similarities we have with them

now. These artifacts will continue to amaze us for thousands of years to come.

Ancient Egyptian Artifacts

Many famous archeological excavations have happened in Egypt, and the artifacts recovered from these digs are some of the

best known in the world. Egypt had a thriving civilization long before many countries even existed. This civilization

produced some of the best-known buildings, sculptures, and art found in the world.

Three of the most recognized artifacts from Ancient Egypt are the Great Pyramids. The Great Pyramids are located in Giza.

Three successive rulers during the Old Kingdom of Ancient Egypt had these impressive structures created. The rulers, Khufu,

Chefron, and Mycerinus wanted magnificent tombs built to hold their remains when they died.

These pyramids contained amazing artifacts that reflected the very best that the Egyptian society produced at the time.

Not only were precious works of art included in the tombs, other artifacts such as furniture and jewelry were sealed within

the pyramids. In fact, sadly servants were also often sealed within the pyramids, supposedly to aid the rulers in the

afterlife.

No discussion of Ancient Egyptian artifacts would be complete without mentioning the famous King Tut. King Tutankhamen was

only a child when he came to power in 1361 B.C. One theory is that he was assassinated as a teen since he died from a head

wound, although no one knows for certain what happened. In 1922, the tomb of King "Tut" was discovered by Howard Carter, a

British archeologist. The tomb of King Tutankhamen contained many priceless artifacts, including jewelry, furniture, and a

famous gold mask.

Another Ancient Egyptian artifact still standing today is the Great Sphinx. Connected to King Chephren's pyramid, the Great

Sphinx depicts the face of the Pharaoh on the body of a lion. Scholars believe the Great Sphinx was created to guard the

burial grounds. This massive structure is 65 feet tall and 200 feet long. Although time has worn at the features, the Great

Sphinx is still an amazing artifact from long ago.

The Rosetta Stone is a famous and historically significant artifact. This artifact was found in 1799. The writing on this

stone made it possible to translate the meaning of hieroglyphics. Believed to have been created in 196 B.C., the stone

contains a royal decree written in three languages. The languages included on the stone are hieroglyphics, Greek, and an

ancient Egyptian alphabet language called demotic. In 1822, the text on the Rosetta Stone was translated. Thanks to this

translation, scholars then had a way to decipher hieroglyphics.

Queen Nefertiti is remembered because of an artifact found in a sculptor's house. The bust of Queen Nefertiti is considered

to be unique because it depicts her in realistic detail. The sculptor, Thutmose, probably created the bust for others to

copy. Many other busts and artifacts also were found in the sculptor's house when it was uncovered in 1912. The bust of

Queen Nefertiti, one of the most famous artifacts from Ancient Egypt, currently resides in the Altes Museum in Berlin.

When it comes to amazing artifacts detailing past civilizations, Ancient Egypt produced countless treasures. Many museums

throughout the world display artifacts from this civilization, making it possible for people worldwide to see for themselves

the beauty that was Ancient Egypt.

Determining the Age of Artifacts

When you tour a museum and see a display of artifacts, you probably wonder how old the artifacts are. Archeologists feel the

same way. When they discover artifacts, they want to determine how old they are. By knowing how old an artifact is, the

archeologists can learn more about the people who created the artifact. They'll have a better idea what life was like during

that time period.

Archeologists use several methods to determine the age of artifacts. Because these objects help archeologists, researchers,

and sociologists learn about ancient civilizations, it's important to know how old found artifacts are.

When they uncover an ancient artifact, archeologists try to determine its numerical or chronological age by analyzing the

chemical and physical characteristics of the object. A variety of tests exist, and the test that is used often depends on

the projected age of the object and the material from which the object is made.

Since the middle of the twentieth century, some archeologists and scientists have looked to atom behavior as a means of

determining the age of certain materials. One method often used is radiocarbon dating, also called carbon-14 dating.

Radiocarbon dating was an important discovery made during the 1900s. It has greatly aided archeologists in their quest for

more information about the artifacts they discover.

Radiocarbon dating was discovered by Professor Libby of the University of Chicago following World War II. The way Radiocarbon

dating works is that it measures the radioactive decay of carbon-14 and can be used to tell the age of organic artifacts.

Researches measure how much carbon-14 exists in the artifact. This measurement then enables them to determine the age of the

artifact.

Not all artifacts can be tested with Radiocarbon dating. Another method used is Potassium-argon dating. Potassium-argon

dating can be used with non-organic materials, such as rocks. Moreover, it can test the age of rocks that much older than

the organic artifacts that can be tested with Radiocarbon dating.

Although organic artifacts cannot be tested this way, the way rocks are dated using the Potassium-argon method is that as

potassium breaks down over time, it becomes a gas called argon-40. Since scientists know the rate at which potassium decays,

they can compare the potassium to argon ratio in rock and determine the age.

Potassium-argon testing is perfect to use on non-organic materials because it allows scientists to date much older materials

than radiocarbon dating. When artifacts are made of rock, such as rudimentary tools and utensils, they can be examined using

this method.

Many other methods are used by archeologists and scientists to determine the age of artifacts. Some methods consider the

amount of heat the artifacts have been exposed to by the sun or fire. As technology progresses, more methods of determining

the age of artifacts are being discovered.

All of these methods, both old and new, are used by archeologists to uncover more information about the way people used to

live many centuries ago. With this information, we get an invaluable glimpse into the past.

Is It Appropriate to Decorate With Artifacts?

So you just returned from a great trip to Mexico and while you were there, you managed to find several artifacts that you

were able to stow away with you in your bags. You think they are beautiful pieces and would like to display them in your

home so you can see the artifacts on a daily basis while showing your guests what cool items you found on your vacation.

But do you really think it is a good idea to decorate your home with ancient artifacts? Sure, it is a very cool memento of

your vacation, but have you ever stopped and thought of what those artifacts mean to the people of that land. You may not

want to have it in your home after all.

Think of it this way, how would you feel if people from other countries decorated their homes with pieces of the World Trade

Center Towers. Yes, a very dramatic comparison, but to the people of those countries, the artifacts have more history and

meaning in them that you could never imagine or understand.

So, if you are thinking about decorating with artifacts you have found during your travels, take heed. People also feel that

decorating with artifacts can bring bad karma into your house and possibly haunt you. This all depends on what you really

believe in, but is worth it to think about when deciding what to do with the artifacts.

Instead, it may be a wiser move to instead purchase knick knacks or statues from the countries you visit. They would be a

constant reminder of your trip and can complement your home’s décor if you choose wisely. Then, you will not have to worry

about offending future house guests with your artifacts and instead can focus on discussing your past trips and experiences

rather than stick up for your choices.

So, what should you do with the artifacts you already have? Well, you could donate them to a museum or find a way to donate

them to a local college or university that can find the appropriate uses for them and possibly use them in their classes

dealing with the subject matter the artifacts represent.

Donating the artifacts will also show that you are interested in making sure that others can learn from your artifacts and

will be able to see a piece of history up close and personal. That way, you will be looked at as a person who is concerned

with education rather than someone who is only interested in what your home looks like without concerns for other cultures.

Next time, think wisely about what you bring home with you. If you would get offended by it if the tables were turned, do

not do it. It goes back to the old adage, treat others like you would like to be treated. That goes for ancient people as

well. They still have ancestors who are looking out for them today and still want to give them the respect they deserve.