So What Did Margie Say About...Bones

 The repeat episode of Bones titled "The Future in the Past" airing on 3/11/13 begins basically with an excavation.  What it didn't demonstrate was the time and effort that this takes.

    Booth did mention how a potential burial site is located.  The foliage and soil is different from the surrounding area due to the disturbance of the soil to dig the grave and the fertilization of the vegetation from the decomposition of what is buried there.

    What they did not show or talk about was the painstaking grid measurements; the constant documentation through photographs, notes, and sketches; the cautious digging inch by inch of the soil; and then the constant sifting of this soil to find the small traces left behind.  This could include teeth, hair, buttons, zippers, fingernails, tiny fragments of bones, jewelry - the possibilities are endless.

    Once something substantial like bone is located then the paint brushes come out and the tedious work truly begins.  Nothing like a trowel or a shovel can be used to potentially damage such fragile evidence.

    Also let's take into account the weather.  Is it extremely hot?  Or cold? Or raining heavily?  Or snowing?  How is the wind gusting?

    Let's talk logistics:  Do we have a tent available to protect the area?  Do we have a staging area to keep the equipment clean?  Do we have a clearing area to dump the sifted debris?

    Let's ask: Is the ground frozen?  Is it sandy?  Is it clay?  Is there a water level which may interfere with recovery?

    Let's ask: Is it a rural area that makes it difficult to get equipment in the area?  Is there a constant presence of news reporters?  Have the trees and bushes overgrown the area making it difficult?  

    Let's ask: What about manpower?  Do we have enough people to help carry buckets, and sift, and brush, and document?  How many hours will this take and is overtime in the budget?  Do we have the screens and tools readily available? 

    How nice it would be if things were as pristine and as simple as it was depicted in a few seconds of frame in tonight's episode.