Story
The shell was not proof of the story the cousins wanted. It was proof that their first question was too small. How did coastal material reach red earth? Trade, travel, gift, migration, collection, or something else entirely?
They made two columns in the notebook: what the shell could show, and what it could not show. The second column saved them from turning a beautiful object into a false certainty.
By the end of the day, the shell had become a question about routes. That was enough. Some objects are generous because they slow the researcher down.
Reflection questions
- What can an object suggest without proving?
- Why should inland and coastal places be studied together?
Reminder: Tales are not evidence and should not be used as proof. Use the Wiki and Library for source-led research.