[journal] Log Book - Glass and Metal Box

An object was found in the #49 dig site, located on a once wooden shelf. There were some remains of decomposing paper scattered underneath it. I would venture it is its wrapper. But the content is hard and metallic, so highly unlikely that it is something edible.

The object is quite odd yet common to come by (I have already found 5 in the last month). It is rectangular. It is black on one side with a glassy surface and metallic on the rest. There are some small bumps on the sides, a total of 4. When I press it down, it makes a small click. But nothing happens. Maybe it needs power to function, similar to the many other artifacts I have found.

There is a large hole about a centimeter long on the short side of the artifact. I can’t tell what purpose it serves. Perhaps I can use clay to create a mold with it? But it is too small, I might have to seek some other symps’ help for this. Though the shape is unique, I think it could likely serve as a port to connect to a power source, similar to the other artifacts I found.

On the back of the artifact, there are two large circles positioned at the corner. Both circles have silver rims and a black-bluish center. From how the light bends in them, I think those are layers of lens, ones that are used on our reading glasses.

Another thing of note is there are faint oval prints all over the entire artifact, especially over the black glassy surface. Could it possibly be the paw prints of the creatures before us? (OH MY GOSH I TOUCHED THEM!!! Does it count as an indirect handshake?) If this is truly their paw print, then by comparing it to my print size, they could be similar in height as I am. But much smaller than the arctics. Was it an adult creature that left their prints on this artifact? Or a child? How large could they grow?

I am getting ahead of myself. This is under the assumption that those are indeed paw prints of those creatures. Maybe those are teeth prints. Or something that I haven’t thought of.

Hypothesis … … I got nothing. I am completely stumped. This might as well be a brick. The bumps on the sides suggest that it serves some functional purpose. Maybe something should happen on the black glassy surface when those bumps are pressed, but since there is no power, I wouldn’t know what should happen. Maybe this contraption is a small music box. Or a storyteller.

But how does everything relate to the lens on the back? Maybe it’s a contraption that can help the creatures look far away. Or at small things?

The problem with this artifact is that there is no sign of how I can open it! No screw, no lid. Nothing pops out if I squeeze it on the side. But I don’t want to use brute force and risk damaging it. What if the contents are delicate? I wish we could see through things!

This boxy artifact is just full of mystery.

[OOC: It’s a smartphone]