Scientific excavation
'neath volcano's dormant cone
Where they search beneath the layers
Stories lost once more made known

Here they live a life quite normal
Here they cook their daily meal
Here they're sitting down to eat it
Here a tremor they now feel

From their table in the corner
They could see their world in flames
And they rose with shouts of panic
"Haste, we must leave here now!"
And their final exhortation
As the molten lava came
Was a cry of fear and grief and pain

Then at last the the spade uncovers
Treasure trove by lamplight shown
Food uneaten on the table
Living flesh now turned to stone
Ancient grease on ancient China
In a room in Ancient Rome.
There's a jolt of recognition,
Long-lost friends that we have known
Are we guests, are we intruders?
To their recreated home
Ancient Grease on Ancient China
In a room from Ancient Rome