Isolated by geography ,an unusual tribe inhabited the most remote region of the globe. One day, by chance, a village elder happened upon a strange object in the soil, puzzling and mysterious to him, yet fairly common and unremarkable to us - a computer circuitboard.

With great concern and wonder, the respected community leader returned to the village with his curious find. Many gathered in awe at the sight of the complex spectacle. Immediately, and with gravest of tones, the council of elders was convened.

 "Gentleman," began the oldest and perhaps wisest of the assemblage, "our brother has brought to us an object which has caused some fear and concern among our ranks..." Nervous and furtive glances were traded. The sage continued, "This find has challenged our worldview, and to some, it has cast the dark shadow of doubt upon our timeless tradition and knowledge." Various degrees of assent were echoed under bated breath.

 "We know that we are the only intelligent creatures on the face of this planet, and our best research and studies have verified that premise from time immemorial. We have never discovered irrefutable evidence to suggest otherwise. I would offer, brethren, that before we are troubled by rash conclusions, that we allow those who are unquestionably qualified among us to shed some light upon this matter."

 With that, the respected leader returned to his prominent seat. Small, hushed discussions proliferated throughout the council. At times, passionate, and even heated exchanges could be heard outside the walls of the ancient structure. As the evening wore on, however, a relative calm reemerged as debate turned to discussion, and indecision was replaced by quiet resolve.

 It was agreed that a panel of eminent researchers and analysts would take on the task of investigating the artifact's origin. News of the discovery spread rapidly throughout the community. It seemed to be an issue which revealed deep and often unheralded divisions within the remote society. Many passed off the find as a scientific hoax, others, persuaded of its validity, challenged others with the ramifications and consequences of the revelation.

 Finally, after much speculation and even more suspicion, the special committee called the council together to release their long-anticipated findings. The circuitboard was laid on a small table near the center of the assembly. "Brethren, we are pleased to come before you today in an advisory capacity," began the chairperson representing them. "We have put the best minds of our time into a noble effort, employing time-tested techniques of scientific inquiry and investigation. We have sought to bring many disciplines to bear upon this study- chemistry and physics, geology, mathematics, and even philosophy and logic." Understandable pride brought confident smiles to many faces.

 "My esteemed colleagues, this panel standing here before you today has arrived at a conclusion that I am sure is not at all unexpected by the majority of you. Our unbiased and careful examination has led to the confirmation that the strange object on this table is the remarkable product of natural and observable processes. I yield the floor to our resident geologist." Many eyebrows were raised, and an unorchestrated sigh of relief rippled throughout the chamber.  "Thank you for the opportunity to share some insight.." said the wrinkled and bearded professor. He held up the circuitboard while turning it slowly. "The curiously flat, green substrate that forms the basis of this object has been determined to be primarily composed of silica...as you know, it is one of the most abundant elements in the crust of our planet. Though it can take many forms and crystalline structures, our analysis shows that this specimen was formed by the slow evaporation of a superheated, silica-rich solution, such as is present near volcanic activity. " There seemed to be a growing excitement in the council room.

 "Though this object was found in the sandy soil near our river, our teams have discovered a thin layer of silica-bearing sediment in the upper elevations of our mountain. We now know that this object was eroded from this original ancient layer, and later deposited by hydraulic forces to the valley below. Though I could comment further on some of the other initially puzzling features of this find, I yield the floor to our esteemed colleague and chemist."

 He motioned for a wiry and spectacled young lady to come forward. "It is an honor to be recognized before you today, " she started. "A serious matter of initial investigation revolved around the myriads of seemingly organized and precise metallic streaks that run throughout the surface of the specimen. To the the uniformed observer they look like a complex road system. Our analysis has shown that these bands are composed almost completely of copper. Though not abundantly available now, our calculated estimations of the ancient environmental conditions which preceded modern times, demonstrates that copper was once a common material. This object is conclusive proof that that school of thinking, which goes back many decades, is based upon sound evidence. The regular copper pattern in the silicon base is the result of two separate processes, separated by many millenia. The fragile silica cooled too quickly after the cessation of geothermal energy, perhaps due to a comet collision, which would cause a planet wide environmental shift. The rapid cooling led to cracking in the innate crystalline-like structure."

 Some in the room nodded in thoughtful approval, others asked hushed questions, but were quickly encouraged to sit back and listen. "The slightly cracked silicon base remained in this state for a long period of time, with new cracks spidering off from the main cleavage lines. Finally, a new age of volcanic activity began, with the release of massive amounts of primary metals from deep within the core of our planet. A cooling yet liquid flow of copper-rich magma flowed across the silicon layer, which had been reexposed in the violent upheavals surrounding the new era of volcanic action. The cracks became filled with a thin coating of the metal, the magma cooled, and major sections of the silicon strata were infused with copper. Later volcanic activity covered the entire region with a carbon-rich ash, which eventually hardened into a tough sediment. We can see much of this represented in the formations around us." The audience was eating out of her hand, and the normally nervous researcher took courage.

 "Soon after, this entire geographic area sank due to plate tectonics, as our geologist could share much better than I, and this region was under water, a salty and mineral rich solution which lasted for millions of years. The subtle yet consistent erosion of the carbon-layer, combined with the common reactions found in the mineral-rich sea water, led to the collection and growth of some of the curious structures we see on the top surface of this specimen." She pointed to the capacitors and resistors which littered the landscape of the circuitboard. "Other less common metals and elements such as iron and manganese undoubtedly stained some of these aberrations, accounting for the curious color-banding we see randomly distributed." She peered confidently at the circuitboard and then back at the crowd, "I now yield the floor to my colleague." She nearly bowed as she motioned for the next presenter, a commanding personage, both in height and in influence, as a smattering of applause erupted.

 "Thank you, thank you.  It is with great pleasure that I appear before you to outline the final, and perhaps most compelling of all reasonings in this matter. My associates analyzed the discovery from the realms and wisdom of the physical sciences, for which I am truly grateful, but I appeal to you today from the eternal halls of logic and philosophy. As we contemplate this controversial find, a fleeting and superficial emotion may pass through our minds. Indeed, this object has the appearance and the form of something carefully planned and designed." Some around the room seem to hang on every word, mesmerized by the charisma and warmth of the man.

  "Let those base and uneducated fancies fade from your hearts," he said. "They are nothing more than the daydreams and inventions of those who must cling to ethereal and mystical explanations, hocus pocus, and fairy tales. " He held the circuitboard in the palm of his outstretched right hand, as if in a state of Shakespearean reflection. He glared unflintchingly at the object. "This anomaly is not the product of an intelligent designer, for consider the meanderings of its multitude copper streams, coming and going, and to what end? This is not purpose, nay, it is confusion...a lack of purpose. For why would a thinking inventor create such a haphazard arrangement of these oddly colored pieces...would they not be organized in some sensical fashion? We would not have done it in this way!" Nodding and other compliant gestures populated the room, much to his delight.

 "We have even identified over 125 components of this amalgamation that we can find no suitable benefit nor function! Gentleman, hear me, for I ask of you, nay, I plead with you...do not be convinced by the naive notions of simple men. If for no other reason that you are convinced, then be persuaded by this one thing, that all the learned and university-trained specialists you see before you consider this specimen to be the product of random and undirected forces of nature, not the creation of supernatural intervention! Revel in this liberating thought... " he nearly shouted in affirmation, "we are alone!"

 In a symbolic gesture, to the thunderous and building applause of the throng, the speaker turned his right hand over and let the circuitboard slip, then slide, and finally fall through the air almost in slow motion. They were nearly in a frenzy now, cheering, and clapping, and rushing about the chamber to congratulate and flatter the committee.  Hardly anyone noticed as the circuitboard reached its appointment with destruction, and quietly and discreetly shattered into pieces, and each precision-machined piece humbly faded into the shadows of contempt.

 So the council ended with the matter as well as many minds closed.  They were a civilization blinded to realities which are not beyond reach, but perhaps merely beyond the desire to grasp.