The Great Icelandic Hair Burial
An empirical investigation into geolocated follicle distribution: burying small black boxes containing my hair across Iceland during my Erasmus exchange.
Project Abstract
During my Erasmus exchange in Iceland from January 2026 to June 2026, I embarked on a rigorous, field-tested scientific initiative: distributing my genetic signature across the volcanic island.
This project details the systematic geolocation and burial of 12 custom-milled, waterproof matte-black aluminum boxes. Inside each box sits a single, carefully harvested lock of my hair, sealed alongside a localized coordinate record.
Core Methodology
To execute this project with maximum scientific integrity, a strict operational pipeline was enforced:
1. Follicle Harvesting
Locks of hair were collected weekly under controlled laboratory conditions (a dorm room in Reykjavik), measuring precisely 5.0cm in length.
2. The Black Boxes
I utilized anodized aluminum alloy boxes (IP68 water/dust proof ratings) lined with velvet padding to house the samples, protecting the hair from extreme Icelandic thermal events.
3. Field Deployment
Deployments were scheduled around volcanic eruptions and heavy snowfalls to ensure natural compression. The boxes were buried exactly 15.0cm deep in basaltic volcanic sand.
Geo-Location Logs
| Box ID | Location | Coordinates | Soil Composition | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
BOX-01 |
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach | 63.4022° N, 19.0118° W | Basaltic Volcanic Sand | Buried |
BOX-02 |
Thingvellir Tectonic Plate Gap | 64.2559° N, 21.1299° W | Silica Mud | Active |
BOX-03 |
Landmannalaugar Hot Springs | 63.9830° N, 19.0670° W | Rhyolite Silt | Seeped |
BOX-04 |
Snæfellsnes Glacier Base | 64.8086° N, 23.7761° W | Permafrost Glacial Clay | Frozen |
Conclusion & Future Directions
While the physical world acts as an abstract medium for information exchange, this project proves that physical information (my hair) can be permanently cached inside geolocated, matte-black, volcanic vaults. Future research directions include checking if local trolls or elves have relocated any boxes by June 2027.
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