Author’s Note

  

Though Artifact is a work of fiction and the characters and treasure in the book came from my imagination, the historical details about Scotland and India are true.

In Scotland, the story of the Picts is presented as scholars have pieced it together. Though this particular archaeological site does not exist, Pictish standing stones are being unearthed to this day. The cliff-side setting is an accurate portrayal of that region of the Highlands of Scotland and the nearby Dunnottar Castle is a dramatic site to visit. The legends of the Tuatha de Danann and the bean nighe are alive and well in Irish and Scottish folklore.

In India, the styles of Mughal artwork described are real, as are the challenges art historians face in separating factual depictions from artistic license. The battles and social norms of the British East India Company also existed as they are described in the book. The British East India Company transformed itself from a trading company into a military power, assuming a greater military and political role after the 1757 Battle of Plassey, with the British Crown taking over direct rule of India a century later, after the Sepoy Rebellion of 1857. Indian independence was achieved in 1947. There were many violent conflicts leading to lives and treasures being lost, but during certain periods of time there were also marriages between British men and Indian women. It’s entirely possible that the story in Artifact may have played out in unrecorded history…