Professional Documents
Culture Documents
November/December 1995
Introduction page 3
Lesson Plan Step 1 page 6
Worksheet 1 page 7
Lesson Plan Step 2 page 8
Worksheet 2 page 9
Lesson Plan Step 3 page 10
Take-Home Page page 11
Take-Home Page in Spanish page 13
Resources page 15
Whether you’re ten or one hundred years old, you have a sense of the past—the
human perception of the passage of time, as recent as an hour ago or as far back as a
decade ago. We are all explorers of this past, seeking the meaning of today from what
happened yesterday. The past stretches far beyond our own experiences; it takes its
shape from those who have come before us. The collective memories of our parents and
grandparents provide us with an image of more than two generations of human triumphs
and tragedies. In fact, the lens of history allows us to view more than thirty centuries of
human experience chronicled by a multitude of men and women.
As valuable as they are, standing of peoples both past other evidence of past human ologist can survey the area
however, written accounts and present. You can use the activity. through careful observation
cannot present a complete lesson plans as part of either Finding written records of of surface features and
record of human history. a world cultures curriculum history is different from dis- exposed artifacts. If the
Documents speak only of lit- or any social studies unit that covering archaeological puz- researcher discovers enough
erate societies and are often explores methods of under- zle pieces. A historian might evidence, he or she can
incomplete. These records standing the past. know where to look for a employ an arsenal of high-
are blind to the thousands of potentially important docu- tech tools to explore a site
years of human experience ment—perhaps in an archive further.
before the invention of writ- THE PUZZLE OF THE PAST or a collection of personal One frequently used tool
ing. To recover this vibrant papers. In comparison, an is aerial photography. Views
human past without written The human past is like a archaeologist usually has from the sky offer unique
history or memory, we must vast, uncompleted jigsaw fewer leads but just as many perspectives on an archaeo-
turn to archaeology—the puzzle with many scattered ways of learning about logical site, often revealing
study of material remains pieces. To a historian, the the past. features that might be less
to learn about past human pieces of this puzzle are let- apparent from the ground.
experiences. ters, journals, books, and By carefully examining pat-
Archaeology and its maps—in short, the whole SITE SEEING terns of shadows, soil colors,
potential to increase our host of written documents and crop growth, an archae-
understanding of the distant that have survived over time. The first challenge faced ologist may detect the
and the recent human past Documents might be as rare by archaeologists is locating remains of sunken features
have long been cornerstones as an original copy of the a site that will yield clues such as walls, ditches, and
of the research done at the Declaration of Independence about the people who once earthworks.
Smithsonian Institution and or as common as the daily lived there. To that end, sev- At ground level, a variety
are the subject of this issue newspaper. eral nondestructive methods of remote sensing techniques
of Art to Zoo. The pho- An archaeologist searches can help determine whether a can be used to investigate a
tographs of Smithsonian for different pieces of this certain area may contain arti- site without disturbing it.
archaeologists and activities same puzzle. However, rather facts. If a site was once the Depending on a soil’s com-
that follow encourage your than seek what has been home of a literate society, an position, an archaeologist
students to think about how written, he or she looks for archaeologist can often con- might use ground-penetrating
human-made objects and what has been left behind— sult written records for possi- radar, soil-resistivity testing
other indicators of human in the form of artifacts ble clues. When documents (measuring a soil’s electrical
life can enrich our under- (human-made objects) and are not available, the archae- resistance), or magnetic
Simplified Ground level
stratigraphy Layer A
Present
displaying the
chronological
Layer C
1920s
Layer D
1890s
Figure 1
surveys to determine the survey the site meticulously As an excavation pro- archaeologists to examine a
nature of the materials that and map it on a grid within gresses, it uncovers the past site’s general stratigraphy
lie below the surface. a coordinate system. in both horizontal and verti- and are later removed to
Ultimately, however, careful- Researchers then reference cal dimensions. The horizon- reveal whatever might lie
ly directed digging in a site the locations of all unearthed tal dimension reveals a site within them.
can reveal much more than artifacts or features to their as it was at a fixed point in Researchers use more
all the nondestructive coordinates within the wider time. The vertical dimension intrusive excavation methods
methods combined. site. Archaeologists note shows the sequence of when a site will be obstruct-
unexcavated areas just as changes within a site over ed or destroyed by some
carefully, because they may time. Excavation methods form of modern develop-
DIGGING IN THE DIRT be of interest to other archae- vary according to which ment, such as a shopping
ologists in the future. dimension of the past an center. These “salvage” pro-
To an archaeologist, the Many of the tools used in archaeologist chooses to jects force archaeologists to
soil resembles a historical excavation are surprisingly study. A researcher seeking a race against time to find evi-
document; the researcher familiar. Archaeologists detailed “snapshot” of a par- dence. To this end, they con-
must decipher, translate, and employ common household ticular point in time would duct “reconnaissance” sur-
interpret the soil before it can utensils such as ladles, likely initiate a large, open- veys (small-scale excava-
help him or her understand spoons, dustpans, and brushes area excavation. This tech- tions) at random locations,
the human past. But unlike a to move small amounts of nique requires archaeologists along a predetermined site
document, the soil of an earth. They use flat-edged to uncover a site layer by grid, or wherever they sus-
archaeological site can be shovels to remove larger vol- layer until reaching the level pect they may find archaeo-
interpreted only once in the umes of soil and root cutters of the desired time period. logical evidence.
state in which it is found. and small hand saws to extract Alternately, an archaeologist Researchers gather two
The very process of excava- grounded tree roots. However, seeking to understand the very different sets of infor-
tion destroys a site forever, no single tool is more synony- progression of time at a site mation during the course of
making such an investigation mous with archaeology than would probably employ a any excavation. They can
a costly experiment that the small mason’s trowel. The grid excavation. Under this examine tangible findings,
cannot be repeated. sturdy, welded body and method, workers dig evenly such as artifacts and the
Accordingly, archaeolo- tough, steel blade of this tool spaced square holes, leaving remains of plants, animals,
gists conduct excavations make it ideally suited for baulks (wall-like unexcavat- and humans, well after an
with great care. Before an gingerly removing successive ed areas) between the excavation has ended.
excavation begins, they layers of soil. squares. Baulks allow However, excavation
4 Art to Zoo Decoding the Past: The Work of Archaeologists November/December 1995
An example of ter- Ground level An example of Ground level
minus post quem. Layer A terminus ante Layer A
The 1885 coin in quem. Layer C
Layer E establish- is an undisrupt-
es that Layer E Layer B ed tile floor of Layer B
dates from on or the 1860s. It fol-
Bottle cap
after 1885. It fol- lows that Layers Layer C 1860s tile floor
lows that the pot- Layer C D, E, and F date
Layer D
tery fragment in before the Scattered
Layer D and the 1860s. glass fragments
bottle cap in Layer E
Layer D
Layer B likely Pottery Charcoal
date from or after fragment
1885 as well. Layer F
Layer E
Scattered
masonry
1885 coin
Figure 2 Figure 3
destroys contextual features, in, first out”— meaning that (carbon 14) that decays at a and other inorganic materials
such as building remains, as an archaeologist usually known and steady rate, is through typology—compar-
they are uncovered. To pre- removes soil layers in the archaeologists can determine ing undated samples with
serve vital information about reverse order in which they an organic object’s age (if it those from associated sites
these remains, archaeologists were laid down (see Figure is less than 40,000 years old) that have been dated through
painstakingly catalog every 1). In relative soil dating, by measuring the amount previous excavations.
nuance of a site through archaeologists follow two of carbon 14 remaining in
volumes of photographs and general principles known as the object.
drawings. terminus post quem and ter- Dating inorganic materials DECODING THE PAST
minus ante quem. Terminus is also quite challenging,
post quem refers to the because relatively few arti- After an archaeologist has
INTERPRETING THE notion that a datable object facts come labeled with a date gathered, catalogued, and
EVIDENCE provides only the date on or of manufacture. In fact, pot- interpreted all of the evidence,
after which the layer of soil tery, the most common type he or she begins the most
During and after an exca- that contains it was deposited of artifact found at archaeo- important reporting task of all:
vation, an archaeologist con- (see Figure 2). In contrast, logical sites, seldom contains putting a human face on the
fronts a bewildering collec- terminus ante quem refers to obvious indications of its age. past. A final archaeological
tion of artifacts, drawings, the concept that all the soil Archaeologists sometimes use report often reflects years of
and photographs to decipher below a solid, undisturbed thermoluminescence dating to cooperative work among
and relate to one another. layer dates before that layer establish the age of pottery. experts from disciplines as
Using both relative and (see Figure 3). This technique is similar to diverse as history, medicine,
absolute dating methods, an Relative dating of a site’s carbon 14 dating in that, like anthropology, chemistry,
archaeologist can often place stratigraphy often depends on organic substances, pottery geology, and biology.
a site within a larger chrono- the absolute dating of exca- contains small amounts of Through the tireless work
logical framework. vated materials and artifacts. radioactive elements that of these experts, the distant
In relative dating, archae- One of the most widely used decay at known and steady past again resonates with the
ologists interpret artifacts methods of determining the rates. An archaeologist can sound of human voices.
based on their positions with- absolute date of organic determine the age of a pottery Across the millennia, the
in the stratigraphy (horizon- materials is radiocarbon (car- fragment by measuring the fragments of human experi-
tal layering) of the soil. The bon 14) dating. Because all remaining amount of radioac- ence remind us that those
study of stratigraphy follows living organisms contain a tive elements that it contains. who have come before were
the excavation axiom “last radioactive form of carbon Another way of dating pottery every bit as human as we are.
Art to Zoo Decoding the Past: The Work of Archaeologists November/December 1995 5
LESSON PLAN
Step 1
6 Art to Zoo Decoding the Past: The Work of Archaeologists November/December 1995
WORKSHEET 1 Group number
Directions: Use this worksheet to record your observations of the artifacts provided by your teacher.
Art to Zoo Decoding the Past: The Work of Archaeologists November/December 1995 7
LESSON PLAN
Step 2
LAYERS OF THE PAST Emphasize that soil forms down last. Students should Be sure to emphasize that the
from the gradual decay of conclude that the textbook on coin provides a reference
Objectives organic matter over time. A the bottom of the stack was time from which to determine
■ Identify methods given soil’s layering is deter- laid down first while the text- when the remainder of the
archaeologists use to mined by the nature of the book on the top was laid books were laid down .)
relatively date soil layers. decaying organic matter down last. Tell your students Conclude your coverage of
■ Interpret soil profiles. (e.g., leaves and logs); that they just learned one of Rule 2 by having students
weather conditions; and the the most important rules of complete the questions for
Materials action of humans, animals, an archaeological excavation: Diagram B on the worksheet.
■ Copies of Worksheet 2, and insects. The first layer of soil laid 5. Ask a student volunteer
page 9. 2. Explain to your stu- down is usually the last one to read Rule 3 aloud to the
■ Five textbooks. dents that they will be learn- to come out. class. Instruct the volunteer
■ One notebook. ing some of the basic rules 4. Give each student a to remove the top two text-
■ Paper labels. archaeologists use to inter- copy of Worksheet 2. Tell books from the stack and
■ Adhesive tape. pret the soil of a site. Ask a your students that they will place a notebook on top of
■ Pens, pencils, and student volunteer to place a now be learning how archae- the three remaining stacked
markers. textbook on your desk (or ologists can date soil layers books. Have the volunteer
■ One coin. any other flat surface visible using the artifacts and fea- write the current time on a
to the entire class). Have the tures they unearth. Ask a stu- slip of paper and attach it to
Subjects volunteer write the current dent volunteer to read Rule 2 or insert it in the notebook as
Social studies, science, time on a slip of paper large (from Worksheet 2) aloud to was done in lesson step 2.
language arts enough to be seen by the the class. Instruct the volun- Ask the class to relatively
class. Instruct the volunteer teer to unstack the textbooks date the layers of books
Procedure to attach the paper to the and remove the attached slips below the notebook.
1. Using the Introduction textbook using adhesive tape. of paper. Have the volunteer Conclude the activity by
as a guide, tell your students (If you are using books stack two books on top of having students complete
that archaeologists often whose covers damage easily, each other. Provide another the questions for Diagram C
study the soil of a site to you may wish to have the student volunteer with a coin, on the worksheet.
learn about the past. Ask volunteer place the paper and tell the class to imagine
your students if they have between two pages of the that the coin has just been
ever dug into the soil (e.g., book, sticking out slightly so minted. Ask the volunteer to
when putting in a garden or as to be visible.) record the current time on Answer key to questions
digging a fence post). What 3. Select four other stu- the chalkboard. Choose for Diagram B on page 9
did they notice about the dent volunteers to repeat les- another student to place the 1. 1895 or later
color and texture of the soil? son step 2. (Make sure stu- remaining three textbooks on 2. D and E
Answers may vary, but stu- dents stack the textbooks on the stack and place the coin 3. A and B
dents will probably conclude top of each other. At the end within the pages of one of
that the color and texture of of this process there should these books. Ask the class to Answers to questions
soil change with depth. be five stacked textbooks with relatively date the “layers” of for Diagram C on page 9
slips of paper taped to or books from the position of 1. Before the 1920s
inserted in them.) Ask your the coin. (This exercise may 2. A and B
students to determine which be difficult for some students.
textbook was laid down first
and which textbook was laid
8 Art to Zoo Decoding the Past: The Work of Archaeologists November/December 1995
Ground level
WORKSHEET 2 Layer A Present
Layer C 1920s
Ground level
Layer A
Layer B
Ground level
Layer A
Layer B
Art to Zoo Decoding the Past: The Work of Archaeologists November/December 1995 9
LESSON PLAN
Step 3
10 Art to Zoo Decoding the Past: The Work of Archaeologists November/December 1995
TAKE-HOME PAGE To the teacher
■ Duplicate this page
Publication of Art to Zoo is
made possible through the
Directions: Imagine you are an archaeologist in the future. Because you are an expert on objects from the late
twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, you have been asked to identify several artifacts found in a recent exca-
vation. Compare the sketch of each object to examples you have in your own “collections” at home or at school.
Object 1
Fragment of black plastic object with two
rubber buttons. The writing below the buttons
is difficult to read. The letters “FW” and “RW”
are visible under two of the buttons.
Object 2
Fragment of gray plastic and shiny metal.
Square in shape with movable metal piece near
bottom. Portion of a circular metal piece at the
top of the object.
Object 3
Fragment of highly polished, silvery metal.
Several different notches along the top edge.
Deep groove in side of object.
Object 4
Metal object with two long prongs. The prongs
have sharp points.
Art to Zoo Decoding the Past: The Work of Archaeologists November/December 1995 11
TAKE-HOME PAGE
Puzzle Pieces
Continued from page 11
Object 5
Intact rounded object with grooves and black
ceramic case. Glass fragments attached to
object. Glass fragments may have been part
of a larger glass globe.
Object 6
Plastic spool with a long, thin, brown plastic strip
wound around it. The spool has six notches and a
groove to attach it to the end of the plastic strip.
Object 7
Small, square, clear plastic object. Bendable plas-
tic strip attached to object at one end. Gray cable
with four colored wires (yellow, black, green, and
red) attached to other end of object. Wires visible
as they lead into the square, clear plastic.
Object 8
Small, shiny, metal object with round hole in
the side of one end. Two of these objects were
located near each other.
12 Art to Zoo Decoding the Past: The Work of Archaeologists November/December 1995
TRABAJO PARA HACER Al Profesor
■ Copie esta página para
Esta publicación ha sido
posible gracias al generoso
Instrucciones: Imagínese que Ud. es un arqueólogo en el futuro. Como Ud. es un experto en objetos de finales
del siglo veinte y principios del ventiuno, se le ha pedido que identifique varios artefactos hallados en una
reciente excavación. Compare los dibujos de cada objeto con las muestras que Ud. tiene en su propia “colec-
ción” en su casa y escuela.
Objeto 1
Fragmento de un objeto negro en forma de caja
con dos botones de plástico. Aunque es difícil
leer lo que está escrito debajo de los botones,
las letras “FW” y “RW” son legibles.
Objeto 2
Fragmento de plástico gris. Tiene la forma de
un cuadrado con una pieza movible en la parte
de arriba. La pieza movible es de metal y tiene
una ranura.
Objeto 3
Fragmento de metal brillante. En la parte
superior tiene varias protuberancias aserradas.
Una ranura profunda se encuentra al costado
del objeto.
Objeto 4
Objeto de metal con dos largas protuberancias.
Las protuberancias son puntiagudas.
Art to Zoo Decoding the Past: The Work of Archaeologists November/December 1995 13
TRABAJO PARA HACER
EN FAMILIA
Piezas del Rompecabeza
Continua en la pagina 13
Objeto 5
Objeto redondo con ranuras y una base de cerámi-
ca negra. Fragmentos de vidrio están adheridos a la
base. Los pedazos de vidrio parecen haber sido
parte de un globo de cristal aun mayor.
Objeto 6
Carrete plástico con una cintilla larga y delgada
de color café que lo envuelve. El carrete tiene
seis lados y una ranura que sostiene la cintilla
plástica en su sitio.
Objeto 7
Pequeño objeto rectangular de plástico transpar-
ente. Una banda de plástico flexible sobresale por
uno de los extremos. En el otro extremo hay un
cable gris que contiene cuatro cables mas
pequeños (de color amarillo, negro, verde, y
rojo). Hay cables visibles a traves del rectángulo
plástico transparente.
Objeto 8
Pequeño objeto de metal brillante con un hueco
en la parte de arriba. Dos de estos objetos fueron
encontrados uno cerca del otro.
14 Art to Zoo Decoding the Past: The Work of Archaeologists November/December 1995
RESOURCES
BOOKS, PERIODICALS, AND McIntosh, Jane. The Practical Complete issues of the National PHOTOGRAPHS
TEACHING GUIDES Archaeologist: How We Know Museum of Natural History pub-
What We Know about the Past. lication AnthroNotes can be Smithsonian Institution,
AnthroNotes, a National New York: Facts on File, 1986. found at the Smithsonian Office National Anthropological
Museum of Natural History of Elementary and Secondary Archives (River Basin Survey
Bulletin for Teachers is Pickering, Robert B. I Can Be Education’s FTP server at Project, 1946–1968)
published free of charge three An Archaeologist. Chicago: ftp://educate.si.edu. Once
times a year (fall, winter, and Children’s Press, 1987. you’re logged onto the server,
spring). To be added to the follow the path pub/ ART TO ZOO
mailing list, write to P. Ann Renfrew, Colin. Archaeology: publications_for_teachers/
Kaupp, Anthropology Outreach Theories, Methods, and anthronotes. Art to Zoo is a publication of
and Public Information Office, Practice. New York: Thames the Office of Elementary
Department of Anthropology, and Hudson, 1991. Note: Due to the rapidly evolv- and Secondary Education,
NHB 363, MRC 112, ing nature of the Internet, it is Smithsonian Institution,
Smithsonian Institution, possible that some of the URLs Washington, D.C. 20560.
Washington, D.C. 20560. ELECTRONIC RESOURCES (uniform resource locators)
above may have changed since Writer
Avi-Yonah, Michael. Dig This!: A helpful site for teachers inter- publication. Alan Smigielski
How Archaeologists Uncover ested in exploring archaeologi-
Our Past. Minneapolis: cal resources on the Internet is Editor
Runestone Press, 1993. the University of Connecticut’s ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Douglas Casey
ArchNet web site at http://
Barker, Philip. Techniques of spirit.lib.uconn.edu/ArchNet/ Cathy Creek Translator
Archaeological Excavation. New ArchNet.html. The site includes Smithsonian Institution Myrian M. Padayachee
York: Universe Books, 1977. educational resources and infor- National Anthropological
mation on current archaeological Archives Design & Illustrations
Everything We Know about projects. Karlic Design Associates, LLC
Archaeology for You to Use in James Krakker Baltimore, Maryland
Your Classroom, a National Park Teachers or others interested National Museum of
Service publication for teachers, in pursuing archaeological Natural History Publications Director
is available upon request. Send fieldwork should visit the Michelle Knovic Smith
your name and address on Archaeological Fieldwork J. Daniel Rogers
school stationery to U.S. Server at http://durendal.cit. National Museum of
Department of the Interior, cornell.edu/TestPit.html. Natural History ART TO ZOO ONLINE
National Park Service, Included at the site are listings
Archaeological Assistance for volunteers, paid workers, John Steiner This publication is available
Program, P.O. Box 37127, field schools, and contract jobs. Smithsonian Institution electronically through the
Washington, D.C. 20013–7127. Office of Printing and Internet via anonymous ftp to:
A fascinating account of the Photographic Services educate.si.edu. Follow the path:
Macaulay, David. Motel of the recent discovery of numerous pub/publications_for_
Mysteries. Boston: Houghton Paleolithic (17,000–20,000 years Vyrtis Thomas teachers/art-to-zoo. Recent
Mifflin, 1979. ago) cave paintings in southern Smithsonian Institution issues and supplementary mate-
France can be found at National Anthropological rials are offered in hypertext for-
McHargue, Georgess, and http://www.culture.fr/culture/ Archives mat via the World Wide Web at:
Michael Roberts. A Field Guide gvpda-en.htm. http://educate.si.edu/art-to-
to Conservation Archaeology in Gus Van Beek zoo/azindex.htm. Current and
North America. New York: J. B. Information on current trends in National Museum of back issues (starting with spring
Lippincott Company, 1977. the archaeological profession Natural History 1993) are also available through
can be found in The Society for America Online (keyword
American Archaeology Bulletin, Smithsonian).
available at http://www.sscf.
ucsb.edu/SAABulletin/.
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