Archaeologyhelps with the rediscovery of the past

Social sciences: history

Grade 7

The first people

Module 12

Archaeology helps with the rediscovery of the past

When the people living in any particular place die or move away from it, they always leave behind some remains. These remains are remnants of their lives and provide a testimony of their way of life. Much information can be obtained from it. Archaeologists use such remains and objects from the natural environment as sources of information:

During the stone age …

• You will be learning something about the working habits of an archaeologist in the rest of this module as you will be finding sources and asking questions to obtain information.

Activity 1:

To find sources and ask questions

[lo 2.3]

1. Study the accompanying illustration to answer the introductory questions.

Then start to formulate your own questions and use your own sources, if necessary!

1. Which layer has the greatest number of remains?
2. Make sketches of the objects that could reveal something about your own life. What might archaeologists find out about your life if they should excavate these things after hundreds of years?
3. Suppose that you were present when the investigation of the terrain that is illustrated above was taking place. Write a detailed report on the work of one day.
4. And remember to ask and answer YOUR OWN QUESTIONS!

E nrichment:

• Spread out some sheets of newspaper on the ground.
• Overturn the rubbish bin from a house onto the newspaper.

What do you learn about the people in the house when you examine the contents of the bin?

What can NOT be learnt about the people in the house?

Assessment

Memorandum

Activity 1

(a) (i) Usually the bottom layer.