UNLOCKING THE PAST

88thth Grade Grade

IntegratedIntegrated

Archeology UnitArcheology Unit

Blastoff Guest speaker: Guest speaker:

Archaeologist from Archaeologist from Todd digTodd dig Artifacts Artifacts Archaeological Archaeological

processprocess Field Trip: Todd siteField Trip: Todd site

ObservationObservation Creative writing Creative writing

Cartesian Coordinate System Rectangular gridRectangular grid

Squares have unique name Squares have unique name based on coordinates and based on coordinates and cardinal directions (North, cardinal directions (North, South, East & West)South, East & West)

Record artifacts on paperRecord artifacts on paper

North Carolina Place Names Mapping ActivityMapping Activity

Discover heritage of Native Discover heritage of Native Americans and settlers in place Americans and settlers in place namesnames

Differentiate cultural values Differentiate cultural values expressed in namesexpressed in names

Observation and Inference Differentiate Differentiate

between observation between observation and inferenceand inference

Analyze Analyze artifact/create artifact/create observation and observation and inference inference statementsstatements

Problem-solving Problem-solving (hole in soap)(hole in soap)

Archeological Site Found!

You, as students, are in charge You, as students, are in charge

of sectioning off an area of sectioning off an area

that is a potential dig site that is a potential dig site

using the grid methodusing the grid method

Dendrochronology

““the study of tree time”the study of tree time”

A science based on the fact that A science based on the fact that every growth season a tree adds a every growth season a tree adds a new layer of wood to its trunk.new layer of wood to its trunk.

Tree-Ring Dating

Determine a tree’s ageDetermine a tree’s age

Recognize climatic variationRecognize climatic variation

Date archeological evidenceDate archeological evidence

Study past climates Study past climates

Site Robbers Rummaging and illegal collection of Rummaging and illegal collection of

artifacts are a big problemartifacts are a big problem Destruction of history and Destruction of history and

links to past societieslinks to past societies

Infringement on individuals’ beliefs Infringement on individuals’ beliefs

and valuesand values

Native American Tales

Compare/contrast Compare/contrast tales from different tales from different geographical areasgeographical areas

Impact of geography Impact of geography on cultureon culture

Examining trickster Examining trickster and creation talesand creation tales

Create own talesCreate own tales

It’s In the Trash

Investigation of various trash cansInvestigation of various trash cans

Determine sources of containersDetermine sources of containers

Discuss importance of contents Discuss importance of contents

and make inferences aboutand make inferences about

the people involvedthe people involved

Dig Procedures Horizontal digging through plowzoneHorizontal digging through plowzone Screening dirt – sort out any artifactsScreening dirt – sort out any artifacts Trowel scraping at subsoil levelTrowel scraping at subsoil level Separating artifacts from soilSeparating artifacts from soil Photograph findingsPhotograph findings Charting objects positionCharting objects position

Digging It Yourself

You, as students, will performYou, as students, will performa simulated archeological a simulated archeological dig that will require youdig that will require youto go through all the procedures to go through all the procedures from gridding the area to from gridding the area to collecting and recording found collecting and recording found artifactsartifacts