Investigate Archaeology
Archaeological Techniques
These resources allow you to investigate some of the techniques that archaeologists use when conducting excavations and recording their finds.
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Activity Title |
Objective |
Activity |
Resources |
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To learn excavation techniques and be an archaeologist |
To create then excavate your own roman ‘dig’ to find pottery and learn what the potty could tell us about the romans |
Large box or tray in which the mini-“dig” can take place, Enough sand or similar material to fill the tray, Pottery fragments (remember make sure there are no sharp edges). You may be able to borrow some from your local museum, Trowels, Masking Tape |
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To discover what underground archaeological features can be seen from the air and what they tell us. |
To create your own crop marks in a tray of growing cress. |
Photographs of objects taken from above, Worksheet explaining how crop marks are made, Laminated aerial photographs, Non-permanent OHP / white board pens, Seed trays, Cress seed, Small stones / gravel, Compost, Labels, Pencils, Water spray, Cling film |
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To discover what we can learn from an ancient cesspit |
To create your own historic ‘poo’ and excavate it to discover what it tells us about ancient diets. |
Play-dough (2 cups flour, 1 tablespoon oil, 1 cup salt), OXO cubes, Bovril or brown food colouring, Dietary evidence that could pass into the coprolite, Small sticks, Plastic sheeting, Paper plates or similar, Gloves (optional) |
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To learn the techniques of recording a find |
To record some small finds in the way that they would be recorded an archaeologist |
A selection of objects to record, Copy of the recording form, Pencil or pen |
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To discover the archaeological technique of magnetic surveying |
Create your own mock landscape and then survey it to find the buried ‘archaeological’ features. |
Compass, Cat Litter tray, Sand or soil, Bar magnet, Squared paper Ruler, Grid marker |
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To learn about surveying and drawing plans of buildings |
Draw and measures a plan of the church in an abbey or monastery and then use this to estimate how many floor tiles might have covered the floor. |
Plan of the church, Pencil, Calculator (optional), Long tape measure or trundle wheel, Some real or replica medieval floor tiles. |
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To look at what objects are preserved when buried |
Use a selection of artefacts and objects to discuss what would be preserved on a human burial |
A collection of assorted artefacts or a collection of modern discarded objects or a collection of pictures of artefacts/objects, Pens and pencils, Paper |
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To learn the techniques of drawing an accurate plan. |
To create a vertical plan drawing of either a wall or a section of a mock archaeological dig. |
Drawing boards or clipboards, Tracing paper, 1cm graph paper, Sellotape, Sharp pencil, Nails, String, 30m Tape, Hand tapes, Line level, Mock excavation box |
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Investigate how archaeologists survey a site |
Making a scale diagram of your classroom to learn archaeological techniques |
Bananas, Copies of estate agent or similar plans/drawings with scales marked on them, A classroom or hall, Clipboards, Pencils, Pencil sharpeners, Tracing paper or drafting film, 1cm² graph paper, Masking tape, String or hand tapes, 2 x long measuring tapes e.g. 30m, Rubbers |
Learning article provided by:
Creative Minds |
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