This lesson will help students identify and interpret artifacts and relics recovered from a hypothetical nautical archaeological site
This lesson is designed for children of all ages
Materials Needed for Project:
Small boxes containing artifacts or photographs of artifacts that might found at a deep water archaeology site.
Vessel Construction, : bits of wood, small scraps of various metal that could identify the age, example Bronze Age, Iron Age. A lack of metal could be said to indicate pre-Bronze Age construction
Fishing: fetishes or adornments made of fish bones or shells, lines, weights, nets, fishing spears.
Trading: amphora's used for oils or spices, old coins, a device that could of been used to weigh or measure, tally stones, ingots
Warrior Culture: evidence of sharpened sticks, clubs, shields, swords, helmets or other artifacts that could be associated with a warlike culture
Art: ceramic pottery, glass beads, sculpture
Use whatever is readily available to help students to identify the type of civilization
Discussion questions
Is there evidence of weapons of war?
Is there evidence of trading activity?
What kind of social hierarchy is evident?
What kind ship might they have been sailing on?
Art Activities
Have students draw a picture of the ship that the artifacts came from
Have students draw a diagram of the archaeological site illustrating where each object was found
Discuss with the students how they came to their conclusions about the civilization they analyzed.
