UNLOCKING THE PAST 8 th Grade 8 th GradeIntegrated Archeology Unit Archeology Unit

Blastoff Guest speaker: Archaeologist from Todd dig Guest speaker: Archaeologist from Todd dig  Artifacts  Archaeological process Field Trip: Todd site Field Trip: Todd site  Observation  Creative writing

Cartesian Coordinate System Rectangular grid Rectangular grid Squares have unique name Squares have unique name based on coordinates and cardinal directions (North, South, East & West) Record artifacts on paper Record artifacts on paper

North Carolina Place Names Mapping Activity Mapping Activity Discover heritage of Native Americans and settlers in place names Discover heritage of Native Americans and settlers in place names Differentiate cultural values expressed in names Differentiate cultural values expressed in names

Observation and Inference Differentiate between observation and inference Differentiate between observation and inference Analyze artifact/create observation and inference statements Analyze artifact/create observation and inference statements Problem-solving (hole in soap) Problem-solving (hole in soap)

Archeological Site Found! You, as students, are in charge of sectioning off an area that is a potential dig site using the grid method

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

Tree-Ring Dating Determine a tree’s age Determine a tree’s age Recognize climatic variation Recognize climatic variation Date archeological evidence Date archeological evidence Study past climates Study past climates

Site Robbers Rummaging and illegal collection of Rummaging and illegal collection of artifacts are a big problem artifacts are a big problem Destruction of history and Destruction of history and links to past societies links to past societies Infringement on individuals’ beliefs Infringement on individuals’ beliefs and values and values

Native American Tales Compare/contrast tales from different geographical areas Compare/contrast tales from different geographical areas Impact of geography on culture Impact of geography on culture Examining trickster and creation tales Examining trickster and creation tales Create own tales Create own tales

It’s In the Trash Investigation of various trash cans Investigation of various trash cans Determine sources of containers Determine sources of containers Discuss importance of contents Discuss importance of contents and make inferences about and make inferences about the people involved the people involved

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

Digging It Yourself You, as students, will perform a simulated archeological dig that will require you to go through all the procedures from gridding the area to collecting and recording found artifacts