1. 6th Grade Social Studies
Northern Lights
Chapter 2: Evidence from the Past

2. CHAPTER 2: EVIDENCE FROM THE PAST Terms to Know
petroglyph—a rock carving made by people
elder—an older member of a community who is respected for his or her knowledge and wisdom
archaeologist—a scientist who studies past human life and activities by examining physical evidence such as tools, fire pits, and ruins from dwellings
perspective—the way a person sees and understands the world; based on education, culture, time period, and home
oral history—the purposeful retelling of stories about the past events and legends of a group in order to teach about that group’s culture
artifact—any object made, used or altered by humans
scientific method—a process using experiments and careful observation to test ideas and theories
hypothesis—an assumption, educated guess, or theory

3. Introduction
Glaciers have covered the Midwest, Minnesota, and Canada many times.
As glaciers moved, they created the landscape, left behind water to make lakes and rivers, hills and mountains, and form rocks.
Humans started living in Minnesota 12,000 years ago
7,000 years ago—started leaving marks at Jeffers

4. Messages From the Past
Jeffers Petroglyphs Historic Site—important collection of ancient rock carvings
Petroglyphs can tell us about the people who made the carvings, how they lived, and what they may have believed.
Carvings—some we recognize, some we don’t
American Indian elders—Jeffers=sacred
Archaeologists—Jeffers=important info on people, time and place

5. One Way of Knowing: Oral History
Native Americans keep history alive
Oral History Stories
Happened long time ago
Teach lessons
Explain why things are
Future
Don’t know who made carvings at Jeffers
Many people from various groups could have left them
Explorers, traders, Mandan, Iowa, Ottowa, Omaha, Hidatsa, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Winnebago, Dakota
Oral histories of different tribes may help interpret

6. Oral History Interpretation of ‘The Hand’
Friendship
Handshake
Leaving a sign of peace
Grief
Wipe tears with palms
Burial ground?
Death
‘The Hand’ constellation—when they passed away, they would go through the constellation on a spirit journey

7. Another Way of Knowing: Archaeology
Jeffers Petroglyphs
Who made the carvings? Where did the people who made them come from?
Use different methods to find the answers
Comparing
Experiments—using scientific method
Scientific Method:
Ask a Question
State a Hypothesis
Perform Experiment
Record Findings
Reach a Conclusion

8. Learning From Each Other
Archaeologists can use elders’ oral histories
Elders can use archaeologists’ to find information about their histories
Don’t always agree
Agree: Jeffers Petroglyphs show that people have lived in Minnesota for a very long time

9. The Government Protects Burial Mounds
MN has several burial mounds (1,500-2,000 yrs old)
As MN was settled many burial mounds were found and thousands were destroyed (25,000 to 5,000)
Laws passed
Protect human burials (1979)
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act
Return American Indian items to descendants
Human remains, sacred items