Describe an Artifact Group Activity
Overview
This is an activity for introductory students to learn about how archaeologists observe and describe objects unknown to them.
This activity gives students the opportunity to carefully observe and record the size, shape and specific features of a "mystery" artifact. Student will be presented with that object once they form their group. Typical artifacts in the collection include a key, chip clip, chapstick tube, floppy disk, or other modern items.
Artifact Description Group Activity
Introduction to Archaeology
1. Get into groups, no more than four people in each group.
2. Come see me for an object to describe. You CANNOT tell anyone what your item is! We will have to guess after you describe it for us.
3. Now, for the creative part…Your group is an archaeological team digging in the year 3459.
Note that you can have deciphered some parts of the English language (mistakes in translation still occur!), BUT that no other remains of our society were left.
4. Stay in the classroom or go outside somewhere private and create your description. Take no longer than 20 minutes, then return to class. (If you stay in class, remember your object is SECRET, so don’t show it around or talk too loudly about it!)
5. Each group must provide the following in a written statement (use the template on the back):
a. A physical description of the item, including the size, the materials it is made of and its specific ATTRIBUTES (size, etc. See your text for further information on attributes).
b. A description of the item using one of your senses aside from sight (touch, smell)
c. Location of discovery in your “site” (can’t say “bathroom”)
d. A complete description of what you think its “function” was, and why.
Here is where you need to ELABORATE – you should discuss other items that were found near it, etc. Give CONTEXT. Remember, THE MORE DETAIL THE BETTER! Also, DO NOT GIVE AWAY THE ARTIFACT BY STATING THE OBVIOUS…be a little convoluted and have some fun with it!
Here’s an example:
We found a 6" by 1/2" plastic stick-like instrument. This instrument had, sewn into one of its ends, small, soft, colorful and tiny plastic protrusions. This instrument had a faint, sweet, minty smell, and was polished to an exquisite smoothness. It had been painted a bright reddish pink color.
This instrument was found in an elaborately decorated cup, in a room that seemed to be an inner sanctuary and a room possibly where sacrifices were conducted. This room had several porcelain fixtures, many with silver mouths protruding from them. These silver “mouths” must certainly signify that these were gods. One of the porcelain fixtures was a throne, where the main god must have sat. This throne had a hole below it so that the god could easily escape into the afterlife.
We believe that the stick instrument was an important item used in the preparatory ceremony previous to the god descending into the afterlife. We believe that it was used to clean out god’s belly button of lint, as any god would be ashamed to descend into another world with lint on its person.
6. Each person in the group should choose a section to read. Come to the front of the room when called. Now, CLEARLY and SLOWLY read your description. Then we will all get to guess what your object is!
7. Turn in your item and this paper with your name on it.
Note: Original assignment concept created by Roberta Lenkeit, Modesto Junior College.
Template for developing your description:
Follow the steps and write each section out on your own papers. You may make a final copy on a separate piece of paper from which to read if you wish:
- A physical description of the item, including the size, the material(s) it is made of and its specific ATTRIBUTES or TYPE of object you have.
b. A description of the item using one of your senses aside from sight (touch, smell)
c. Location of discovery in your “site."
d. A complete description of what you think its “function” was, and why. Make up your story but be based in reality…