LI: Apply an historical lens to interpret the recordings of ancient history
1.Consider the following questions: • What do our objects tell us about us? • What’s your most valuable possession? • How old is the oldest thing you own and how do you know?
Ancient artefacts tell us about how ancient societies worked and what they valued.
2.Watch these 3 videos then complete the following task, investigating the meaning of some important terms.
The role of anthropologists and the use of artefacts from prehistory to construct understanding: • ‘The Essence of Anthropology’ – The University of Tulsa – 1:15 –
CGI of the oldest stone tools discovered at Lomekwi 3 in Kenya. • ‘Lomekwi 3 - World's Oldest Stone Tools Predate Humans’ – SciNews – 2:24
Concise definition and visuals of the term artefact: • ‘Artifact - Art Vocab Definition’ – Philinthecircle – 0:19
Reflection 3.Before next lesson, brainstorm an answer to the following question, ‘What are some artefacts or objects from the ancient past that can help us understand how civilisation operated?’
MONDAY 26TH - WEEK 2 (FOR ROOM 31)
Stuck in time: What our remains and artefacts tell about us
LI: To apply a historical lens to interpret the recordings of ancient history
The idea of prehistory is important in understanding that written history is only approximately 5,500 years old and historians have to compose an understanding of ancient history through artefacts, human remains, sites and unwritten records.
1. From our previous lesson revisit these important terms. Artefacts –The oldest stone tools were found in Kenya(Africa) and have been dated at 3.3 million years old. •Prehistory – The first appearance of written records to around 5,500 years ago in Sumer (southern Iraq). Often, unwritten records before that are open to interpretation and often contested. •Anthropologist – Their job is to discover, study and interpret ancient evidence and compose an understanding of those societies. Fictional professor Indiana Jones was an archaeologist which is a branch of anthropology. Archaeologists find and study objects whilst anthropologists use that to understand cultures. Anthropologists could be seen to work with primary evidence to create secondary sources. •Primary evidence – Primary sources are evidence from the time(first hand) •Secondary evidence – Secondary evidence is an analysis and explanation of the primary source (second hand).
2. Consider the following question. ‘What different ways can the human body be preserved?’ example – mummification
3. Watch this clip ‘What happens to our bodies after we die?’ https://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-happens-to-our-bodies-after-we-die-farnaz-khatibi-jafari 4. Natural systems that can lead to preservation can preserve humans and their possessions. These prehistoric artefacts can be studied and observed to help us learn about the ancient past. Four types of natural preservation that could occur:
Blizzard – freezing stops or slows the processes that cause decomposition of organic (plant and animal) tissue, preserving them •Tar pit – a lack of oxygen in the sticky tar and bitumen slows decomposition •Dust storm – shrouded in hot, dry desert sands desiccates(dehydrates) soft tissue, preserving it. •Volcanic eruption – fine ash can create a protective shell without crushing or burning human tissue.
5. Respond to the following hypothetical question and complete the learning task attached. ‘You are on the way home from school and suddenly, a cataclysmic natural event entombs you for 5,000 years’ Compile a list of 5 artefacts or remains that you predict would be expected to be found when your body is exhumed, identifying: You can record items such as bones, teeth, phones, keys, jewellery, money, braces and food wrappers. Examples of answers could include, Phones could become sacred religious stones, keys become files, braces could be mouth tiaras to display wealth, food wrappers become sacred texts, etc you could also propose how scars, makeup, fabrics or motifs and emblems on their uniform could be interpreted.
6. EXTENSION: How would you feel if your remains where stolen by tomb robbers or how would you feel about your remains being displayed in a museum or becoming a tourist attraction? Share your answer.