Summer SAVY 2017, Session 5/Day 4- Archaeological Adventures (Rising 2nd/3rd)

Posted by morganr1 on Thursday, July 20, 2017 in SAVY.

Everyone was really excited to get started on excavations this morning! Today, every student in the class worked as an archaeologist for the entire morning to conduct mock excavations, analysis of artifacts, and site interpretations. The class was split into four groups, and each group was given an excavation box that represented a different activity area at a prehistoric site in Tennessee. We used the knowledge we have learned all week to excavate each portion of the site in stratigraphic layers while also collecting, bagging, and cataloging artifacts. So, everyone had to dig slowly, carefully, and patiently, which was a bit challenging. I really enjoyed hearing everyone’s theories about the artifacts they were finding!! Once the excavations were finished, we cleaned up, and then we began the artifact analyses. Each group had to think critically about what the function of their part of the site was, what activities are represented by the artifacts, and what this data tells us about how prehistoric people lived. At the end of the day, each group presented their hypotheses as to the function of their portion of the site to the class. Then, we discussed as a class what our interpretations about the entire site were, and we also talked about why these types of investigations are important and how they can impact our understanding of present societies.

I can’t believe tomorrow is our last day already! I look forward to meeting all of you at Open House in the morning!

Ms. Phyllis Johnson