HSP3U
Name:
Archaeological Garage Sale
Artifact Project and Presentation
Cultural anthropologists use archaeological artifacts to explore extinct cultures or
ancient cultures.
For this assignment, you are a cultural anthropologist working in the year 2815, and you
have unearthed some unique historical artifacts in an archaeological “dig” that happens
to be located precisely at the location of your actual (real life) current home.
In your research, you discover that about 800 years earlier, the family who lived on this
precise spot fled from (and of course miraculously survived) an enormous and
unprecedented volcanic eruption from nearby Blue Mountain. The most incredible part
is that the volcanic event happened during the Lawrence Park neighborhood’s huge
annual garage sale for charity. In the aftermath of the eruption, the entire region was
soon covered in thick, deep, yet mysteriously pristine volcanic ash, which then lay
untouched for hundreds of years. Some artifacts were perfectly preserved, and many
more were damaged but could be pieced together to reveal their former state.
As a cultural anthropologist, you must unearth and present 3 (three) artifacts recovered
from this site, one for each of the following criteria:
a. Ceremony artifact
An artifact that reveals a special ceremony or custom (ex., marriage,
graduation, a secular or religious holiday, etc.)
b. Values artifact
An artifact that demonstrates one of the kinds of things (or experiences) this
family (or their surrounding community/culture) valued (ex., art, music, peace,
the environment, a sport, travel, lawn ornaments, cars, beauty, fashion, youth,
etc.)
c. Mystery artifact
Your own choice of artifact: pick one that you think is unique and/or
mysterious – one that reveals something unique to your family, or a funny or
interesting taboo, or is so mysterious that its meaning can only be
hypothesized based on the other artifacts found at the site.
Length:
Due date:
Approx 3 (max) typed, double-spaced pages, with headings
Oral presentation (3-4 minutes)
Student assessment rubric (attached)
HSP3U
Name:
SOME NOTES ABOUT ARTIFACTS:
Artifacts can be anything from a photo album to an award, a toy to a description of an
incident (a journal page), a musical sound recording to a tool. Everything that has utility
and/or meaning in your family/society is fair game, but if you are unsure whether or not
your artifact is acceptable, please speak to your teacher at least
classes
before the assignment is due.
Artistic recreations, pictures, photocopies, or other representations, etc., are all
acceptable if you do not have the “original” artifacts.
Also remember, your “dig” is in (or near) a garage sale site… As with all analysis of
ancient peoples’ cultures, anthropologists have to make educated guesses (to
hypothesize) in order to analyze any collection of artifacts, and not everything that gets
excavated will have been considered precious in its “original” culture. In other words,
you do not necessarily have to present valuable artifacts, nor will you necessarily paint
a “true” picture of your family’s or society’s culture. Base your presentation on likely
“hypotheses” (educated guesses) about the artifacts you have “found”.
WRITTEN DESCRIPTIONS
Each artifact must be accompanied by a written description (Part 1 and 2 below) that is
submitted to your teacher to follow along with as you present. Each description should
be typed, double-spaced, and approximately ¾ - 1 page (max) in length.
For each artifact’s descriptions, provide headings that match each of your artifacts
to the content below.
1. The Artifact
a. Physical features
Consider: What is it? What is it made of? How valuable/precious was it
originally? How was it used in its original society?
b. Location of original site
Where was it found? Describe the site and specific location.
c. Archaeologist’s research and methods
How did you get it? What research have you done and what has your
methodology been?
2. The Culture (1 paragraph)
a. How does the artifact connect to the customs and/or values of the family /
society it belonged to?
b. What does the artifact reveal about the people who used it?
c. Is their (your) culture/society hard to understand from this future time?
d. How might history look back on customs or practices that you live with today
and will people perhaps think differently about them?
For example, if one of your artifacts connects to the beauty industry of this
century, you would show how the artifact represents the ideal image of
“beauty” for men, women, or children. You would describe the value, and
describe the role that this “value” plays in the family or society’s life.
HSP3U
Name:
WRITTEN PERSONAL REFLECTION:
3. Student Reflection (1 paragraph)
a. What do you think is the most important aspect of your artifact project?
b. Now that you are finished, what part(s) of this project was (or were) the
most difficult and/or the most memorable? Why?
c. Did this project help you to understand the information we explored in this
unit? If yes, explain how. If no, suggest a project that you think would be a
good replacement for next year’s students and why.
STUDENT SELF-ASSESSMENT RUBRIC
10: MOST
DEFINITELY
COMPONENTS
I found a way to use both “found
materials” (artifacts) and course
content to support my ideas
effectively.
My ideas were expressed clearly
and my focus was consistent.
Student
Teacher
Student
Teacher
The way I organized my
presentation created an effect on
the audience.
Overall, my artifacts and
presentation looked nice, almost
authentic.
Student
Teacher
Student
Teacher
8-9: YES,
PRETTY
WELL
6-7: YES,
BUT COULD
BE MORE
4-5:
SOMETIMES
0-3:
NOT
REALLY
HSP3U
Name:
ARTIFACTS WRITTEN REPORT RUBRIC
CATEGORY
Level 4
Level 3
Level 2
Level 1
KNOWLEDGE/UNDERSTANDING – How knowledgably do you choose and
describe your artifacts?
purpose (analyze culture)
research methodology
extensive
extensive
clear
clear
some
some
minimal skill
minimal
3 strong artifacts
3 good artifacts
2 fair artifacts,
but 1 is a bit
weak
some explained
but leaves a few
questions
2 (or more)
artifacts are
weak
minimal
explanation with
many questions
3 artifacts
physical descriptions of
artifacts and site
all well explained &
leaves no question
to be asked
all explained but
leaves a question
or 2 to be asked
/5
THINKING/INQUIRY – How skillfully do you conduct your analysis of culture?
value artifact
insightful & thorough
connection to
culture / society
insightful & thorough
clearly stated
connection to
culture / society
clearly stated
some
connection to
culture / society
some
weakly
connected to
culture / society
weakly
“mystery” artifact
insightful & thorough
clearly stated
some
weakly
ceremony artifact
/5
/5
/5
APPLICATION – How skillfully do you apply course content in your project?
connection to course
content (anthro,
observation, methods,
culture, values, inference,
ethnocentrism, taboo, etc.)
personal reflection
student self assessment
excellent, highly
accurate, varied,
and thorough use
of content/
terminology
thoughtful, detailed
responses, strong
critical thinking
completed
clear and
accurate use of
course content
and terminology
clear responses,
good evidence of
critical thinking
some clarity
and some
accurate use of
course content
and terminology
some clarity &
evidence of
critical thinking
minimal clarity
and minimal
use of course
content and
terminology
minimal clarity,
responses may
be superficial
not completed
/5
/5
COMMUNICATION – How skillfully do you communicate in the written report?
clarity of ideas
(grammar, sentence
structure, conventions,
punctuation, spelling)
organization, use of
headings, format
COMMENTS
extensive clarity
and coherence,
virtually flawless,
clear, with minor
errors that do not
distract
some clarity,
some errors
distract
minimal clarity,
errors distract
from meaning
highly organized,
headings used
consistently,
flawless formatting
highly organized,
headings used
consistently, a
few minor
formatting errors
highly
organized,
headings used
consistently,
some use of
formatting
minimally
organized, no
headings used,
limited
formatting
/10
WRITTEN REPORT TOTAL =
/5
/15
/10
/10
K/U
T/I
A
C
HSP3U
Name:
ARTIFACT PRESENTATION RUBRIC
CATEGORY
Level 4
Level 3
Level 2
Level 1
KNOWLEDGE/UNDERSTANDING – How knowledgably do describe your artifacts?
purpose (analyze culture)
research methodology
extensive
extensive
clear
clear
some
some
minimal skill
minimal
3 strong artifacts
3 good artifacts
2 fair artifacts,
but 1 is a bit
weak
some explained
but leaves a few
questions
2 (or more)
artifacts are
weak
minimal
explanation with
many questions
3 artifacts
physical descriptions of
artifacts and site
all well explained &
leaves no question
to be asked
all explained but
leaves a question
or 2 to be asked
/15
THINKING/INQUIRY – How skillfully do you show evidence of your analysis?
connection to culture
highly detailed,
thorough
presentation of how
3 artifacts relate to
culture / society
clearly statements
show how all 3
artifacts relate to
culture
some sense
how 3 artifacts
relate to culture,
but 1 needs
more clarity
minimal sense
of how 2 or
more artifacts
connect to
culture
/5
APPLICATION – How skillfully do you use course terminology in the
presentation?
use of course terms and
content (anthro,
observation, methods,
culture, values, inference,
ethnocentrism, etc.)
excellent, highly
accurate, varied,
and thorough use
of content/
terminology
clear and
accurate use of
course content
and terminology
some clarity
and some
accurate use of
course content
and terminology
minimal clarity
or minimal use
of course
content and
terminology
/5
some clarity,
more eye
contact needed
some flow, a bit
choppy, some
direct reading
somewhat
engaging
minimal clarity
and/or eye
contact
minimal flow or
preparedness,
directly read
minimally
engaging
/10
COMMUNICATION – How skillfully do you present?
verbal and non-verbal
skills (clarity, volume, eye
contact, posture)
organization, flow , timing
and preparedness
engaging for audience
COMMENTS
great clarity,
volume & delivery
clear & coherent,
good eye contact
highly prepared,
well-timed, wellpracticed
highly engaging
clear & fluid, good
timing, practiced
use of notes
mostly engaging
PRESENTATION TOTAL =
/15
/5
/5
/10
K/U
T/I
A
C