ARCHAEOLOGY IN A SHOEBOX
You are going to embark upon a thrilling adventure. You will venture into the unknown.
You are going to become an instant archaeologist. How will this happen? You will be
excavating a dig in miniature-a shoebox-sized dig. Please follow the directions to both
prepare a dig for a fellow classmate and also to excavate a site.
1) First, you must prepare your own shoebox.
a) Write your name on the bottom of an empty, sturdy shoebox.
b) Line your box with a plastic bag to prevent dirt leakage.
c) Locate at least two gallons of soil (dirt). Please make sure that it is not
full of rocks.
d) Decide what type of archaeological dig you are going to create. Some
possible choices are: by generation or by room. (Look below for more
info about this.)
e) Put a layer of soil on the bottom of your box.
f) Scatter the first group of artifacts on top of the soil. You may want to
press them in slightly. There should be at least five artifacts in this group.
Draw a picture of where each artifact is located.
g) Put a layer of soil on top until all the artifacts are covered up.
h) Scatter the second layer of artifacts on top of the soil. There should be at
least five artifacts in this group. Draw a picture of where each artifact is
located.
i) Put a layer of soil on top until all the artifacts are covered up.
j) Scatter the third layer of artifacts on top of the soil. There should be at
least five artifacts in this group. Draw a picture of where each artifact was
located.
k) Put a layer of soil on top until all the artifacts are covered up.
** What to bury in your box:
Generational:
On the bottom layer put items that might have been used by your
grandparents.
The middle layer would have items that might have been used by
your parents.
The top layer would be items that might have been used by you.
Rooms:
Have each layer be items that might be found in a specific room in
a home.
Use only nonperishable artifacts. Seeds and nuts are nonperishable.
Make sure that your artifacts are not valuable. It would be tragic if
anything happened to an item of value. The second hand stores are a
wonderful place to find future artifacts. Do not use 25-50 tiny items.
It would very unfair for whomever received your box.
2) Bring the box to class on Tuesday, September 14. Put it on the little tables or
against the bookshelves.
3) When you come to Social Studies class, you will begin the dig. Please follow the
directions to have a successful dig.
a) You will choose a box that is not your own.
b) You will record the dig number you are given on your box. This number
will be the I.D. for your dig.
c) You will prepare your work area.
d) You will carefully begin the excavation process following excellent
excavation procedures.
**Remember to gently remove the soil. You don’t want to disturb the
artifacts before you graph their locations.
e) When you find artifacts, you will carefully graph the location on paperincluding the measurements for location.
f) REMEMBER-SLOW AND CAREFUL.
4) After you have finished excavating ALL your artifacts, you will study what was
found on each level. You will write one paragraph for each level, describing what
was found, and what you have learned about the “people” who used these
artifacts.
5) Approximate due date for all the written work is Monday, Sept. 18 at the
beginning of Social Studies class.
GRADING RUBRIC
Category:
Your Box
Your Dig
Your Notes
Super (5 pts)
There was an
obvious theme
in your layers.
The artifacts
were nonperishable.
They were
placed
carefully in
your box.
You kept
record with a
good drawing.
There were at
least 5
artifacts per
layer.
You
conducted
your dig with
careful
removal of the
soil. You
used the brush
once you
found an
artifact so as
to not disturb
it.
You very
carefully
measured
where each
artifact was
found. You
drew careful
pictures and
included your
measurements.
Good (4 pts)
You had a theme
in your box.
You drew good
pictures of the
locations. The
artifacts were
non –perishable
and carefully
placed in the
box. There were
at least 5
artifacts per
layer.
Fair (3 pts)
Did the
archaeologist
have to really
think about
what your
theme was. Did
you have only a
few artifacts on
each layer.
Was your
drawn record
incomplete.
Were the
artifacts nonperishable.
Okay (2 pts)
The
archaeologist
had to ask you
what your theme
was. You had so
few artifacts that
it felt like there
was less than
three layers.
Your drawings
were practically
noon-existant.
The artifacts
were nonperishable.
Needs Work (1 pt)
Your box was a
mess. (Be careful
not to drop your
box.) Everything
was non-perishable.
You didn’t have
drawings as record.
Occasionally
you became
excited and dug
a little deep.
You used the
brush once each
artifact was
found.
You dug too
deep several
times,
disturbing the
integrity of the
site. You used
the brush when
artifacts were
found.
You dug deep
constantly. You
used the brush
several times.
You dug deep
constantly. You
very rarely used the
brush.
You measured
where the
artifacts were
found. Your
pictures showed
their locations.
You were
slightly sloppy.
You had measurements on
Your pictures
showed where
the locations
were but you
didn’t include
any
measurements.
Your pictures
were sloppy but
everything was
drawn.
You didn’t really
keep a record either
with measurements
or drawings.
Your
Analysis
Neatness
Total
Your
description
was very
complete.
You didn’t try
to name the
objects but
described
them. You
suggested
possible uses.
You made
hypotheses as
to what
peoples left
these artifacts.
All records
were neat and
tidy.
25 pts
most locations.
Your description
was good, but
you named some
of the objects
instead of
describing them.
You suggested
possible uses.
You made
guesses as to
what peoples
left these
artifacts.
You were neat,
but had a few
smears on the
papers.
20 pts
You didn’t really
write anything
about the artifacts.
Your sentences
were incomplete.
They were messy
and hard to
comprehend.
You named
instead of
described. You
named uses.
You guessed as
to what peoples
left these
artifacts.
You named the
artifacts. You
named the uses.
You didn’t
include what
peoples left these
artifacts.
You were
slightly messy.
Your records
Your records were
were very messy. messy and
incomplete.
15 pts
10 pts
5 pts