ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIG

SIMULATION
(UNIT END PROJECT)

GRADE 9
SOCIAL STUDIES
-MR. LETKEMAN-
ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIG
 You are going to simulate an archaeological dig. A simulation is an
activity that allows people to go through the actions and procedures of a real
event in order to give a glimpse of what the experience is really like. This
project will be your unit end project and is therefore weighted heavily in your
unit mark. The following is how I’d like you to complete this project.

You are going to get into groups of three. You will design a box that
will act as one grid in an archaeological dig. You are going to create a
background story and setting for your box. You will create 3-4 stratas in
your box (about 15 cm a strata). At each strata you will place 1-3 artifacts
that will relate to the setting and background story of your box. The box and
the setting will be handed over to another group. It will be their task to go
through the slow and meticulous (systematic) process of an archaeological
dig.

PART 1: PREPARATION PHASE

1. Create a background story for your box. Your background story

should answer the following questions:

a) Write a story for your dig box. Your story should take place in a
specific place and period of time. The story will be an event that another
group in the class will seek to uncover. Your story should be about ½ to ¾
of a page. Once this story has been proof-read, edited, and revised, it will
be placed in a manila envelope and sealed.

b) Create a cheat sheet of facts that will be given to the group that will
dig your box. This sheet will include time period of the artifacts, the age
of the strata, how the site was found, and another other helpful pieces of
information that will aid the group in creating inferences and figuring out
the story.

2. Based on the background story you have created, you will plan how
you will organize your box. The following questions will guide you
thinking:

a) What artifacts will we need for our box that are related to our background
story?

b) How many artefacts will we place into a strata?

c) Which strata will contain the most artefacts? Will some contain any?
3. Figure out who will bring in different kinds of dirt or sand (in ice cream
pails preferably) in order to create the different strata in your box.

4. Lay down the strata and artifacts in your box, one-by-one. Remember,
each strata is to be 15 cm in thickness.

5. Once the box is completed, you will give your background cheat sheet,
dig box, and sealed envelope to another group in order to begin the
process of the archaeological dig.

PART 2: THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIG

Once you receive a box and background story from another group, you will
complete the archaeological dig in the following way.

1. Using a trowel (or spade) and brushes, you will begin removing the soil
of the First Strata, little-by-little.

a) Once you begin to unearth an object, please DO NOT rip it out.

b) You want to slowly brush the dirt away until the artifact is fully exposed.

c) Once you fully expose an artifact, take a picture of it with a label (“Item #1”)

d) Clean and then bag the artifact (with the item number on it)t and record and
sketch it on your Record Sheet.

2. After the dig is completed, it is time to interpret your findings in the

same way we did in the Mystery Locker and the Tell At Ur.

a) Create a neat and ruled chart with three columns: Observations, Questions,
Inferences.

b) As a group you will interpret each artifact found with this chart – just as you
did in The Mystery Locker and the Tell At Ur. Your goal is to construct a story
based on the cheat sheet and your inferences that is as close to the story in the
sealed envelope.

PART 3: CREATING A DISPLAY OF YOUR ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIG

Once you are done the dig and have interpreted your results, you will then create a
display that will show the process you used in your Dig. Please include the
following:
1. A copy of the background story to your dig site and the story you created as a
group.

2. Photos of each step of the process of the dig with explanation of each step.

3. A neatly reproduced chart that interprets your artifacts (Observations, Questions,

Inferneces).

4. Your display requires a catchy title that relates to the story of your dig.

*As you group you will be responsible for coming up with the best and most
attractive method of displaying your Dig.

PLEASE NOTE: THESE DISPLAYS WILL BE PLACED IN A PUBLIC PART OF THE

SCHOOL. YOU PARENTS WILL SEE THEM WHEN THEY COME TO PARENT-
TEACHER INTERVIEWS. SO TAKE PRIDE IN THIS PROJECT!

HOW YOU WILL BE MARKED A GRADED

1. Part 1 (Preparation) is worth 25 marks

a) I will be looking for serious conversation in the process of creating you

background story to your dig box.

b) I am expecting you to put together a good quality dig box with proper strata
and artefacts. This is going to be given to another group and their marks
depend on your box being done right and being done well!

2. Part 2 (The Archaeological Dig) is worth 35 marks

a) Are you all on task? Or am I constantly coming over and asking you to get
serious and stay on task?

b) I am expecting that you will be observing the process and procedures that I
have laid down in the instructions for this assignment (and any I have given in
class).

c) Archaeology demands order and seriousness. Are you demonstrating it?

3. Part 3 (The Display)  A rubric will be given to you for this part of the
Project so that you will know exactly what you need to do and have in
order to get a successful grade.

a) Have you included all the things in your display that I have asked for?

b) Is your display neat and attractive?

 c) Is your display professional and of high quality?

GRAND TOTAL = 100 Marks

* Due to the sheer size and process of this project, this will act as your
unit exam. With this in mind, please approach this Project with
enthusiasm, excellence, and determination. If you do, I have no doubt
that you will achieve success.

DUE: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29th