Archaeologists
Learn about people who discover the buried clues to our past.
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About
About
Archaeologists are scientists who look for artifacts - or man-made items - and fossils to help us solve the mysteries of history. They use clues from what they find to learn about how people in the past lived, what they believed, and how they helped shape societies that came after them. The work of archaeologists is constantly changing what we know about ancient people and civilizations.
Essential Questions
Essential Questions
How do archaeologists study the past?
What important discoveries have archaeologists made?
In what ways can archaeologists e considered Changemakers?
Choose a Focus
Choose a Focus
Use the Suggested Activity to learn about your chosen focus in a fun way. Or visit the Activity Library to pick another interactive activity.
Note: Britannica School, BrainPOP, and Kids Discover are provided by Prenda. Make sure you are logged in via Clever.
Use the Suggested Activity to learn about your chosen focus in a fun way. Or visit the Activity Library to pick another interactive activity.
Note: Britannica School, BrainPOP, and Kids Discover are provided by Prenda. Make sure you are logged in via Clever.
Ötzi the Iceman
Ötzi the Iceman
In 1991, two hikers stumbled upon a body of a man buried in the snow and ice of the Alps. They would later learn that the body was over 5,000 years old. The body of the man, who became known as Ötzi, was so well-preserved that scientists were able to learn how he died and even what he ate for his last meal.
Essential questions:
Why was the discovery of Ötzi so important?
What have scientists learned about Ötzi?
Suggested Activity: Be The Teacher
Dogs of Pompeii
Dogs of Pompeii
The city of Pompeii, Italy, was buried after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD and forgotten until the 1700s. Then, archaeologists discovered that volcanic ash had preserved much of the city including the nearly untouched body of a guard dog.
Essential questions:
What happened to the city of Pompeii?
What have archaeologists learned about the city from their excavations?
Why is the Dog of Pompeii so well-known?
Suggested Activity: Act It Out
Mary Leakey ⚒️
Mary Leakey ⚒️
Mary Leakey was a British anthropologist whose discoveries of ancient human bones in Africa has led to a better understanding of who our human ancestors were and how they lived.
Essential Questions:
Who was Mary Leakey?
What discoveries did she make as an anthropologist?
In what ways is she a Changemaker?
Suggested Activity: Be The Teacher
Curricular Connections
Curricular Connections
Continue your learning by choosing one of these related activities.
Continue your learning by choosing one of these related activities.
Related Social Studies Topics
Timeline Challenge
Start a class timeline (or add to an existing timeline) showing important archeological discoveries.
Literature
Read this short story called "The Dog of Pompeii."
Create
(Not sure what to do? See if you can contact an archaeologist through a local college and interview them!)
Just for Fun
Explore Pompeii by reading this short article.
Learn more about archaeology by doing this pottery activity.
Image Attributions
Archeologists banner: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia CommonsÖtzi the Iceman: Melotzi5713, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia CommonsDogs of Pompeii: Carole Raddato from FRANKFURT, Germany, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia CommonsMary Leakey: Smithsonian Institution from United States, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons
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