Archaeology

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/archaeology

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary research method?Systematic excavation and analysis of material culture and environmental data
2. What is the interdisciplinary connections?Draws heavily on anthropology, history, geology, biology, chemistry, and computer science
3. What is archaeology and why do archaeologists dig?Archaeology is the science that studies old objects, buildings, and places to learn about people who lived long ago. Archaeologists dig carefully to find these clues and study them.
4. How do archaeologists find things when there are no written records?They look for physical evidence like tools, bones, and pottery. By studying where these items are found and how they are layered, they can learn about people even when no writing exists.

Material Culture: The physical objects, resources, and spaces that people use to define their culture and group.
Radiocarbon Dating: A scientific method used to determine the age of organic materials by measuring the decay of carbon-14.
Cultural Resource Management (CRM): The practice of managing archaeological and historical sites to protect them from destruction.