Early Humans Unit: Motel of the Mysteries Analyzing and Interpreting Artifacts Activity
Assignments to hand in: Artifact Analysis Chart [Word Version] Shang Tomb Authentic Artifact Analysis Chart [Word Version]
Shared Learning Target & introduction:
What will I be able to do?: You will read the book, Motel of the Mysteries, and analyze a Shang Dynasty tomb to determine/infer the purpose of some artifacts as well as hypothesize about the culture of the Shang.
What idea, topic, or subject is important for you to learn and understand so that I can do this?: You will explore the Essential Question: How do we know what we know about human history? You will need to analyze and infer from unknown artifacts and come to informed conclusions.
What I will do to show that you know this?: You will complete the Artifact Analysis Chart for the book, Motel of the Mysteries as you read it. Then you will analyze and interpret Shang Dynasty artifacts to complete the Authentic Artifact Analysis Chart.
Step 1: Read Motel of the Mysteries Book - (Click Here to View Book) Read the picture book carefully, analyzing the various artifacts that are well known to you, but very foreign to the characters/archaeologists in the book.
Step 2: Complete the Artifact Analysis Chart - Choose five artifacts discussed in the book and complete the Artifact Analysis Chart [Word Version].
Applying Your Archaeological Skill with Real Artifacts
China: Shang Dyansty (1600 BCE–1046 BCE)
Step 3: Authentic Artifact Analysis - The Shang Dynasty is the oldest one in Chinese history that can be verified through archaeological evidence. Use what you've learned about interpreting the significance or purpose of artifacts from the Motel of the Mysteries and try to do the same for these artifacts from the Shang Dynasty. Look at the slideshow of some artifacts found in a Shang tomb and complete the Authentic Artifact Analysis Chart [Word Version].
Tomb of Lady Fu Hao of the Shang Dynasty
Shang Dynasty Tomb Artifacts Slideshow
(Click here to view artifacts)
-