In this lesson, students participate in an excavation simulation. Then, students learn about the ruins of Sardis and determine what clues scientists would use to determine if artifacts found in the excavation are of Persian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, or Lydian origin. Review the Academic Content Standards related to this lesson. Demonstrate their understanding of how archaeologists work by determining what next steps they might take to determine the answers to any outstanding questions that their archaeological team still has.
Students then share their responses.
On the chalkboard, make five columns. Then, as a class, have students skim the article and identify which artifacts found at the dig site described belong in each of these categories. When there are at least three or four items listed in each column, divide students into five groups, and assign one of these cultures to each group. Tell students to imagine that they are all archaeologists that were on the dig and that they have just uncovered one of the items in their group's category. Point out to students that, just like real archaeologists, in cases where they do not have all the answers, they will need to make some conjectures and hypotheses based on what they do know for sure.