A Museum in a trunk! That was our original inspiration when we created In Search of Margidunum, our first travelling collection for schools and community groups. Looking for Doggerland is our second collection in the series. It is a unique handling collection of artefacts and costumes that will inspire your pupils as they explore the history of prehistoric Nottinghamshire. A mini museum A journey into the past A dressing up box Looking for Doggerland is all these and more. All the artefacts are based on objects from Nottinghamshire and the adjoining counties of Derbyshire and Lincolnshire. THE RESOURCE The Trunk The core of Looking for Doggerland is the trunk. Built in the days before air travel it is over 100 years old and has a whole history of its own. On ocean going liners it journeyed east wards to India and westwards to the Americas. During WWII it was used to store medical supplies, hence the green cross on the front and webbing in some of the drawers. The drawers in the trunk have been deliberately organised with the Iron Age first, mimicking an archaeological dig where evidence for the most recent human activity is typically nearest the surface. For younger children this approach invites them to step back in time ‘looking’ for Doggerland as they ‘travel’ through the Bronze Age, Neolithic (New Stone Age), Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age) and Upper Palaeolithic (Old Stone Age) using the replica artefacts to help them. Costumes on the trunk’s original hangers will help your children bring each period to life. The Suitcase contains Magnifying glasses Protective mats Information sheets and support materials The Store The Store contains additional artefacts and supplementary materials to support your pupils’ learning. Replica palaeolithic animal bones Replica pots from the Neolithic to Iron Age Tools for your pupils to decorate their own pottery Posters and maps To introduce each era there is a poster which is also available for digital use on whiteboards etc. The illustration is centred on a key artefact and creates a narrative placing the object in context with the people who created and used it and landscape they inhabited. Two maps show changes to the European landmass during the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic periods and formed Great Britain as we know it today. RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS The Teacher Pack This pack contains Ideas for structured use of the resources and general background information.
Instructions for safe handling of all the resources A double-sided sheet per era which will help you plan for and structure your teaching. One side has a brief overview of the period and an explanation of what is happening in the poster; the other has a graphic relating to key facts and artefacts for the period. Description of posters, information sheets, worksheets etc A period by period breakdown of the resources available and suggested activities A n inventory of all the artefacts included in the resource A copy of Stone Age Nottinghamshire by David Budge and Chris Robinson, a highly readable well illustrated and comprehensive overview of the County’s prehistory. CD and Website You will find downloadable support materials on the accompanying disc and the Museum website, including A copy of the teacher pack Photocopiable worksheets An image bank of original artefacts from the Museum’s collections Posters and maps suitable for use on Whiteboards etc. Links to other external resources.
WHERE IS DOGGERLAND? For the majority of its history Britain was part of Europe, linked closely to communities in Scandinavia and the Netherlands. This changed 8,000 years ago when a massive tsunami caused by melting ice, swept the land bridge away. Archaeologists have named this lost land Doggerland, after the Dogger Bank. For decades fishermen have caught stone tools, pieces of ancient wood and animals bones in their nets. In the 1930’s a bone harpoon, stuck in a lump of peat, confirmed people were once on land now beneath the water. Rivers now under the North Sea provided a network of waterways, giving people access, to Northern, Central and Southern areas of Europe. The exploration of Doggerland is only just beginning. In recent times, pollen, seeds, animal bones and other organic matter from core samples, taken from the sea bed in preparation for the construction of wind farms, is increasing our knowledge. HOW DO WE KNOW? Apart from the Iron Age, we are dependent on archaeology for our knowledge of prehistory. Information comes from excavations and artefacts landscape features eg enclosures and trackways environmental evidence eg pollen European sources contemporary with the period eg bog bodies from Denmark aerial photography. ALL ABOUT LITHICS (Stone tools) Until the discovery and development of metals, hard stone such as flint, quartz and chert was used for making tools known as lithics ie objects made from stone. None of these rock types are part of the geological makeup of the region yet In Nottinghamshire flint is the most commonly used stone, so where did it come from? pebbles washed down by rivers of glacial melt-water trade with other regions it was brought into the region by hunters following the herds from elsewhere. This scarcity of raw materials had consequences - tools from the region tend to be smaller broken blades and tools from earlier times were reused, eg one Palaeolithic handaxe could be made into several Neolithic blades goods were produced specifically for trade The development of trading links led to - a network of trackways the availability of non-local products, eg amber people aware of different cultural ideas and new technologies DATING THE PAST Dates up to the Neolithic are given as Years Ago (ya). From the Neolithic period onwards the common form ‘years’ BC is used eg 3000 BC. To change a BC date to ya add 2000: 3000BC = 5000ya. TEACHING THEMES
UPPER PALAEOLITHIC BACKGROUND The first modern humans arrived in Europe during the Upper Palaeolithic. At this time Nottinghamshire was the most north-westerly habitable point for humans in Europe. The period is divided into Late and Early phases, separated by a cold, glacial period lasting10,000 years. The treeless open tundra landscape of the region was covered in summer by low growing plants which attracted herds of animals. There is evidence that reindeer may have made the journey specifically to have their young in the seclusion of Cresswell Crags. 40,000-22,000 YA (early phase) The River Trent was part of the migration route for herds of animals: Wild horse, bison, reindeer, elk, woolly mammoth, aurochs, giant deer, red deer, wolves, brown bears, wolverine, arctic foxes, mountain hares, woolly rhinos, hyenas bears and lion. Groups of people followed the migrating herds from their permanent homes in the lowlands now under the North Sea. They lived in caves and temporary shelters. During the glacial period people and animals retreated to central Europe. 13,000 - 10,000 YA (late phase) At the end of the period temperatures rose, melting the ice cap and raising sea levels. As the climate improved people returned to Britain. These people were part of a culture found in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. Technologies were changing and they were the first to use bow and arrows. Most animal species returned with the exception of lions, hyenas, bison and woolly rhinos. THE POSTER Flint Knapping at Farndon, Nottinghamshire Landscape The site is above the confluence of the Rivers Trent and Devon, surrounded in the Palaeolithic period by dry and open savannah grassland. It is spring and herds of migrating animals are crossing the rivers on their way to Cresswell Crags. What is happening? A large hunting party has gathered on a promontory above the river. At a distance below them they can see herds of mammoth and reindeer making their way westwards. As the group plan the next day’s hunting, two people, a man and child are sitting side by side flint knapping. The child is learning how to make a flint spear head and they are both surrounded by small pieces of flint debris.
IRON AGE Background At the end of the Bronze Age the climate deteriorated, becoming colder and wetter. Sea levels rose and coastal areas were swamped in salty water, destroying grazing land. During the Iron Age a North/South split developed. The River Trent provided an easily navigable route for trade in and out of the region and settlements along its course grew and thrived. North of the Trent was poorer and more wooded, settlements here seem to consist of two or three small roundhouses grouped inside a ditched enclosure, a pattern more common in northern Britain. Generally the landscape is recognisably rural with fields and pasture surrounding villages of round houses made from wattle and daub. Lowland enclosures similar to upland hillforts appear. These don’t seem to be defensive and there is little archaeological evidence for warfare. Pottery making continues but is generally functional rather than decorative. Towards the end of the period wheel thrown pottery was being made. Iron has replaced bronze as the metal of choice. The raw materials to make it are readily available which makes it cheaper to produce. THE POSTER Salt production, Ingoldmels, Lincolnshire coast. Landscape Ingoldmells is one of several salt making sites found along the east coast of Britain. In the Iron Age it was an area of flat, coastal salt marsh with navigable inlets. What’s happening? Salt production Trays of damp salt are being stacked into kilns, nearby other kilns are being fired or unpacked. A child is making small thumb pots, maybe to hold small quantities of salt or just in play In the background a laden pony is ready to transport the salt across the region and traders are arriving by boat. Salt making Salt has been produced for millennia along the eastern coast. Saltwater is channelled from the sea into shallow pans. As the water evaporates, salt crystals form on the surface. The salt crystals are scooped off and packed into clay troughs. Smaller quantities of salt are packed into pots, including tiny thumb pots, probably made by children. The troughs and pots are packed into peat fired kilns and left to dry. The dried salt ‘cakes’ and pots of salt are transported throughout the region by coracle and packhorse along a network of rivers and trackway
ARTEFACTS IN TRUNK: DRAWER 1 Iron Tools Reaping hook Iron Knife Adze Clothing & personal accessories Iron pin Torc Cosmetic grinder Other Currency bar Coins & moulds x 3 Drop spindle Weaving comb Loom weight Wooden bowl COSTUMES Hanger 1 (man) Short linen tunic Wool trousers Hanger 2 (woman) Linen under tunic Wool peplos In Trunk (Drawer 4: Mesolithic) Man’s leather belt Man’s woollen ankle bindings Man’s wool cloak Woman’s leather belt Woman’s checked shawl ARTEFACTS IN THE STORE Salt making equipment: Troughs x 2, clips x 3, supports x 6 Thumb pot x 3 Lidded pot Handmade jar Wheel thrown jar IMAGES ON DISC Thumb pots & pot with lid Handmade pot from Dragonby Wheel thrown pot from Dragonby Coin mould & coins Torc POSTER Salt making at Ingoldmells ACTIVITY SUGGESTIONS Dressing up and role play Equipment: Costumes * Artefacts * Make a thumb pot Equipment: Clay Make salt Equipment: Instruction book* Maldon sea salt Saucers or similar shallow container Water Saucepan and spoon * included
ARTEFACTS IN TRUNK: DRAWER 2 Jewellery ‘Jet’ necklace Bronze pin Amber beads Flint tools Leaf & tanged arrowhead Pocket knife Bronze Tools Socketted axe head Flat axe head Dagger Other Gold currency ring COSTUMES Hanger 3 (man) Wool tunic Linen trousers Hanger 4 (woman) Linen tunic Brown wool ‘crop’ top In Trunk drawer 2 Man’s sheepskin cape Man’s leather leg bindings Man’s felted wool hat Woman’s wool skirt ARTEFACTS IN THE STORE Beaker Incense burner Cremation urn Pottery tool kit & sampler tile IMAGES ON DISC Gold bracelet with currency rings Bramcote urn Funeral urn with cremated remains Incense burner Flat & socketted axeheads Dagger blade Arbor Low henge POSTER Burial at Bramcote ACTIVITY SUGGESTIONS Dressing up and role play Equipment: Costumes * Artefacts * Use the artefacts and costumes to encourage pupils to adopt a persona & create dialogues. Decorate a clay tile Equipment: Clay Pottery tool set* Making a Mark, pottery tools worksheet* * included
LEFT HAND SIDE COSTUMES Hanger 1 (Iron Age man) Short red linen tunic Checked woollen trousers Hanger 2 (Iron Age woman) Blue linen under tunic Blue woollen peplos Hanger 3 (Bronze Age man) Natural woollen tunic Natural linen trousers Hanger 4 (Bronze Age woman) Natural linen tunic Brown woollen ‘crop’ top Hanger 5 (Neolithic man) Natural linen tunic with stitching Brown leather trousers Hanger 6 (Neolithic woman) Leather blouse Leather tabard Hanger 7 (Mesolithic & Palaeolithic Man) Leather tunic Leather leggings Fur coat Hanger 8 (Mesolithic & Palaeolithic woman) Long sleeved, leather tunic dress Fur waist coat BEHIND COSTUMES Palaeolithic spear Mesolithic microlith harpoon Neolithic arrow RIGHT HAND SIDE DRAWER 1- Iron Age Iron sickle Iron Knife Adze Currency bar Coins x 12 & moulds x 3 Iron pin Torc Cosmetic grinder Weaving comb Loom weight Drop spindle Wooden bowl DRAWER 2 - Bronze Age ‘Jet’ necklace Bronze pin Amber beads Barbed & tanged arrowhead Flint ‘pocket knife’ Socketted bronze axe head Flat bronze axe head Dagger Gold currency ring x 1 Costume items Bronze Age man: Sheepskin cape Leather leg bindings Felted hat Bronze Age woman: Brown woollen skirt DRAWER 3 - Neolithic Antler pick Flint sickle Leaf arrowhead Knife unpolished Knife with handle Drop spindle (stone) Chalk lamp Costume items Neolithic woman: Green woollen skirt Neolithic man: Leather belt DRAWER 4 – Mesolithic Hafted flint axe Flint blades x 2 Flint core Microliths x 3 Bone harpoon Bone needle, plus sinew thread Periwinkle shell necklace Fire lighting kit in leather pouch Ochre sticks (for use under adult supervision only)