STUDENT PROCESS: Activities for Archaeologist

Activity #3: Field Notes and Field Report

Once you arrive at “The Cave” your real work begins! You now have the opportunity to meet Dr. Archie and begin your excavation of “The Cave”. This will be an exciting opportunity for you to learn about the culture of the prehistoric Paleolithic People and how the climate and temperatures of the Ice Age affected their daily life.

Step #1:
You begin your work by taking a look at the attached form #4 called “Field Notes”.

As you know, archaeologists are required to keep very detailed notes on any discoveries they make during an excavation. Read over the information required on the form and begin to prepare for entrance into the cave and the discoveries that await you.

Step # 2:
The Project Manager has prepared a site map of the artifacts within the cave. As you travel through the cave you will begin to make several important discoveries.

Don’t forget to fill out your “Field Notes” for each artifact. Naturally, it will take several days to evaluate each of the artifacts found within the cave. The other specialists will be examining the cave paintings, rock engravings, bones and fossils. So just focus on those assigned to you by the Project Manager. If you can!

Step #3
Well you did it! It’s been a lot of work and you’ve hit some obstacles along the way but you never gave up and finally you’re able to report to the Project

Manager. Your final task is your “Field Report”. Here are the Project Manager’s directions:

1. Collect and review all of your “Field Notes”.

2. Next you will compare your notes with Dr. Archie’s. However, the Doctor’s “Field Notes” are under lock and key (to be sure that the press doesn’t get a sneak preview of the discoveries).

3. Therefore, you’ll have to get a special password from the Project Manager to find out the results of Dr. Archie’s research.

4. As you compare notes look at how your interpretation or analysis of the artifact is similar or different to Dr. Archie’s. Did you both reach the same conclusions. Are there any reasons arewhy you think your right and the good Dr. is wrong? You know archaeologists sometimes disagree based on their different perspectives or opinions.

Step #4

1. Now the really hard part begins! After you have examined the artifacts, taken notes and compared them with Dr. Archie’s, the Project Manager wants you to write a final “Field Report”.

2. In this report you will need to name the artifact, provide a brief description of the artifact and most importantly explain how the artifact supports, disputes or gives new evidence about the culture of the prehistoric people who lived during the Ice Age.

3. Your report will follow the attached guidelines (Attachment #5) and will be graded using the Rubric provided. (Attachement #6)

4. If you are interested, there is a Sample Field Report Layout available (Attachment #7).

Follow the footprints to return to the Archaeologist's Tasks....