DESCRIPTION OF INTERACTIVE
An artefact is an object that’s made by humans; it usually has cultural or historical interest. Here are a few examples of artefacts from different cultures throughout the world:
[several images displayed]
Question: If someone were to ask you to name an artefact that’s very important to you - something you might save forever, if you could - what would you say? What makes you say that, or, why did you choose that object?
DESCRIPTION OF INTERACTIVE
You might remember that culture is a very significant term in the study of anthropology. The term culture includes the general customs(definition: a traditional and widely accepted way of behaving or doing something that is specific to a particular society, place, or time) and beliefs of a particular group of people, at a particular time (which implies that they will likely change over time).
Culture is another umbrella term that is made up of many different parts. For example, these elements (and many more) all contribute to the culture of a group.
Archaeology is the subfield of anthropology that studies people and cultures that have existed in the past. An archaeologist(definition: a person who studies human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts and other physical remains) uses different research methods to learn about and interpret(definition: explain the meaning or significance) how people lived. Archaeologists do this by analysing material culture or artefacts, written records, and/or oral traditions.
To study cultures from the past, archeologists may dig to uncover or unearth cultural remains. To do that, they might conduct an anthropological excavation, which can be a very long process - a task that requires a lot of time and patience!
These images will give you an idea of what an archeological dig site looks like. [two images are displayed]
As you explore archaeology and the other subfields of anthropology you will have an opportunity to learn about different influential anthropologists who have made important contributions to this field. Use this organizer to help you track your learning as you explore their findings. At the end of this activity, you will have the opportunity to share your completed organizer with a peer for feedback.
Louis and Mary Leakey’s research findings contributed greatly to the foundations of anthropology. You must locate a resource that will help you learn more about the Leakey Family. You might consider using resources, such as Britannica or Learn 360. Use your new knowledge to complete the archaeology row in the “Influential Anthropologists and Their Significant Contributions” organizer.
Fill in this organizer:
| Influential Anthropologists and their Significant Contributions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biological Anthropology | Area of Study: What were they trying to find, study or learn about? | How did the researchers collect the research? | What are some key examples of some research findings from the field? (You might choose to include a visual example or an audio.) | Give an example of a question an anthropologist might ask. |
| Leakey Family | ||||