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A tool made from mammoth bone found in Bluefish Cave II, Yukon by Jacques CinqMars in 1973. Photo credit: Jacques Cinq-Mars.
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The example of the
Beringian mammoth bone
tool may be developed into
an activity using Assessing
archaeological significance
(Blackline Master #1),
Archaeological significance
(Blackline Master #2), or
Deciding on archaeological
significance (Blackline
Master #3).
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Archaeological significance
(Blackline Master #2) and
Deciding archaeological
significance (Blackline
Master #3) are designed for
use with younger students.
signifi
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ica
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Teaching Archaeological Thinking
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Teaching Archaeological Thinking
14
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[OPURPUN
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Blackline Master #1
Scientific significance
UÊ ÃÊ̅iÊw˜`Ê>Õ̅i˜ÌˆV¶
UÊ ˜Ì>VÌÉÜi‡«ÀiÃiÀÛi`¶
UÊ >˜ÊˆÌÊLiÊ`>Ìi`¶
UÊ 7…>ÌÊVœ˜ÌÀˆLṎœ˜ÊV>˜ÊˆÌÊ
make to understanding the
…Õ“>˜Ê«>Ã̶
UÊ œÜʓÕV…ʈÃʎ˜œÜ˜Ê>LœÕÌÊ
its environment and related
w˜`ö
UÊ œÜÊLˆ}ʈÃÊ̅iÊw˜`ʈ˜ÊÌiÀ“ÃÊ
of the amount of evidence it
Vœ˜Ì>ˆ˜Ã¶
Social significance
UÊ œiÃʈÌʅ>ÛiÊ«>À̈VՏ>ÀÊ
cultural, religious, or
…ˆÃ̜ÀˆV>Ê“i>˜ˆ˜}¶
UÊ ÃʈÌÊ>ʓ>ÌÌiÀʜvʘ>̈œ˜>Ê
«Àˆ`i¶Ê
UÊ œiÃʈÌʅ>ÛiÊw˜>˜Vˆ>ÊÛ>ÕiÊ
vÀœ“Ê̜ÕÀˆÃ“¶
Ranking: In light of these criteria,
rank the significance of the
three archaeological finds:.
3rd
2nd
Archaeological find/site
1st
Explanation:
3rd
2nd
Archaeological find/site
1st
Explanation:
3rd
[OL
Assessing archaeological significance
2nd
Archaeological find/site
1st
Explanation:
[OPURPUN
JVUZVY[P\T
JYP[PJHS
78
Teaching Archaeological Thinking
Blackline Master #2
Archaeological significance
Rank order the importance of the criteria for deciding archaeological significance by placing a “1” beside the most important
criterion, a “2” beside the second most important criterion, and number the rest in order of their importance. Add additional
criteria, and include them in your ranking.
Ranking of
importance
Criteria for archaeological significance
Scientific value: May or has provided information that we would not otherwise know
Authentic: Is accurate and original, is not a fake or has not been badly altered or damaged
Cultural meaning:Ê>ÃÊëiVˆ>Ê>À̈Ã̈VʜÀÊVՏÌÕÀ>Êˆ“«œÀÌ>˜Vi
Historical meaning: Is associated with important historic events or situations
Religious meaning\Ê>ÃÊëiVˆ>ÊëˆÀˆÌÕ>ÊœÀÊÀiˆ}ˆœÕÃʈ“«œÀÌ>˜Vi
Public interest: Is important or appealing to many people
À>ÜÊ>Ê«ˆVÌÕÀiʜvÊޜÕÀÊw˜`ÉÈÌi°
1ÃiÊޜÕÀÊ̜«ÊÎÊVÀˆÌiÀˆ>Ê̜Ê`iVˆ`iʅœÜÊÈ}˜ˆwV>˜ÌÊޜÕÀÊw˜`ÉÈÌiʈÃÊ>˜`ÊiÝ«>ˆ˜Ê܅ްÊ
Criteria for significance
Conclusions and reasons
Most important – 1:
Most important – 2:
Most important – 3:
Teaching Archaeological Thinking
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Blackline Master #3
Deciding archaeological significance
Archaeological site: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Quick facts
U
U
U
Rating significance
Evidence
Criteria 1: ______________________________
1
2
3
4
very great
5
little
Criteria 2: ______________________________
1
2
3
4
very great
5
little
Criteria 3: ______________________________
1
2
3
4
very great
5
little
This archaeological site
†
†
†
†
is of great significance
is quite significant
has little significance
is not significant
Reasons for my rating:
1.
2.
3.
Teaching Archaeological Thinking
80
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