Hands-on History: teaching archaeology to students -

experiences from the classroom, from the museum, and from the field

Building Bridges for Historical Learning28-9 March 2011

Dr Craig BarkerSydney University Museums

The Nicholson Museum at the University of Sydney

Nicholson Museum Education Room

Nicholson Museum Galleries

Archaeological Excavations at Nea Paphos in Cyprus

What Is Archaeology?

Archaeology, or archeology (from Greek ἀρχαιολογία, archaiologia) is the study of past human societies, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data which they have left behind, which includes artefacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes.

Archaeology studies human history from the development of the first stone tools 2.5 million years ago up until recent decades.

What Archaeology is Not!

• Only practiced overseas, and• Only practiced on ancient cultures

Material culture can help us understand the Australian narrative too

An understanding of archaeological processes

and analysis can bring to students: • tangible learning experiences through “holding

history” (hands-on experiences)• development of critical thinking through

artefact analysis• development of multiple interpretations based

on available evidence• a different and memorable experience

(particularly if it is out of the classroom)• a fun and entertaining learning experience

Two types of approaches to archaeological analysis that needs to

be considered:• General archaeological methodology, theory and

practices (How, Where, Why, What, When)

• Site/Culture/Artefact Specific Research (e.g. Pompeii, ancient ceramic production, The Rocks, etc.)

• The level of investigative detail by the students can be varied according to age and complexity of the study, but an understanding of archaeological processes as well as historical processes gives students a more holistic understanding of past lives.

Integrating historical evidence with archaeological evidence

WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO TEACHERS TO HELP YOU MAKE

ARCHAEOLOGY ACCESSIBLE TO STUDENTS?

1. Participation on a Dig

Australian international excavation projects with volunteer programs (for adults) include:

University of Sydney excavations in • Paphos, Cyprus • Pella, Jordan• Central Asian Project (Uzbekistan)• Angkor, Cambodiahttp://www.arts.usyd.edu.au/archaeology/research/projects.shtml

Participation on a Dig

How to find out participatory excavations:• Archaeological Institute of America Fieldwork

Opportunities: www.archaeological.org/webinfo.php?page=10016

• Earthwatch: http://www.earthwatch.org/

2. Visiting Heritage Sites or Excavations

• Many Australian examples• The Big Dig, The Rocks

Port Arthur, Tasmania

Mungo National Park, New South Wales

Visiting Heritage and Archaeological Sites

Overseas examplesTour groups that specialise in school tours

Academy Travelwww.academytravel.com.au

University of Sydney’s Centre for Continuing Education Study Tours

Real Travelwww.realtravel.com.au

3. Visiting Museums

ANCIENT CULTURES• Nicholson Museum (University of Sydney)• Museum of Ancient Cultures (Macquarie University)• Ian Potter Museum of Art (University of Melbourne)• John Elliot Museum (University of Tasmania)• RD Milns Antiquities Museum

(University of Queensland)• Abbey Museum of Art & Archaeology

Focus on tacit hands-on

experiences

Australian Historical Museums

Australian MuseumNational Museum of AustralianAustralian War MemorialHistoric Houses Trusts PropertiesHyde Park BarracksAustralian Maritime MuseumMary MacKillop Place MuseumPowerhouse MuseumSydney Jewish MuseumMacleay Museum (University of Sydney)Etc.

MUSEUMS ONLINE• British Museum (Explore)

http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/explore_introduction.aspx

4. Archaeology in the Classroom

• Activities you can do….

Your own hands-on workshops

Classroom Activities

• Using historical photographs

Classroom Activities

• Your own dig or survey

Classroom Activities

• Archaeology is About Recording• Descriptive and visual skills for students• Work on your descriptive powers. Practice describing simple everyday objects around you,

even: a telephone, a book, a DVD, a tree, a tin can, a coin. You don't have to describe what it's used for, necessarily, but what is the texture like, what is its over all shape, what colour is it. Use a thesaurus, just pack your descriptions with words.

• Sharpen your visual skills. Buildings are perfect for this. Find an older building--doesn't have to be terribly old, 75 years or more would be fine. If it is old enough, the house you live in works perfectly. Look at it closely and try to see if you can tell what might have happened to it. Are there scars from old renovations? Can you tell if a room or a window sill was painted a different color once? Is there a crack in the wall? Is there a bricked-up window? Is there a stain on the ceiling? Is there a staircase that goes nowhere or a doorway that's permanently shut? Try to figure out what happened.

HOW DO I STAY UP TO DATE WITH RELEVANT ARCHAEOLOGICAL

DEVELOPMENTS AND NEW RESEARCH?http://www.earthwatch.org/

Keeping Up To Date With Research:Archaeology Magazines

ArchaeologyBi-monthly publication of the

Archaeological Institute of America

Now in its fiftieth year

Biblical Archaeology Review

BAR covers the archaeology of the old and newtestaments in a nondenominational way; oftencontroversial, always entertaining

Current Archaeology

Britain's leadingarchaeology magazine; anda great source of archaeology news for theUnited Kingdom.

Minerva

Published in London six times a year,Minerva covers primarily, but not exclusively, old world archaeology with an emphasis on ancient art history.

www.pasthorizons.com

Past Horizons – a free bi-monthly online magazine

Children’s magazines

• Dig

• Whacky but True

TV ProgramsTime Team (Produced by Channel 4 in UK, screened on ABC in

Australia)

DVD - Astarte Resources

http://www.astarte.com.au/

Keeping Up To Date Online

E-Newsletters• AIA e-Update• Archaeology Daily News www.archaeologydaily.com • Ancient World News (ABC)

www.abc.net.au/science/news/ancient

• Explorator groups.yahoo.com/group/Explorator

• Don’t Forget Social Networking Site - many excavation projects have Facebook and YouTube profiles

Keeping Up To Date With Archaeological Research:

Blogswww.archaeologydigs.blogspot.com/

Fieldwork Websites and Blogs

http://www.archaeology.org/interactive/

Blogs from: Pompeii, Sagalassos, Black Sea, Arizona

www.paphostheatre.com

www.paphostheatre.com

Time Map: http://www.timemap.net/

Podcasts

National Archaeology Week

Held the third week of May each yearwww.archaeologyweek.com/

Includes a list of tertiary institutions in Australian that offer archaeology and archaeology-related courses.

Joining Archaeological Societies

• NEAF (Near Eastern Archaeology Foundation)• AAIA (Australian Archaeological Institute at Athens)

• AIA (Archaeological Institute of America)• ASHA (Australian Society of Historical Archaeology)

• AAA (Australian Archaeological Association)

• Sydney University Ancient History Teachers Hub (ACAHA@Sydney)

www.arts.usyd.edu.au/sophi/community/for_teachers.shtml

Make It Fun!

And have life-long learning…..

craig.barker@sydney.edu.au