Games!

Over the last year I have been collecting archaeology video/topic ideas from children and teachers across the United States.   An overwhelming number of you requested videos from our awesome zooarchaeologist Paula. You all wanted bone videos. Well, friends, I give you the first in a series of videos about items found in Ashkelon that were made from bone.  This video is on game pieces that have been found in Israel. I think you will be surprised how familiar they are!

Junior Archaeology Assignment:  Look around your home for game pieces that are similar to ones Paula showed us.  Draw them in your archaeology log book.  Here is a link so you can make your own die.  Can you make the opposite sides of your die add up to 7? Can you decorate it to represent you and your interests? 

Question of the Day: Can you think of any other games that people in ancient Ashkelon might have played? Remember, not all games have "pieces" to them for us to find.

E-mail me your dice photos and drawings at teachashkelon@gmail.com. I love to hear your thoughts, wonders, and questions so, post them in the comments section below. 

 

 

Archaeology Field Tools

Earlier in the week I shared that I had the opportunity to work on excavating a floor in Grid 51. One of your Junior Archaeology tasks was to draw pictures of tools you think archaeologists use.  Well friends, pull out your log books and watch this video to see if you had any of these tools recorded.  The first video looks at a few large tools that archaeologists in Ashkelon use and the second video shows some of the small tools we use here.

Junior Archaeology Assignment:  Look around your home, do you have anything that is similar to the tools we use in archaeology in Ashkelon? Ask a parent if you can try using one of the tools in your sandbox or garden. Have them take a picture and send it to me at teachashkelon@gmail.com!

Question of the Day: How do you think archaeologists know when to switch from using a big tool to excavate an area to a small tool? Remember, archaeologists "read the dirt" so, what might they see?

Remember to post your thoughts, questions, and comments in the comments section below. You can also e-mail me at teachashkelon@gmail.com. I love to hear from you!

Annabel's Answer

A couple of days ago Annabel read on the blog that I was excavating a floor area and found a collection of shells.  She was curious how the shells got there. What a great questions! Here is a video answer for Annabel and you, too!

Junior Archaeology Assignment:  In the video I talk about how archaeologist do not always know the answers to every  question.  They can make predictions, though, based on what they know. For example, I stated in the video the place we are digging is near the Mediterranean Sea. In your archaeology log book can you make a prediction as to why someone in Ancient Ashkelon might have had shells on their floor? Remember, we don't know what happened above the floor- it may be a house or a working space. 

Question of the Day: What additional information might help the archaeologists know what the shells were for? In other words, what sorts of artifacts or structures might we find that may give us more information about the shells?

Remember to post your questions, comments, and thoughts in the comments section below. You can also e-mail them to me (along with your pictures/drawings!) at teachashkelon@gmail.com.

Do you excavate in the desert?

This year, in addition to showing you cool artifacts we are finding, I will also be answering questions sent in to me from children during the last year. Our first question is from a student in Ms. Simon's 3rd grade class in Chicago:

Do you excavate in the desert? 

Hi Ms. Simon's class! While there is desert in Israel, we are not excavating in the kind of desert I think you are thinking of, lots of sand and no water to be seen. There is sand where we are, but we are actually in the Ashkelon National Park.  In the national park there are trees and plants, animals, and a beach as it is right on the Mediterranean Sea. While we are excavating people from around Israel come to the park to camp, swim, and explore.  Sometimes they stop to watch us and ask questions about what we are doing.

In addition to maintaining the park and preserving our excavation sites, the park rangers in Ashkelon also help with animal rescue and rehabilitation. Because we are right by the sea, there is a Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation center nearby that helps injured sea turtles. Today we had the opportunity to be part of a very special event with them. 2 injured turtles who were rehabilitated were released back into the sea today and we got to watch! Here is video of the second turtle making it to the water. It was very exciting and lots of people came out to watch.

Junior Archaeology Assignment:  Draw a picture of what you think the national park we are in looks like. Remember to include both park features and excavation site features. 

Question of the day: Why do you think our dig site is part of a national park? Have you ever visited a National Park? 

 

Remember to send me your pictures, ideas, and questions at teachashkelon@gmail.com or you can post them in the comments section right under this post!

Howdy Hamilton!

Well my dig season is officially underway! Today I spent the whole day searching for floors! Like archaeologist Kate said yesterday, we aren't looking for mud brick anymore. Instead, the floors today were beaten earth (dirt) and they had a shell layer on them. My job was to use a patiche (a small pick axe) to carefully remove dirt on top the floor to expose (show) the shell layer and floor.  It was tricky work!

For those students who are at Hamilton School in Chicago, archaeologist Tracy has a special announcement for you! Watch here:

Junior Archaeology Assignment: In your archaeology log book, draw pictures of other tools you think archaeologists use? Remember, we have to move objects as big as walls and as tiny as beads.

Question of the day:  Why do you think the floors in Grid 51 have changed from mud bricks to beaten earth (just dirt)? 

Remember to post your comments in the comments section or you can e-mail your thoughts and pictures to me at teachashkelon@gmail.com. 

Welcome to Ashkelon!

Greetings! I have officially landed in Israel and made my way to Ashkelon.  Today was a busy day of videoing and gearing up for excavation tomorrow.  I spent some time talking with Archaeologist Kate about the season so far and what we might find in the coming weeks. Check it out!

Junior Archaeology Assignment: 

In front of Kate you see her iPad. Kate records all sorts of information about what is being found in the field, where it is being found, and other notes about artifact and things she sees.  Your job today is to find a notebook to use as your archaeologist log book throughout the summer.  In your log book you can draw/write your thoughts about our question of the day and observations you make while watching our videos. Remember, all great archaeologists record what they see! 

Question of the day: 

Kate said that so far they have found all sorts of things including puppies and an ivory handle. What other sorts of artifacts do you think we will find this year? 

Post your answers in the comments section. Remember, Hamilton students, anyone who participates in the blog gets to join Archaeologist Tracy for an archaeology party at the beginning of the school year! 

Sharing Our Knowledge

This week one of our skyping classes took their learning to the next level by teaching another class what they have been learning about archaeology and Ashkelon. The kindergartners asked to participate and the third graders are welcoming them with open arms. In particular, the third graders taught the kindergartners about bones in preparation for their Skype call with the zooarchaeologist, Deidra, on Friday.   Students did an introductory lesson and then completed the dogs module from www.digashkelon/modules. They finished with making their predictions for the "What in the World" that Deidra will be discussing with them on Friday. Here are photos of the students and their teachers learning together.

Oil Lamps!

We have oil lamps popping up all over the city of Chicago! These ones were created by second graders after skyping with Archaeologist Robyn and studying the different forms and stories behind oil lamps in Ashkelon.  Great work!!

Our Interesting Histories

One of the most challenging concepts for our students to understand about the ancient city of Ashkelon is that it wasn't just one city. Instead, Ashkelon is one city built on top of another built on top of another to create a tel (basically, a mound of ancient cities).  Because the students we are skyping with are learning about many different civilizations who lived in Ashkelon, it can be tricky for them to know what "level" of city an artifact is from. In order to help our students understand this concept we introduced the vertical time line of Ashkelon. Many classes have the timeline hanging in their rooms and reference it when skyping and completing their archaeology challenges.  One challenge we presented to classes was to create a vertical timeline of their life. We posed the question, if someone were to excavate your life, what artifacts might they find? What experiences have you had?  Every class chose to approach this in a different way. A 5th grade class opted to create large scale, and in some cases 3-d, timelines of their life.  They are AWESOME!  What incredible work.  Enjoy these pictures of the "interesting histories" of some our archaeology students!

Thanks Robyn!

Last week some of our classes Skyped with Archaeologist Robyn and discussed oil lamps found in Ashkelon.  They focused on Roman oil lamps that were tied to Greek mythology.  This discussion inspired many of our classes to create oil lamps of their own. Check out the variety of shapes and sizes in these oil lamps! If you are interested in learning more about oil lamps found in Ashkelon and in creating your own lamp click here!

photo-4.JPG

A busy week in Chicago!

It was another busy week for our Skyping classes in Chicago. Several classes continued their conversations with archaeologist Tracy on life on the dig and in Ashkelon. The focus this week was on Theophanes in Ashkelon, what his documents tell us about his time in ancient Ashkelon, and how the records we leave behind can be used to tell the story of us.  These classes analyzed receipts, planned a dinner using ingredients similar to Theophanes ingredients, and created entertainment tokens like the one Theophanes may have used to get into the theater in Ashkelon.

Another group of classes had the opportunity to talk with our Roman Archaeologist, Robyn about oil lamps in Ashkelon, there purpose, and design.  These classes read Greek/Roman mythology and then identified lamps that depicted these stories. They designed their own oil lamps and looked around their community to see how stories were being depicted on objects they use in daily life.  

All of the classes have been working on thinking like archaeologists and have been engaging in inferencing activities. I had the opportunity to participate in a great "Who is it?" activity with a K/1 activity.  The students looked at objects in bags and had to determine the teacher in the school that was represented by the objects.  They then made posters justifying their inference and presented them to the class. I will be posting a video of this activity soon.

I had the special privilege of getting to talk archaeology with an awesome class of third graders this week.  It was totally impromptu and awesome. I bopped on up to their classroom to check out their awesome Ashkelon bulletin board and the questions started to fly. Below is a photo of me talking with the class along with photos of the students learning about the dig site through an interactive map.  There are also photos of another group of students creating and then sharing their personal vertical timelines. Finally, there is a fantastic photo of Archaeologist Robyn skyping with a class. Because of her conversation, the class will be making oil lamps out of clay this week!

  Thanks for all your handwork!!

 

 

Ashkelon Anthem

​A class of 5th graders Skyping with archaeologist Tracy.

​A class of 5th graders Skyping with archaeologist Tracy.

It has been a very busy week for our Skyping classrooms. They were challenged to research 5 famous historical figures with connections to Ashkelon and then present their research to archaeologist Tracy.  Each class chose to present their work in a different way. One class opted to write a song and make a music video entitled the Ashkelon Anthem.  Here are the song lyrics and check the video out here:​

​

In addition to researching historical figures, another class worked on a challenge archaeologist Tracy and I presented on March 5. They looked at a topographical map of the site, drew in key features of the ancient cities of Ashkelon known by the archaeologists, and then, using this information, made predictions on what areas they thought might be good for excavating.​ Here are some examples of their work:

What to expect on the dig this summer

This year I am excited that my husband, Aaron, will be joining the team in Ashkelon as a volunteer.  He got to hear about all of my adventures last year and now he gets to have a few of his own this year.  To prepare for the trip Aaron sat down with Archaeologist Tracy to discuss what to expect, what to bring, and just get a general feel for what is to come this summer.  ​

Bringing Ashkelon to Chicago!

Last week 6 classes in the Chicago Public School system began an awesome adventure with us here at the excavation in Ashkelon. For the next 5 weeks they will be Skyping (online video chatting) with archaeologist Tracy!  The students will be learning about archaeological methodologies and processes, the ins and outs of the dig, the history of Ashkelon, and basically having a great time.  The first week of conversations was VERY exciting for all of the students and Tracy.  Here is video of a group of middle school students at the beginning of the conversation, later on this group, along with many of the other classes, were challenged with researching 5 historical figures who have connections to Ashkelon.  When they chat with Tracy this week, they will share their findings and she will share this nifty comic book she made for them.

If you are looking for some great lessons to incorporate archaeology into your classroom instruction be sure to check out our lesson modules at www.digashkelon.com/modules.  

​

What might we find?

Today, archaeologist Tracy shares with us what she thinks they might find in the new area that is being opened this summer.​

Junior Archaeologist Assignment:​ Look around your neighborhood and find examples of things Archaeologist Tracy mentioned in the video. Take photos of some of the things you think might still be standing if someone were to excavate your neighborhood in a 1000 years. Can you find anything that you think would not be here in 1000 years? Why do you think it won't be here?

Question of the day: Why do you think things like roads, walls, and floors ​survive thousands of years after being built?  Does the material used to build these structures have any impact on how long they can stand? What building materials that we are using today would with stand time? What materials would not? 

Ground Penetrating Radar

On my last post archaeologist Tracy made the exciting announcement that she would be opening up a new grid this summer, and she shared with us how they picked the spot that they were going to excavate.  My question for her was, "After you pick the area you are going to excavate, how do you know where to start?"  This week she shares one way archaeologists are able to determine where, in a chosen area, they should begin digging.​

Junior Archaeology Assignment:​ 

Alright friends, Archaeologist Tracy wants to where you think she should dig based on what she sees from the ground penetrating radar reading.  Post the color name (green, red, blue yellow) that you think means "there is something here," why you picked that color, and what you think might be there.  

Question of the Day: Why do you think archaeologists use technology like ground penetrating radar to assist them in knowing where to dig?  How do you think archaeologists determined where to excavate before ground penetrating radar?  Archaeologists are not the only people who use ground penetrating radar, when are other times you think people might use ground penetrating radar to help them with a task?

​

Exciting News!

Greetings Junior Archaeologists!  I have taken a break from blogging the last few months as my preschoolers have been keeping me busy, but I am back and have a HUGE announcement about the archaeological dig in Ashkelon!​

​Junior Archaeologist Assignment:

Archaeologist Tracy showed us where she was going to be opening up a new area using a topographical map. A topographical map is a way to show high places (hills and mountains) and low places (valleys) on a flat map.  Here is a link to the map archaeologist Tracy was looking at. Can you print it off and identify the features of the Ashkelon Dig site she discussed in the video?​ Can you find the sea? Grid 51 (where I dig!)? Can you find the high points? Can you draw in the roads and lines of the city walls?  Thinking about what Tracy said regarding how they choose places to excavate (location to roads and height) what other grid do you think might be exciting to excavate?

**The image used by Tracy and linked here was originally published in Ashkelon 1.  Click here to learn about the Ashkelon research publications.​

Question of the Day:​

Archaeologist Tracy said that 2 reasons people in ancient Ashkelon would build on a high place were that they wanted the view and the cool breeze. Can you think of some other reasons why someone might want to build on a high place?​

​

​

Were the dogs pets?

One of the things zooarchaeologist Paula was trying to understand this season was what was life like for the dogs in ancient Ashkelon.  Were they pets? Did they live in houses? Were the part of the religion in Ashkelon? Here she tells us what she knows now about the dogs and how the dog skeletons helped her to learn about life for the ancient dogs of Ashkelon.

Junior Archaeology Assignment

In the video Paula talked about how diseases made the bones in the dogs sick and made them weaker. She said she could see the places the bones were sick when she looked at the skeletons.  Here is an experiment to see what happens to sick bones. Take 2 chicken bones, put one in a cup of vinegar and watch how it changes compared to the bone that is not in vinegar. The vinegar is like the diseases that the Ashkelon dogs have and makes the bone weaker.  E-mail me pictures  of you performing this experiment and your thoughts on the bone in vinegar and the one out of vinegar at nmoos@cps.edu. I will post them on the blog!

Question of the Day

If these dogs were not pets, when do you think dogs began to become pets that lived with people?

More Ancient Dogs

In today's video zooarchaeologist Paula tells us about what time period the dogs were found in and what she knows about the dog by looking at its skull.

Junior Archaeologist Activity

Paula is able to look at animal skulls and determine what animal it belongs to. Can you do the same? Here is a link to a game that tests your ability to match skulls with animals. Good luck! Post in the comments section how you did! I can't wait to hear about the fun you will have.

Question of the Day

What parts of the skeletons do you think are important for Paula to look at in order to identify animals?

Update

on 2012-07-24 06:13 by Nichole Moos

You are right on Nina! Every dog skull is a little different and Paula is able to tell us information about the dog by looking at its skull.  She also looks at the dog's bones to tell about the type of life it had. Was the dog sick? Did it hurt itself? This information helps her to understand the story behind the dogs of Ashkelon.