Description

Ancient trash tells archaeologists a lot about the past. In this activity, learners take a close look inside their trash can and think about the clues it offers about their lives. Learners separate the layers of the trash, make a checklist of the items found and where, and then answer questions to interpret their findings. In a suggested extension, learners examine the trash from another site and compare and contrast interpretations. Use this activity to introduce learners to the work of archaeologists.