An Educational Activity for Home or Classroom

Introduction | Activities | Vocabulary

Introduction

Protection and preservation of archaeological resources are of prime importance in any study of archaeology. Sites are lost to development, vandalism and looting in the United States and around the world. The best way to ensure the conservation of cultural resources is to heighten awareness through public education programs. If we learn to value these resources as knowledge of the past, they can help us today and in the future. You can write to the following organizations to get information on programs, events and exhibits in your area.

• The Virginia Department of Historic Resources publishes a poster and calendar of events for the state. Included in this is information on Virginia Archaeology Month in October.
  Virginia Department of Historic Resources
  2801 Kensington Ave.
  Richmond, Virginia 23221
  804-367-2323
• The National Trust for Historic Preservation sponsors Preservation Month during the third week of May.
  The National Trust for Historic Preservation
  1785 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
  Washington, D.C. 20036-2117
  202-588-6000 or 800-944-6847
• The Friends of Alexandria Archaeology (FOAA) plan tours and programs for youth.
  Contact FOAA at 703-838-4399.
• The National Park Service schedules many interesting programs on historic places and is involved in site preservation and archaeology. Check the NPS Home Page to see "Teaching with Historic Places."
  

Activities

1. Visit an archaeological site or history museum. The Alexandria Archaeology Museum or a museum in your area will interpret history with programs like Alexandria Archaeology's Adventure Lessons, or they will display exhibits. Write or draw a detailed description of what you see. Think about the step-by-step process of archaeology and read vocabulary on preservation. Write why you think historic sites or objects are valuable and why the subject of your description should be preserved for the future.
2. Print out these pages. Read the stories, known as dilemmas, and then answer the questions about cultural resources and their preservation.

Dilemma 1: Metal Detecting and Civil War Sites
Dilemma 2: A Site in Your Back Yard
Answer Page

Vocabulary

Conservation Preservation of resources.
Cultural Resource A material source of information about past ways of life.
Preservation To protect from injury, harm or loss.
Values Principles or standards considered worthwhile.