An Educational Activity for Home or Classroom

Answers:

Two artifacts have dates which indicate the exact date they were produced:

Newspaper dated August 4, 1939
Letter, post-marked May 3, 1942

Two artifacts could have been produced any time after their copyright dates:

Pencil, copyright 1928 Book, copyright 1932

Two artifacts don’t have a date, and don’t help us to determine the date range.

Message with time, but no date Rubber stamp, with no date

1. What is the date range of the artifacts?

ANSWER: 1928-1942

The pencil could have been produced as early as 1928, and the letter is the newest artifact with a date.

2. What is the terminus post quem of the assemblage?

ANSWER: 1942

If these artifacts were thrown away at the same time, they could not have been thrown away before the letter was postmarked in 1942.