WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL: VIsit opened eyes to the various careers that are needed for the study of archaeology

What was old turned new again on March 22-23.

That is when Ms. Sarah Mullersman, from the Kelsey Museum in Ann Arbor, revisited West Middle School seventh-grade geography students.

Ms. Mullersman brought with her burial boxes and broken pottery. She explained the many jobs of an archaeologist, including digging up burial sites, excavating land with GPR (ground penetrating radar) and Magnetometry and cataloging, drawing and documenting the findings.

With these two interesting activities, the students were excited to become an archaeologist for a day.

Working in teams, the students put broken pottery back together with masking tape and a great deal of problem solving. They also examined various artifacts in the burial boxes to determine the deceased's gender, age, financial status, and occupation.

With an enthusiastic discussion, the students bantered their ideas and inferences back and forth to come up with viable answers to who once owned these burial boxes.

Ms. Mullersman's visit opened eyes to the various careers that are needed for the study of archaeology.

Archaeology is an interesting field of study that requires using math, reading and artistic skills. The class appreciated Ms. Mullersman's presentation. The interactive activities gave them a new awareness of how everyday objects used have their own interesting story. And more importantly they tell us about the people and culture that use them.

Because of Ms. Mullersman's presentation, our next visit to a museum will have greater meaning. The studnets will view the artifacts with new eyes for the treasures they truly are!

Via Sara Bochenek, Instructional Support Coordinator, West Middle School