This aim of the Archaeology SchoolsProject is to encourage teachers to make use of archaeological evidence in teaching Key Stage 3 and 4 History. The materials in this pack have been designed to complement modules in the AQA, OCR and Edexcel syllabuses
Using Archaeology to Explore 20th Century Conflict
Dear History Teacher
Please accept this free resource, developed at Newcastle University. Over the past year we have been working closely with a group of KS4-3 teachers, exploring ways in which archaeological evidence can be used by history teachers (whatever their GSCE board) in teaching 20th century conflict at KS3 and KS4. The result is this CD Rom: a teaching pack on a disk. Alongside some background information on archaeology and its role in exploring the very recent past, this disk contains all the materials you need (from printable classroom resources to PPT presentations) to deliver three innovative, enquiry-based activities:
- Make a museum: investigating WW1 ‘Trench Art‘
- Excavating and identifying WW1 soldiers buried at Fromelles
- War scene investigation: excavating a WW2 aircraft crash site
As WW1 passes from living memory, excavation has become very important to understanding many aspects of trench warfare on the Western Front. Archaeologists have also led the way in investigating aircraft crash sites from WW2.
Archaeology is not entirely concerned with survey and excavation, however: at the heart of what we do lies material culture (the things, or artefacts, that people made and used in the past). Material things speak to us about past lives in different ways than other kinds of historical source, and the study of artefacts (from large memorials to tiny crucifixes made from bullets) can greatly enrich our understanding of human experience in periods of conflict. Archaeologists have, for example, studied WW1 trench art (‘souvenir’ items made by soldiers, using recycled munitions); WW2 aircraft crash sites; and issues pertaining to the treatment of the war dead when discovered in an archaeological context.
Many of these things have never been excavated – they survive in museums, homes and graveyards – but their study falls largely to archaeologists, because we are trained to ‘read’ artefacts as documentary historians might read a manuscript or book, and in reading them we gain real insights into the individuals and societies that created these things.
What’s on this disk?
The disk contains the following folders and files:
Introductory Materials
- What is Archaeology?
- What is Material Culture?
- Archaeology and 20th Century Conflict
Make a Museum: Investigating WW1 ‘Trench Art‘
- Activity overview (READ THIS FIRST)
- PPT presentation on Trench Art
- Activity resources file – museum posters (print and enlarge to A3), newspaper article PDF, exhibit labels and class group envelope contents
Excavating the War dead at Fromelles
- Activity overview (READ THIS FIRST)
- Activity resources file – artefact printouts and follow-up activity
- PPT (there are many elements to this folder because the PPT uses audio and animation: just click on the PPT file at the top of the folder, and the PPT will run automatically. Make sure you do not delete anything in this folder!!)
War scene Investigation: the Fléville Bomber
- Activity overview (READ THIS FIRST)
- Activity resources file – artefact printouts
- PPT (there are many elements to this folder because the PPT uses audio and animation: just click on the PPT file at the top of the folder, and the PPT will run automatically. Make sure you do not delete anything in this folder!!)
This is a free resource. We ask only that you retain the Archaeology Schools Project logo on all materials used in class.
Authors:
Dr Jane Webster, Newcastle University – Lecturer in Historical Archaeology
Ben Dyson, BA, MLitt – Research Assistant
Hannah Flint, BA, MLitt – Research Assistant
©Newcastle University
We welcome feedback: please contact Jane Webster (Head of Archaeology)