Archaeology on Mulberry Row
A bird's-eye photo of an excavation of "Building o," a dwelling for enslaved people, along Mulberry Row at Monticello in 1981 and 1982
Historical Period
Skills and Concepts
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Archaeology is a key part of the historical process. The photograph shows how an archaeologist plans and manipulates the environment to recover artifacts. In this image of a 1981-1982 excavation at Monticello, archaeologists are shown from above uncovering a dwelling for enslaved people at Thomas Jefferson’s home. The building may also have had industrial uses in the 1790s.
Creator:
The Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Department of Archaeology
Date Created:
c. 1981-1982
Point of Origin:
Monticello
Analysis Questions
Foster inquiry and understanding with these source-specific questions, designed to be accessible even for those with limited background knowledge.
say hello to the source
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1.
What do you notice about this picture?
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2.
What questions do you have about this photograph?
make observations
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3.
What do the people in this photograph appear to be doing?
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4.
What do you notice about the holes in the ground?
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5.
What do you notice about the point of view of the photograph?
interpret what you see
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6.
The people in the photograph are called archaeologists. What do you understand about the job of an archaeologist based on what you see in the photograph?
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7.
How are the archaeologists in the photograph interacting with the environment?
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8.
Archaeologists excavate (dig up) artifacts from the ground in order to understand more about life in the past. What artifacts from the past does it look like the archaeologists in this picture have found?
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9.
What information about the past do you think the archaeologists might learn from the pieces of pottery that they’re looking at?
use it as evidence
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10.
Why would evidence of the past be found underground?
Vocabulary
Use these related vocabulary terms to build students’ understanding and support more meaningful discussions and learning outcomes in your classroom.
Definition
a person who studies human past and culture looking at the materials that remain
Example
A team of archaeologists searched through the Egyptian pyramids.
Definition
an object made by a human, especially from the past
Example
The museum has a lot of artifacts, like jewelry and pottery, that show how people lived in the past.
Definition
To dig up
Example
The team excavated a large area near the old school, creating a deep hole in the ground.
Definition
plates, bowls, pots, and other items made of clay
Example
The pottery we use for our Thanksgiving feast has pictures of turkeys, pumpkins, and autumn leaves on it.
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