A bill has been introduced in the state senate to require an archaeological dig be conducted before every large government project. The document provides background and context for writing an argument either for or against this proposal. It notes that archaeological digs can uncover valuable historical information that helps tell the stories of people who lived in an area in the past. Examples are given of digs at places connected to George Washington and Thomas Jefferson that have added to our knowledge of how enslaved African Americans lived and were part of the histories of those estates, despite limited original records mentioning them.

1. November 15, 2011
A bill has come up in front
of the state senate, asking
for money to conduct an
archaeological dig before
every large government
project. Write an argument
for or against this proposal

2. Objective:
 SWBAT Evaluate
the value in an
archaeological
dig * by
analyzing a
description of the
Presidents
house dig
located in
Philadelphia

3. Homework: Come to the
presentation
tonight on the
discoveries
made in
Philadelphia
 If you do so
you will get an
extra 4
homeworks
added as A+’s

4. Review Homework: What risks
did slaves face if they rebelled
or ran? They could be…
 Sold away from family
and friends
 Beaten or killed
 Their kids could be
sold
 They had to figure out
where they were
going, with no money
and few supplies

5. Yesterday, behind the
school:

6. Yesterday, behind the
school:

7. Vocabulary:
 Archaeology
 The study of
human history and
prehistory through
the excavation of
sites and the
analysis of
artifacts.
 Use it in a
sentence

8. Archaeology:
 Not just digging in
the dirt, but
examining artifacts
to tell the story of
the people who
used to live
somewhere
 Digging is often
involved

9. Archaeology and African
American History:
 Places like colonial
Williamsburg are
now excavating
sites connected
with African
Americans
 Since we have
limited written
records of these
areas, Archaeology
can tell us a lot

10. Archaeology and African
American History:
 Digs at Mount
Vernon (George
Washington’s
estate) show how
African Americans
lived there
 Without the digs we
would know much
less about their
lives

11. Archaeology and African
American History:
 Digs have also been
done at Jefferson’s
estate, Monticello
 These digs add
African Americans to
the story of the
estate
 At one time, little or
no mention was
made

12. Check for understanding:
 Do you
understand what
archaeology is?
 Do you
understand its
value to African
American
History?

13. Independent Practice:
 Read the article on
the Presidents
House tunnel in
Philadelphia
 Answer the
comprehension
questions
 Write the story
assigned

14. Exit Ticket:
What was
discovered in
the
excavations at
the Presidents
House?
Why was it
important?