Introduction to artifacts for elementary students. Prepared by the Delaware County (Ohio) Historical Society.

1. What Is An Artifact?
Prepared by The Delaware County Historical Society
Curriculum Support Committee

2. Definition:
•An object made by a human
being; typically an item of
cultural or historical interest

3. Ancient Artifacts

10. Searching
Recording

11. Where else can we find artifacts?

16. The Great Altar
This magnificent structure was the focus of everything in the outer chamber represents the religious communication as
practiced by the ancient North Americans. It was capable of communication with a large number of gods, but the altar
seems to have been mainly intended to communicate with the gods MOVIEA and MOVIEB. Communication with the altar
was symbolically continued into the afterlife by placing the communicator box in the hand of the deceased.

17. he Bell System
his percussion instrument was found near the statue of WATT. Markings similar to those on the face of the
pper altar imply a symbolic connection to the gods. The Bell System was played by holding one half of the
nstrument in each hand and banging them together in some rhythmic pattern. The impact would cause a
mall bell inside the larger of the two pieces to ring. Both halves were connected by a beautifully crafted coil
which would miraculously reform itself into identical number of loops after each playing.

18. The Internal Component Enclosure
This is the 20th century adaptation of the ancient Egyptian Canopic jar. It stood on a special table in the
outer chamber. Since no traces of internal organs was found in the ICE, its function as a Canopic jar is
considered to have been merely symbolic.

19. Musical Instruments
The two trumpets were found attached to the wall of the inner chamber at the end of the sarcophagus. They
were both coated with a silver substance. Music was played by forcing water from the sacred spring through
the trumpets under great pressure. Pitch was controlled by a large silver handle marked HC. The other
instrument is made from wood and rubber and is probably a percussion instrument, but how to play it
remains a mystery.

20. The Sacred Pendant
This piece of jewelry was found lodged in the silver-rimmed hole in the floor of the sarcophagus, where it
had apparently been dropped. The beautiful pendant was carved out of rubber (now petrified) and has
been inscribed with the markings 1 ½. It is connected most delicately by a silver ring to a beautifully formed
silver chain. We don’t know the symbolic reason for the shape of the pendant.

21. The Ceremonial Burial Cap
This extraordinary headdress, made especially for the deceased. The pattern is so complicated that we can’t
figure out what the message is.

22. The Sacred Point and The Sacred Parchment
Very little is know about the Sacred Points except that they were very rare and were only ever found on the
ends of sacred parchment scrolls. It is believed that they simply pointed the way to eternal life.

23. The Sacred Urn
This relic is most holy and was found in the inner chamber. It was carved from a single piece of porcelain
and then highly polished. The Urn was the focal point of the burial ceremony. The important celebrant
would kneel before the Urn and chant into it while the water from the sacred spring flowed in to mix with
sheets of Sacred Parchment.

24. The Sacred Collar
This was worn by the ranking celebrant at the final burial ceremony. This artifact is dated 1979 making it one
of the earliest collars ever found. The 2 bumps were just decorative. The two spiral connectors shown were
used to secure the Collar and to the Urn after the ceremony.

25. The Sacred Aspergillum
Once this has been dipped into the water of the Sacred Urn, it was shaken over the deceased and, over the
entire chamber. This represented the cleansing of the eternal home.

27. Extra slides

29. Small Relief
This extremely fine piece of workmanship served as a portable shrine which was to be carried through life
and into eternal life. The writings were intended to identify an individual’s religious preference along with
the burial site to which the body should be delivered when necessary. Matching writings were found on the
main doors of the great sanctuary.

30. The Music Box
This delicate instrument, placed immediately above the Sacred Urn, served two functions. First, when you
pull on the outer handle, the flow of water from the sacred spring goes into the Sacred Urn. Second, once
the handle has been pulled, a continuous trickle of water creates a simple musical accompaniment that
would last for the whole ceremony, and maybe through eternal life.

31. The Scared Seal
This treasure has proportions of classic beauty. It was placed upon the handle of the great outer door by
officials following the closing of the tomb.