Artefacts

As well as using books, documents, images and oral testimony, historians also use artefacts or objects to help them learn about the past. People have learnt a lot about history by looking at things that archaeologists have found. We know things about the Iron Age, the Bronze Age, the Romans and Medieval history that we wouldn’t have known if we only had written evidence to look at. But using artefacts is not just useful for the study of ancient and medieval history, artefacts can enliven any period of history.

We’re going to look at a number of artefacts that are all from the Sudan to see how they can help us in our study of history. To get started, just choose one of the objects listed below.

Artefact 1

Look closely at the artefact. Can you work out what it is and what it was for? Answer the following questions to see if you can work it out.

1. Describe the object.

2. What do you think it is made out of?

3. Who do you think would have used it?

4. What do you think it was used for?

Artefact 2

Look closely at the artefact. Can you work out what it is and what it was for? Answer the following questions to see if you can work it out.

1. Describe the object.

2. What do you think it is made out of?

3. Who do you think would have used it?

4. What do you think it was used for?

Artefact 3

Look closely at the artefact. Can you work out what it is and what it was for? Answer the following questions to see if you can work it out.

1. Describe the object.

2. What do you think it is made out of?

3. Who do you think would have used it?

4. What do you think it was used for?

Artefact 4

Look closely at the artefact. Can you work out what it is and what it was for? Answer the following questions to see if you can work it out.

1. Describe the object.

2. What do you think it is made out of?

3. Who do you think would have used it?

4. What do you think it was used for?