Archeology shows that indigenous peoples were the first inhabitants of and visitors to the area now called Grant’s Headquarters at City Point. Now part of Petersburg National Battlefield, these sites are located on a peninsula on the James River, not far from the mouth of the Appomattox River in the state of Virginia. Today, Grant’s Headquarters at City Point helps the National Park Service tell the story of over 12,000 years of history: from the first people to explore the area, to the establishment of plantations, through the Civil War.
About This Activity
In this informal learning activity, we will explore ways that the archeological artifacts can provide insight about people's lives in the past.
Objectives: 1) Explore how archeology reveals information about indigenous peoples and 2) Study artifacts and complete activities to deepen your understanding.
Audience: This informal learning activity is developed primarily for 4th-grade audiences but can be scaled to lower or higher grade levels. It provides a starting point that you can adapt to suit the needs of your learners.
Skills and Standards: Each section asks learners to draw on skills such as reading comprehension, independent or group work, writing, and using evidence to support conclusions. The activities provide opportunities to meet several Common Core State Standards, Virginia State Standards, and National Council for the Social Studies Curriculum Standards Themes. The content can be adapted to address Virginia State Standards for grades 4, 5, 8, and 11.
For more information, visit the park’s website. Also try the other two activities in this series: Archeology at the Eppes Family Plantation at Grant’s Headquarters at City Point and Archeology and When War Came to the Hare House in the Eastern Front.
-------------------------------
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
