A Roman Detective Archie and Hollie have been digging up a field in Britain. They think

there was once a Roman House nearby. They found a Roman rubbish pit.

Can you help them work out facts about Roman Life based on the ‘finds’ that they have uncovered?

What are these???

Barley grainDate stones

Snail shells

walnut shells

Grape pips

Oyster & mussel shells

Boar tusk

Fish bones

Part of thrush

skeleton

Sheep’s jawCow leg bone

Top of amphora – storage jar

Pestle &

mortar

Quern fragment – grind stone

Charcoal bits

Part of iron grill

Part of basket

Iron frying pan

What can you work out about Romans from these items?

Pot fragments

Peacock feather

Knife blade

Silver spoon

Bits of glasses

Pot made of samian …ware

Barley grainDate stones

Snail shells

walnut shells

Grape pips

Oyster & mussel shells

Boar tusk

Fish bones

Part of thrush

skeleton

Sheep’s jawCow leg bone

Why did Archie & Hollie group these finds together?

What else can we work out – apart from the obvious!What do you need to be able to eat these things?

What must have been close to the site where these were found?

Top of amphora – storage jar

Pestle &

mortar

Quern fragment – grind stone

Charcoal bits

Part of iron grill

Part of basket

Iron frying pan

What is the odd one out?

Why are they in these groups?

Is it the rubbish pit of rich or poor Romans?How can you tell?

Pot fragments

Peacock feather

Knife blade

Silver spoon

Bits of glasses

Pot made of samian …ware

Now it’s your turn!We dug the stuff –

you have to interpret it…

…that means you have to say what it means – what

you can work out from it.

We call this inference.You need to be able to infer

to get past level 4

Archaeologist’s Report

Samian ware•Means there was trade between Britain and France because Samian ware was only made in France.•Suggests that the owners were well off because it would be more expensive to buy•Another source that backs up my idea is the glass because glass goblets were also expensive.

Archaeologist’s Report

Samian ware•Means there was trade between Britain and France because Samian ware was only made in France.•Suggests that the owners were well off because it would be more expensive to buy•Another source that backs up my idea is the glass because glass goblets were also expensive.

Archaeologist’s Report

Name of objectMeans ____________ _________________because ___________ __________________________________•Suggests that _________________ because ___________ _________________•Another source that backs up my idea is __ _________________ because ___________ _________________

Archaeologist’s Report

Name of objectMeans ____________ _________________because ___________ __________________________________•Suggests that _________________ because ___________ _________________•Another source that backs up my idea is __ _________________ because ___________ _________________