to excavate is to remove earth carefully from an area to find buried remains

when plants decay they sometimes make the soil peaty, which can preserve things for a long time

when something is preserved it is protected from damage or loss

something that is organic is to do with, or has come from, living things

Discovery at Coppergate

History

York's importance to the Vikings

A journey through Viking York: Houses, halls and craftspeople

A journey through Viking York: Merchants and traders

The artefacts of Viking York

How we know so much about Viking York

 In ‘The Vikings: how do we know so much about Viking York?’ pupils return to Britain in the Viking Age with a depth study about Viking York. In ‘The Vikings: how did Viking settlement help to make England?’ the focus switches to the political narrative of how Viking settlement helped to forge England.

In ‘The Great War: how did the Great War affect my local area?’ pupils momentarily left  their study of Viking Age Britain to consider the impact of the First World War on their local area at an appropriate time in the school year. In ‘The Vikings: how do we know so much about Viking York?’ they return Britain in the Viking Age with a depth study about Viking York.

In this unit, pupils learn about the archaeological discoveries made at Coppergate in York. They find out how archaeologists and historians have used artefacts to build a picture of what Viking York would have been like.

The Vikings: how do we know so much about Viking York?

Excavation is the only way archaeologists find out about the past.

When did the Coppergate excavation begin?

What were the important discoveries made by York Archaeological Trust?

How many years did the Coppergate excavation last for?

What did the Coppergate excavation tell us about Vikings in York?

remove earth carefully from an area to find buried remains

soil that preserves things for a long time

something is protected from damage or loss

to do with, or has come from, living things

The Vikings raided Britain for {{  }} and silver. 

Vikings travelled across the sea to Britain.

Modern archaeologists find evidence of Viking artefacts.

Place these events in the order in which they happened, starting with the earliest.

Archaeologists have found Viking artefacts.

Children have been told stories about Vikings.

How do we know the Vikings settled in Britain?

Discovery at Coppergate

Lesson outcome