Discovery at Coppergate
I can describe the discovery made by archaeologists at Coppergate in 1972 and explain what their findings reveal about Viking life.
Discovery at Coppergate
I can describe the discovery made by archaeologists at Coppergate in 1972 and explain what their findings reveal about Viking life.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- In 1972, builders constructing a new shopping centre in the Coppergate area of York made a discovery.
- They were beginning to dig up huge amounts of Viking objects in the ground below the streets of York.
- Archaeologists were called in to investigate further and soon made startling discoveries about Viking York.
- They discovered layers of moist and peaty soil that had preserved various organic remains which normally rot away.
- They found buildings, textiles, leather, seeds and other things that have given clues about life in Viking York.
Keywords
Excavate - to excavate is to remove earth carefully from an area to find buried remains
Peaty - when plants decay they sometimes make the soil peaty, which can preserve things for a long time
Preserved - when something is preserved it is protected from damage or loss
Organic - something that is organic is to do with, or has come from, living things
Common misconception
Pupils may think archaeologists only find out about the past through excavation.
Archaeologists use a range of ways to find out about the past which include excavation, field walking, surveying and aerial photography.
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
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