March 5-11, 2015, Current Events Lesson Plan
Current Event: Archaeologists Discover Tomb of Celtic Prince
Archaeologists recently announced the discovery of a 2,500-year-old Celtic tomb filled with wonderful bronze treasures. The tomb was initially discovered in France in October 2014. As archaeologists investigated the large burial mound, they unearthed a skeleton buried in a chariot and surrounded by Celtic artifacts, including a long bronze sword, bronze pots, pitchers, and other vessels. The quantity of bronze grave goods indicates that the man buried in the tomb was a high-ranking member of society, probably a Celtic prince. The Celtic tomb is remarkable for the number of artifacts from ancient Greece. These include several items decorated with Greek religious scenes. The archaeologists also believe that a large bronze cauldron was made by the Etruscans, an ancient people who lived in present-day Italy. These foreign objects demonstrate that the Celts had well-established trade relationships with the civilizations of the Mediterranean.
Objective:
The Celts were ancient inhabitants of Europe. At its greatest extent, Celtic culture extended from present-day Portugal to the Balkans, and from Austria to the southern coast of France. In continental Europe, Celtic culture spread through the migration of Celtic peoples to new areas. Celtic culture arrived in Great Britain and Ireland sometime after 500 B.C. In these areas, however, the culture spread through contact and trade with the continental Celts rather than through migration. Historians divide Celtic culture into two periods: Hallstatt from 800 to 500 B.C. and La Tene from after 500 B.C. to about A.D. 100. The Hallstatt period was characterized by hillforts and elaborate burials for the elite. The La Tene period is characterized by coinage and a distinctive style of art called curvilinear for the curved lines that make up its designs. By about A.D. 100, the Romans conquered much of Celtic Europe. Celtic culture and languages then declined in many areas outside Great Britain and Ireland. The Behind the Headlines news story and related World Book articles explore the Celts and other ancient civilizations.
Words to know:
Discussion Topics:
1. Ask your students to name some ancient civilizations besides the Celts. (Students might say the Assyrians, Babylonians, Chinese, Egyptians, Greeks, Persians, Phoenicians, Romans.)
2. The Celts were ancient inhabitants of Europe from about 800 B.C. to A.D. 100. Ask your students to name some people who lived during that time period. (Students might say Alexander the Great, Archimedes, Aristotle, Buddha, Caligula, Cleopatra, Confucius, Hannibal, Hippocrates, Jesus Christ, Julius Caesar, Nebuchadnezzar II, Nero, Plato, Socrates, Spartacus, Virgil, Xerxes I.)
3. Archaeologists work in many places including Egypt, Greece, the Middle East, North America, and even underwater. Ask your students, “If you could be an archaeologist, where would you want to work? Why?”
4. Ask your students to use World Book’s Timelines feature to view or add to the World History: 800’s B.C. to A.D. 500 timeline. (Students may wish to use World Book’s “History of the World” article for help.)