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Do you like to dig in the dirt, searching for buried treasures? Are you fascinated by ancient relics and artifacts, and the stories these objects can tell us about cultures that vanished long ago? You might enjoy becoming an archaeologist. Archaeologists are scientists who study the artifacts of past cultures, such as the pyramids, tombs, and mummies of ancient Egypt, or the cave drawings of the Paleolithic era. Each new discovery gives archaeologists additional clues about ancient peoples and their art and culture. One of the tasks of an archaeologist is to document, date, and preserve each artifact carefully for further study. Seeing and learning about the artifacts of an ancient culture enables us to imagine the lives and values of its people. Get ready to take a trip back in time!

Imagine that an art museum has hired you to research artifacts for a new exhibit titled "Art of the Earliest Times." The museum will make its selections from Egyptian collections as well as from discoveries of cave paintings in France and Spain. Your job is to help the museum curators to decide which artifacts to choose. Click on the button and print out three copies of your worksheet. Then explore the sites in your Artist's Passport below. After you have browsed through all of these sites, choose three and record your findings on your worksheet.

Artist's Passport Web Links

University of Memphis Institute of Egyptian Art and Archaeology

Emory University Egyptian Collection

Cave Art in France

Cave Art in Altamira, Spain