Mont Lassois is a Celtic hill fort from the late Iron Age in Britain (approx. 520 BC) consisting of several large banks of earth protecting a settlement at the top of the hill. The discovery of archaeological material in the area of Mont Lassois began in April 1930 by amateur treasure seekers. Progressively systematic work over the following years revealed a variety of both small finds, and large building remnants including post houses, pit dwellings, hearths and storage areas.
The nearby Vix burial mound was excavated in early 1953 by René Jouffroi. He discovered the untouched grave of a woman wearing a crown. Her tomb contained many valuable items including a chariot and an enormous metal krater (wine urn) which was obviously made in Greece, indicating trade between the two areas.
In class activities:
- Learned about hill forts and discussed the advantages that height provides
- Looked at images of archaeological sites, paying attention to how changes in soil color and compaction can indicate buildings
- Noted the Lady of Vix's crown and discussed the changes in social heirarchy that happened as people settled together
- Discussed how trade impacts the items that archaeologists find
- Learned about Sir Mortimer Wheeler and the Wheeler method of a grid system for systematically digging while preserving a nearby vertical cross-section of undisturbed strata. We compared this to the way that layers can be seen when the kids dig straight down while playing Minecraft.
- Excavated our indoor dig-site and documented the discovery of gems.
Optional lesson extension activities:
- Learn how archaeologists use geometry as they set up their grid squares: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNdFDzQzqPk
- Try using your archaeological knowledge in Minecraft! Create a new world in creative mode, and dig a test pit following all the rules you have learned. Make sure to leave a section so that you can see the strata. Pull out the archaeologist's favorite tool, a pencil, and draw the layers that you see. Make a hypothesis about whether the layers will be the same if you dig another pit several blocks away. Dig the second pit. What did you discover?
