Stone Age to Iron Age activity 9: it’s a dog’s life

Children investigate a photo of a mystery skull found by archaeologists outside the entrance of an Iron Age round house on Folkestone’s East Cliff.

• What animal is it?
• Why was it buried in such a prominent position?

Further research reveals it’s the well-preserved skull of a dog, probably a family pet.

Pupils then imagine a day in the life of the Iron Age settlement... from the dog’s perspective!

Image copyright: Canterbury Archaeological Trust

Learning objectives
Increased knowledge and understanding of archaeology and the important Iron Age settlement on Folkestone’s East Cliff.

Research skills.

Creative writing skills

Curriculum links

KS1-2 History (Iron Age).

KS1-2 English (creative writing)

This teacher’s pack from Canterbury Archaeological Trust provides a great introduction to the archaeology of Folkestone’s East Cliff, in the Iron Age as well as the Roman period, with lots of ideas and images to use in the classroom.
http://www.canterburytrust.co.uk/learning/resources/ark_teacher_pack/

This link includes an artist’s reconstruction image of what the site looked like in the late Iron Age.
http://www.canterburytrust.co.uk/learning/resources/ark_teacher_pack/huts_houses_hotbaths/

Creative writing: It's a dog's life

Imagine you are the Iron Age dog whose skull was found buried outside the round house on Folkestone’s East Cliff. Create a piece of writing that describes a day in your life.

It might include comments about your owner and human family, where you live and sleep, your working life (are you a guard dog, a sheepdog, a hunting dog or a pet?) other dogs that live in the village, wild animals you protect the family against, what you eat, where you go to steal forbidden scraps of food (if you don’t get caught), and your doggy thoughts on why your owners spend all day chipping away at big rough pieces of stone, instead of lazing in the sun!

You might describe an exciting or dramatic happening. A merchant bringing luxury imports from Gaul, a feast, an attack on the village (and how you raised the alarm), or the arrival of the Romans.

Learn with Objects links

Use Stone Age to Iron Age 15: was this a pet? and Stone Age to Iron Age 3, 4, 5.