Kessler

An excerpt fromReal-Life Science Mysteries

Copyright ©2011 Prufrock Press, Inc.

© Prufrock Press Inc. • Real-Life Science MysteriesThis page may be photocopied or reproduced with permission for single classroom use only.

46

Name: ____________________________________________________________ Date: _____________________

ArchaeologistShary Moose, Washington, DC

Aboutherfield,SharyMoosesays,“Archaeologyisa‘softscience,’nota‘hardscience’likephysicsorchemistryorbiology.Ourscienceismoresubjective—weaskmorewhyquestionsthatdon’tnecessarilyhaveconcreteanswers.Superstitions,legends,storiesthathavebeenhandeddown,humannature—sometimespeopledothingsthatcan’tbequalified.Like,whyisarabbit’sfootlucky?It’snotluckyfortherabbit...”Archaeologistsstudythepastthroughwhatisleftbehindfromotherpeople. Archaeologistsfindthingsthatpeo-plehadyearsago.Then,theyfigureouttheirstories—howtheylived,whattheywore,whatactivitiestheyparticipatedin.“It’slikebeingadetectiveforstoriesthathappenedalongtimeago,”saysShary.Tobeasuccessfularchaeologist,youneedtobeinterestedinalotofthings.Youneedtowonderhowstuffworks,whythingsarebuiltthewaytheyare,howpeoplethink,andyouneedtoenjoypuzzles.Youshouldenjoylookingatapieceofsomethingandwonderwhatitmightlooklikeifitwerecomplete.

“Archaeology is a ‘soft science,’ not a ‘hard science’ . . . we ask more why questions that don’t necessarily have concrete answers.”

From Real-Life Science Mysteries by Colleen Kessler © 2011 Prufrock Press, Inc. Sample reproduced with the permission of Prufrock Press Inc. (http://www.prufrock.com)

© Prufrock Press Inc. • Real-Life Science MysteriesThis page may be photocopied or reproduced with permission for single classroom use only.

47

Who Found It?

Can you solve this puzzle?

Nadia,Trixie,Benjamin,andBobarearchaeologists.Theyareeachonadifferentdig(homestead,farmstead,fort,andcastle).Eachofthearchae-ologistsfoundanartifact(anarrowhead,apot,ayoke,andagoblet).

Matcheacharchaeologistwithhisorherdigandtheartifactfound.

1. When Trixie was on a castle dig, she knew someone who found a goblet. Now, Trixie is on a different dig.

2. Nadia is on a dig that may have protected Benjamin’s location.3. Benjamin and Bob both like finding arrowheads, but they

didn’t find one this time. 4. Trixie has watched people on her dig find horseshoes. 5. Nadia’s location was less peaceful than Bob’s. 6. Benjamin can imagine rulers. 7. A goblet was found at either the farmstead or castle. 8. Benjamin and Trixie have both found arrowheads in the past,

but have not found any this time. 9. A yoke was used to guide cattle, and found at either the castle

or farmstead. 10. Bob found a pot.11. A goblet was found at either the castle or homestead.

Arrow

head

Pot

Yoke

Goblet

Hom

estead

Farmstead

Fort

Castle

NadiaTrixie

BenjaminBob

HomesteadFarmstead

FortCastle

Try This!

Answers:Nadia-arrowhead-fort;Trixie-yoke-farmstead;Benjamin-goblet-castle;Bob-pot-homestead

From Real-Life Science Mysteries by Colleen Kessler © 2011 Prufrock Press, Inc. Sample reproduced with the permission of Prufrock Press Inc. (http://www.prufrock.com)

© Prufrock Press Inc. • Real-Life Science MysteriesThis page may be photocopied or reproduced with permission for single classroom use only.

48

Therearetwotypesofarchaeology:Ac-ademic,whichdoesresearch-basedwork,usuallythroughuniversities,andCulturalResourcesManagement,whichdoescon-tractwork.SharydoesCulturalResourcesManagementarchaeology.Shesaysthatit’scoolbecause“youcangoanywhereandtalkwithanyone.Everyoneremem-bersanoldbuildingwhereyou’rework-ing,orastoryfromGrandpappyabouteventsthattookplacenearyoursite.”Shecontinues,“It’sreallyquiteanex-periencetodiscoveranartifactfromthepastthathasn’tseenthelightofdayinX-manyyears.Andhereyouare,hold-ingitinyourhands.Irememberfindingacoinmintedin1774andIdidn’twanttoputitdown—that’shistory,thekindyoudon’tgetfromabookbecauseit’sreal.It’sinyourhand,smilingbackupatyou.” Shary’sjobistwo-fold.Shehelpsfindandpreservehistory,andsheeducatesothersaboutit.Herteamwillgotoafieldbecausesomeonewantstobuildamuseum.Theystudythearea,digbeneaththesurface,anddiscoverthattherewasafarmsteadthere.Allofthearti-factsarerecoveredandcarefullywashed,catalogued,andstored.Thenareportiswritten.Themu-seumgetsbuilt,andthereisasmalldisplayofthearchaeologythatwasdone.Forexample,thereisanaircraftmuseumnearSharythathasasmallarchaeologicaldisplay.Thedisplayisnotaboutaircraft;it’saboutthefarmsteadthatisunderthemuseum’sfoundation.

A joke from Shary:

Q: Why was the archaeologist depressed? A: Her career was in ruins.

From Real-Life Science Mysteries by Colleen Kessler © 2011 Prufrock Press, Inc. Sample reproduced with the permission of Prufrock Press Inc. (http://www.prufrock.com)

© Prufrock Press Inc. • Real-Life Science MysteriesThis page may be photocopied or reproduced with permission for single classroom use only.

49

Piecing Together the Past

Whenarchaeologistsreturnfromthefield,theybringwiththemthepieces,orartifacts,theyfind.Theyputthesepiecestogetherthebesttheycan,likeapuzzle,torebuildwhatwasleftbehind.Inthisway,theycanlearnaboutthepeoplewholivedandworkedinalocationinthepast.Often,theyfindbrokenceramicsorpotteryandpiecetogethervases,tableware,andotherthingsthatpeopleofthepastusedasdecorationsandtools.Thearchaeologistscanthenusetheseartifactstolearnhowlongagothecivilizationwhosepeoplecreatedthemlived,howwealthythecivili-zationwas,whattypesofpeoplelivedthere,andwhatmaterialstheyhadaccessto.Theworkcanbechallenging,butasyouwillsee,oncearchaeol-ogistsholdacompletepieceintheirhands,veryrewarding!

Materials

• Aplasticorpaperbagcontainingthepiecesofabrokenceramicplateormug

• Arollofmaskingtape • Thick newspaper or plastic to cover your workspace

Procedure

1. Cover a desk, table, or other workstation with thick layers of newspaper or plastic.

2. Spread the contents of your bag on your workstation.3. Carefully piece together the broken mug or plate. Be careful and

pay attention to any rough or sharp edges. 4. Use the masking tape to secure the pieces.5. When you have finished, display your mug or plate. Was this

task easy? Hard? Why?

Archaeologyisdoneinphases.PhaseIisthediscoveryphase.Inthisphase,archaeologistsfindoutifanythingisthere.Archaeologistsdiglotsofsmallholesalloveranarea.Theseholesareplacedatregularintervalsatintersectionslikegraphpaper.Theyaredugwithshovelsandthedirtissiftedthroughascreen.ThePhaseIIassessmentphasecomesnext.Inthisphase,archaeologistsfigureouthowbigthe“something”is.

Try This!

From Real-Life Science Mysteries by Colleen Kessler © 2011 Prufrock Press, Inc. Sample reproduced with the permission of Prufrock Press Inc. (http://www.prufrock.com)

© Prufrock Press Inc. • Real-Life Science MysteriesThis page may be photocopied or reproduced with permission for single classroom use only.

50

Theydigmoreholesinbetweentheoriginalholeswithshovelsandsiftthedirtagain.Finally,PhaseIIIbegins.Thisisthemitigationphase.Itisthemostcomplicated.Sometimes,abackhoecomesintoremovethetoplayersofsoil.Othertimes,thingsareonlypartiallyexcavated.“Thereisasenseofaccomplishmentyougetfromhelpingfurthertheknowledgeofhisto-ry.Plowedfieldscanturnuplong-lostslavesites;golfcoursescanturnupoldcemeteries.Yes,nowit’sjustafield,butthen...” Archaeologyissomethinganyone

cando.Therearearchaeologicalso-cietiesinjustabouteverystate.Thesesocietiesoftensponsoropen“digs”whereeverydaypeoplecanjoininanexcavation.Sharysaystoremember,“Scienceisnotsomethingthatisscary.Itisnotsomethingthatonlyboysaregoodat.Everyoneneedsandusesscience,sometimeswithoutevenknow-ingtheyareusingit.And,themorescienceyouknowandunderstand,thebetteryou’llbeabletolearnaboutandappreciatetheworldaroundyou.”

“Science is not something that is scary. It is not something that only boys are good at. Everyone needs and uses science, sometimes without even knowing they are using it.”

From Real-Life Science Mysteries by Colleen Kessler © 2011 Prufrock Press, Inc. Sample reproduced with the permission of Prufrock Press Inc. (http://www.prufrock.com)

© Prufrock Press Inc. • Real-Life Science MysteriesThis page may be photocopied or reproduced with permission for single classroom use only.

51

Name: ____________________________________________________________ Date: _____________________

Hydrogeologist

Ben Daigneau, Arizona BenDaigneauthoughthewouldbeateacherwhenhestartedcollege.Butashetookclasses,heslowlyfellinlovewithgeology.NowheworksasahydrogeologistinArizona.“Justabouteverypieceofdirtandeveryrockhasaninterestingstorytotell,”hesays.“Istudiedgeologyincollege,astherewasnotmuchspecializationavailableatmyschool,andhavelearnedalotabouthydrogeologyonthejob.” Hydrogeologyisasubfieldofgeology.Itfocusesongroundwaterasopposedtosurfacewaterlikeriversandstreams.“It’smucheasiertomakethedistinctionbetweengroundandsurfacewaterinArizona,wherewefinditathundredsoffeetbelowthesurface,comparedtootherpartsofthecountrywherewaterisveryclosetothesurfaceandthetwotypesarelinked.”HydrogeologycentersonhowwatermovesunderthesurfaceoftheEarth. Groundwaterisveryimportanttopeopleandtheenvironment.Manypeopleusegroundwatereverydaywithoutevenrealizingit.Itisusedfordrinking,toirrigatecrops,andmore.Ahydrogeologistfindswater.Heorshedeterminesthequantityandqualityofthewater,aswellastheusagerights.Inthedesert,whereBenworks,waterallocationiswatchedcare-fully.Hehelpstofigureouthowmuchacommunityormanufacturerwillneedandhelpsthemcontactthestatetogetrightstouseit.

From Real-Life Science Mysteries by Colleen Kessler © 2011 Prufrock Press, Inc. Sample reproduced with the permission of Prufrock Press Inc. (http://www.prufrock.com)

© Prufrock Press Inc. • Real-Life Science MysteriesThis page may be photocopied or reproduced with permission for single classroom use only.

52

Groundwater and the Water Cycle

Rememberthatgroundwaterisextremelyimportanttolifeandtothewatercycle.Allplantsneedwatertogrow.Allanimals—includinghu-mans—needwatertolive.ThewatersupplyonEarthisconstantlyrees-tablishingitselfthroughthewatercycle.Waterfromtheworld’soceans,lakes,rivers,andotherwatersourcesevaporatesasaresultofheatfromthesunandrisesintotheair,condensingintoclouds,thenfallsbackdowntotheEarthasprecipitation;isabsorbedintothesoilasgroundwater,whichisusedbyplantsandanimals;evaporatesandcondensesintomoreclouds,thenfallsagaintotheEarthasprecipitation.Createyourowngroundwater/watercyclemodelnow.

Materials

• Clear plastic cup • Plastic wrap • Aquarium gravel • Potting soil • Spray bottle • Water • Cress or other quick-growing seeds • Rubber band • Tape

Procedure

1. Fill your spray bottle with water.2. Place an inch to an inch and a half of gravel at the bottom of

your cup.3. Fill the cup with potting soil, leaving an inch of space at the

top.4. Plant your seeds in the soil according to the seed packet’s

instructions.5. Water liberally by spraying the spray bottle into the cup, on

the soil, and on the inner sides of the cup.6. Watch through the outer sides of the cup as the water trickles

down through the soil and into the gravel. This water is your groundwater. The groundwater will be used by the seeds as they grow.

7. Cover the cup tightly with plastic wrap, securing with either a rubber band or tape.

8. Place the cup in a window that gets a lot of sunlight.

Try This!

From Real-Life Science Mysteries by Colleen Kessler © 2011 Prufrock Press, Inc. Sample reproduced with the permission of Prufrock Press Inc. (http://www.prufrock.com)

© Prufrock Press Inc. • Real-Life Science MysteriesThis page may be photocopied or reproduced with permission for single classroom use only.

53

1. Watch the water cycle over the next few days—the sides of your cup will get foggy as the water evaporates and condenses. This fogginess represents the “clouds” we see in the sky. As the clouds become heavy with water, they will “rain” back down into the soil and become groundwater again for your seeds.

Mostofthetime,groundwaterisclean,butitcanbecomecontami-natedifpeoplearecareless.Benalsomustdoenvironmentalwork.Hesays,“Ifanindustrycontaminatesthegroundwater,wehelptofindouthowtocleanitup.”Hewilldiscov-erwhatpollutantwasreleased,howmuch,andifitisstillleachingintothegroundwater. OneofthethingsBenenjoysmostabouthisjobisthesatisfactionhefeelsafterinstallingawell.“Tryingtofigureoutwhat’shappeningina10-footdiameterholethatdescends750feetbelowthesurfaceishardtodo.It’shardontools,andtheunexpectedalwaysseemstohappen.”Thewaterinawellispumpedupfromanaquifer.Anaquiferisanareabelowthesurfacethatholdsgroundwater.Wellspumpgroundwaterfromthataquiferandintotheplacesitwillbeused.

From Real-Life Science Mysteries by Colleen Kessler © 2011 Prufrock Press, Inc. Sample reproduced with the permission of Prufrock Press Inc. (http://www.prufrock.com)

© Prufrock Press Inc. • Real-Life Science MysteriesThis page may be photocopied or reproduced with permission for single classroom use only.

54

Groundwater Contamination

Groundwaterfillsthecracksandspacesbetweenrocks,sand,andgrav-elintheground.Itisstoredthere,andmovesasitisusedbyplantsandanimals.Wellscanbedugtotapintothissupplyandbringfreshwatertothesurfaceforhumanuse.Aquifers,thelocationsundergroundthatstoregroundwater,canbereplenishedthroughprecipitation.Theyalsocanbecontaminatedthroughhumancarelessness.Whencontaminationoccurs,thewaterbecomesunsafeandcannotbeusedbyhumansandotherorgan-isms.

Materials

• Clear plastic drinking cup • Aquarium gravel • Sand • A bottle of water • A spray bottle filled with water • Food coloring

Procedure

1. Fill the cup with gravel about a third of the way to the top.

2. Add sand to another third of the cup so that you are left with 1/3 gravel, 1/3 sand, and 1/3 space.

3. Pour water from the bottle slowly into the cup, observing the way in which the water fills in the spaces between gravel and sand particles. Fill the cup until the water is just below the sand layer. The top of the water is called the water table. The water below this is called the saturation zone.

4. Answer the following questions: • Did the water move faster through

the gravel or the sand? • Why?

Try This!

From Real-Life Science Mysteries by Colleen Kessler © 2011 Prufrock Press, Inc. Sample reproduced with the permission of Prufrock Press Inc. (http://www.prufrock.com)

© Prufrock Press Inc. • Real-Life Science MysteriesThis page may be photocopied or reproduced with permission for single classroom use only.

55

1. Sprinkle some food coloring on top of the sand to represent a contaminant.

2. Use your spray bottle to “rain” on top of the contaminated ground.

3. Answer the following questions:• What happens to your groundwater as rain pours onto the

contaminated “Earth?”• Why is it so important for humans to be careful as they

transport chemicals or other pollutants across the land? • How does this experiment demonstrate the possibilities of

pesticide contamination?

Benconcludes,“Ithinkthebiggestimpactthatmyfieldcanhaveistohelpstrikethebalancebetweenthehealthofthepeopleandthehealthoftheplanet.”Headdsthat“geologystretchesyourimaginationfromtheverysmalltotheverylarge. Therearerockformationsthattakeadaytoformbecausealandslideoccurs,andtherearerockformationsthattakemillionsofyearstoform.Ifyoulookatamountainrange,youseeindividualrivers.Thoseriverstakethemountaindown,onegrainofsandatatime.Then,youimag-inehowitgotthereandpictureitbeingupliftedwhenacontinentcollidedwithanotherone.Icouldgetlostinthatstufffordays.”

“Geology stretches your imagination from the very small to the very large. There are rock formations that take a day to form because a landslide occurs, and there are rock formations that take millions of years to form. If you look at a mountain range, you see individual rivers. Those rivers take the mountain down, one grain of sand at a time.”

From Real-Life Science Mysteries by Colleen Kessler © 2011 Prufrock Press, Inc. Sample reproduced with the permission of Prufrock Press Inc. (http://www.prufrock.com)