Clues from Ancient Egypt: Paintings and Objects

History · Ancient Egypt · ages 7-9

Name ______________________ Date ____________

Nebamun's painting shows him hunting birds. Where is he hunting them?
- In the desert
- In the marshes
- In the mountains
Who studies paintings and objects from long ago to learn about the past?
- An archaeologist
- A footballer
- A shopkeeper
Archaeologists study only paintings. Objects cannot teach us anything.
Circle one: True False
Why do archaeologists study tomb paintings and objects from ancient Egypt?
- Because Egyptians wrote diaries that still exist
- Because no one alive today met an ancient Egyptian
- Because they can ask Egyptians questions
Leo is looking at an old Egyptian painting. Which question will help him find clues in it?
- How much money is it worth?
- What are the people doing, wearing, and using?
- Do the colours match my bedroom?
Sara finds a plain, cracked cooking pot. She says it is just old rubbish that cannot tell us anything. What is wrong with her idea?
- The pot is too new to be evidence
- Only gold objects count as evidence
- Plain pots and tools show how ordinary people cooked and lived
Which object would best tell us what ordinary Egyptians ate and cooked with?
- A king's crown
- A stone pyramid
- A plain clay pot
Archaeologists find a wooden bed and a small table in a tomb. What can these tell us?
- That furniture was invented last week
- What furniture Egyptians had in their homes
- That Egyptians slept standing up
Why do archaeologists write down every small detail in a painting, even a tiny bird in the corner?
- Every detail is a clue about how people lived
- Small details are mistakes to ignore
- They only count the gold things
A tomb holds a gold necklace and a plain cooking pot. Why is finding both better than finding only the necklace?
- Together they show different parts of life
- Two objects are heavier than one
- Gold is always the most useful evidence

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Clues from Ancient Egypt: Paintings and Objects W1-mt_yNGrY9xJ8Y-s1

In the marshes · The painting shows Nebamun hunting birds in the marshes, where birds gathered among the reeds and water.
An archaeologist · Archaeologists study things left behind by people long ago, and that is how we learn about ancient Egypt.
False · Archaeologists study objects too. Jewellery, pots, and toys all teach us how Egyptians lived.
Because no one alive today met an ancient Egyptian · Ancient Egypt ended thousands of years ago, so paintings and objects are our best clues.
What are the people doing, wearing, and using? · Asking what people are doing, wearing, and using turns every detail of the painting into a clue.
Plain pots and tools show how ordinary people cooked and lived · Even a plain, cracked pot is evidence. It shows what ordinary people used for cooking and chores.
A plain clay pot · Everyday pots and tools reveal how ordinary people cooked and lived, not just kings.
What furniture Egyptians had in their homes · Furniture is evidence too. A bed and a table are clues about what Egyptian homes were like.
Every detail is a clue about how people lived · Every detail matters. A tiny bird can tell us what animals lived nearby, and small clues add up to a full picture.
Together they show different parts of life · The necklace shows skill with metal and the pot shows everyday cooking. Two different objects give a fuller picture of life.