This History video introduces teachers to the ‘rubbish activity’, an engaging way to help pupils understand what deductions can be made from archaeological evidence and its limitations. Teachers prepare objects that represent the previous school day, such as a maths book, crisp packet, or small ball, and ask pupils to infer what they reveal. Observations might include lessons learned, snacks eaten, or games played, but pupils will notice that certain details, like emotions or specific contexts, are missing. This helps illustrate how archaeological evidence can tell us some facts but not the full story.

This video is part of Kapow Primary’s History scheme – England. It supports teachers in guiding pupils through an investigation of the Amesbury Archer, discovered near Stonehenge in 2002. Pupils work in groups to analyse artefacts from the grave, using structured questions to deduce who he might have been. For example, examining a flint arrowhead could suggest he was a hunter or warrior. Teachers model this process, record findings under ‘Who was he?’, and compare conclusions with actual archaeological discoveries, highlighting which questions evidence can and cannot answer. This develops pupils’ skills in critical thinking and evidence-based interpretation.

History, Lower key stage 2, Year 3, British history 1: Would you prefer to have lived in the Stone Age, Bronze Age or Iron Age? Lesson 3: Who was this Bronze Age man?