As a practical learning task to gain some understanding of the process and the implications to a site when it is excavated, the class undertook a “Cookie Excavation.”

The students first made a hypothesis about how many artefacts (chocolate chips) they would find and then drew the site (cookie) on their grid. The tools they used were toothpicks and they carefully excavated to try and minimise damage to the site.

Students found the task a fun way to learn about the process of archaeology. Special mention goes to Hamish, for the addition of safety glasses to make the process more authentic. At the end of the task, everyone got to eat the cookie, now in remnants of artefacts and cookie back dirt.