Archaeology and Maths: Explore our Big Dig activities this Maths Week Scotland (23 – 29 September 2024)
This year’s theme is Maths Tales, looking at how Maths is used to tell stories.
As archaeologists, we love uncovering the tales that lie under the ground and in the landscapes around us. Different methods and tools help us find out more about the past, and add detail to the stories archaeology reveals. We use research, excavation and analysis to understand and share the stories behind each site, feature and find.
One important tool archaeologists use every day is maths.
When you picture an archaeologist, you might imagine someone with a trowel in their hand, or even a precious artefact from thousands of years ago. A calculator or protractor might not spring to mind! However, every time we dig, maths is the first tool we use when setting up our trench. It plays a key part in many aspects of archaeology.
Maths at The Big Dig 2024
You can read about how community participants, students and families used Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths Skills in this blog post about our Big Dig 2024.
Here are just a few examples:
- Measuring out a dig site using pythagoras’ theorem
- Recording a site’s contexts (layers in time) and finds
- Measuring features and depths of contexts
- Making scale drawings of features from above (plan) and in section
- Creating reports on finds
- Dating finds and features
Sharing our STEM resources from The Big Dig 2024:
As part of The Big Dig 2024, we created engaging learning resources and activities for all ages, that use Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) skills to explore the past heritage and archaeology of a World War Two training camp barrack building, and the stories of the people who trained there.
The Big Dig: Make a WWII Hut
Learn about brickwork, pattern and tessellation with this resource. Have a go at using bricks and making your own mortar to build and create different brickwork patterns. Explore shape and tessellation with a 2D paper activity.
The Big Dig: Code Breaker
Can you use maths to communicate like a Wireless Operator? Women in the Auxiliary Territorial Service used Morse Code to send and receive important messages during World War Two. Use pattern, sequence and time to communicate in Morse Code.
Share your Maths Tale!
With thanks to our Big Dig funders Scottish Power Foundation, The University of Edinburgh, Historic Environment Scotland, East Lothian Works and AOC Archaeology.
