Year 6 - History
Discovery at Coppergate
The Vikings: how do we know so much about Viking York?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils learn about the archaeological discoveries made at Coppergate in York. They find out how archaeologists and historians have used artefacts to build a picture of what Viking York would have been like.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe the discovery made by archaeologists at Coppergate in 1972 and explain what their findings reveal about Viking life.
Key Notes
- In 1972, builders constructing a new shopping centre in the Coppergate area of York made a discovery.
- They were beginning to dig up huge amounts of Viking objects in the ground below the streets of York.
- Archaeologists were called in to investigate further and soon made startling discoveries about Viking York.
- They discovered layers of moist and peaty soil that had preserved various organic remains which normally rot away.
- They found buildings, textiles, leather, seeds and other things that have given clues about life in Viking York.
Vocabulary To Learn
- excavate: to excavate is to remove earth carefully from an area to find buried remains
- peaty: when plants decay they sometimes make the soil peaty, which can preserve things for a long time
- preserved: when something is preserved it is protected from damage or loss
- organic: something that is organic is to do with, or has come from, living things
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may think archaeologists only find out about the past through excavation.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
In 1972, builders constructing a new shopping centre in the Coppergate area of York made a discovery. They were beginning to dig up huge amounts of Viking objects in the ground below the streets of York.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'excavate'
to excavate is to remove earth carefully from an area to find buried remains.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: Pupils may think archaeologists only find out about the past through excavation. Correction: Archaeologists use a range of ways to find out about the past which include excavation, field walking, surveying and aerial photography.
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 6 History guide library.