How can I make my own artifact for cultural anthropology class?

Question

Our teacher assigned a project in which we got to make our own artifacts....and I'm clueless. I don't know where to start. I'm african american and I was thinking working that in somewhere but I don't have any ideas...can someone please help and no pots, bowls or none of that ****.

Answer 1

To tell you the truth, the most clever artifact you could bring in would be a piece of junk that you happen to have laying around.

Artifacts are basically people's trash and junk that they leave behind.  Archaeologists pretty much spend their lives sifting through other people's really really really old garbage.  Take a midden for example.  Middens provide some of the most in-depth information to archaeologists.  What is a midden you ask?  A trash heap, a collection of sea shells thrown aside after the sea creature inside has been eaten, broken pottery, animal bones, ash and a whole collection of other things that reflect daily life.

Answer 2

The artifact you bring in should somehow reflect your social or cultural reality.  For instance, here are some artifacts I might bring in and what they would reflect...

A broken guitar pick (music is part of cultural practice)

My wife's promise ring (reflects my social relationships)

A stained coffee cup (shows importance of that beverage!)

A worn, strained, dusty backpack (from archaeological fieldwork... shows my occupation and my interests)

Resin castsings from a dental cast (shows occupation)

A bulletin from a church service (shows religious practice)

etc....