starter activity

What sort of information can skeletons tell us about the health of ordinary people in the past?

Why has this skull got a hole in the top?

How healthy How healthy were pre-historic were pre-historic

people?people?

To identify the ways To identify the ways prehistoric people explained prehistoric people explained

and treated diseasesand treated diseases

To compare life in prehistoric To compare life in prehistoric times with surviving ancient times with surviving ancient

tribes todaytribes today

Learning objectives

Your taskYour task

What do we mean by the terms ‘Ancient What do we mean by the terms ‘Ancient history’ and ‘Prehistoric’? Put these history’ and ‘Prehistoric’? Put these definitions into your glossarydefinitions into your glossary

Study the information and pictures on Study the information and pictures on p16-17 and complete the chart your p16-17 and complete the chart your teacher provides.teacher provides.

Extension. Note down how a prehistoric Extension. Note down how a prehistoric person might have treated these person might have treated these complaints: broken arm, stomach ache, complaints: broken arm, stomach ache, headacheheadache

Your taskYour task

Can you think of any ancient tribes Can you think of any ancient tribes which have continued to the present? which have continued to the present? Read about these tribes on p.18-19. Read about these tribes on p.18-19.

Note down at least 2 ways they treat Note down at least 2 ways they treat illnesses & injuries that have a natural illnesses & injuries that have a natural and a supernatural cause.and a supernatural cause.

Extension. How useful is it to compare Extension. How useful is it to compare prehistoric tribes with these tribes?prehistoric tribes with these tribes?

IndigenousIndigenous tribes tribes

Natural illnesses – e.g. cuts & Natural illnesses – e.g. cuts & breaksbreaks

Cuts Sphagnum moss Cuts Sphagnum moss Broken bones – mud, clay or animal Broken bones – mud, clay or animal

fat bound with animal skins, feathers fat bound with animal skins, feathers or tree barkor tree bark

Colds & coughs – tea tree oil Colds & coughs – tea tree oil

Tea tree

Supernatural causes – evil spirits, Supernatural causes – evil spirits, angry godsangry gods

Medicine manMedicine man AmuletsAmulets Prayers & chantsPrayers & chants TrepanningTrepanning

Horseshoe & rabbit’s foot – modern ‘lucky’ charms

Your taskYour task

The makers of ‘Tribal Wives’ want to The makers of ‘Tribal Wives’ want to make a similar programme about life make a similar programme about life in a prehistoric village. Make a short in a prehistoric village. Make a short 1 minute documentary about health 1 minute documentary about health & medicine in an imaginary & medicine in an imaginary prehistoric settlement.prehistoric settlement.

Good startGood start Getting Getting betterbetter

Star student!Star student!

You have You have made a made a limited limited number of number of references to references to prehistoric prehistoric health health problems & problems & curescures

You partly You partly explain what explain what life was likelife was like

Most Most participateparticipate

You refer to a You refer to a range of range of treatments & treatments & common common health health problemsproblems

You broadly You broadly explain how explain how prehistoric prehistoric people people treated the treated the sicksick

All All participateparticipate

You refer in You refer in detail to detail to treatments & treatments & cures, giving cures, giving precise precise examplesexamples

You give a You give a full picture of full picture of prehistoric prehistoric medicinemedicine

All All participate participate activelyactively

HomeworkHomework

Produce a health & safety poster for Produce a health & safety poster for the people of a prehistoric village. It the people of a prehistoric village. It should includeshould include

Pictures and labels explaining the Pictures and labels explaining the different types of illnesses and health different types of illnesses and health problemsproblems

Natural & supernatural cures that Natural & supernatural cures that could be usedcould be used

Who was available to cure the sickWho was available to cure the sick

Extension taskExtension task

Investigate another Investigate another ‘‘indigenousindigenous tribe’ tribe’ such as the Maori such as the Maori and find out how and find out how they have treated they have treated illnesses and illnesses and diseasedisease

Make a list of Make a list of modern-day charms modern-day charms used around the used around the worldworld

PlenaryPlenary Who treated the sick in prehistoric Who treated the sick in prehistoric

times?times? Give examples of treatments of injuries Give examples of treatments of injuries

or disease?or disease? What did they think caused the diseases?What did they think caused the diseases? How can we find out about prehistoric How can we find out about prehistoric

medicine?medicine? Extension: what are the strengths and Extension: what are the strengths and

weaknesses of comparing ancient and weaknesses of comparing ancient and modern tribes?modern tribes?