Archaeologist:   Jacob S.

Artifact: Ndebele wedding apron            

Purpose: This artifact was used by the Ndebele in their wedding ceremonies. The Ndebele are a tribe in South Africa.

Where and when it found:  It was given to my parents for their wedding from a good friend of my dad’s. His name is Steve and he bought it at a rural market in 1990. It was to symbolize that my parents got married and to help them feel like they were still in Africa. I found it when I asked my mom what I should  choose for my artifact.  It was in the front of my house on a chest. 

Description: The Ndebele wedding apron is a colorful work of art. It has a rectangular shape and it is about  1 foot  5 inches. It’s made of leather, beads, and string.   

Archaeologist: Nita R.

Artifact: Butter Lamp

Purpose: It is used in Buddhism to keep minds focused in meditation.

Where and when it was found: It was found in a dark corner on top of a bookcase in our living room. The butter lamp was surrounded by things that looked far more interesting and it was forgotten…… until someone came to take it and use it for their Artifact Alley project.

Description: It is a gold color about six inches high. It has a little ring on it and the way it works is by filling it up with butter, putting a wick in it, and lighting it. It is sort of like a candle but it is traditionally used with yak butter.

Archaeologists: Ari N

Artifact:  The Inside of a doorknob

Purpose: It is used to screw in the doorknob to the door.

Where and when was it found: I opened a door and the doorknob fell out. The artifact came out of the handle. I found it the day before Artifact Alley.

Description: This object is a brown colored, two inches long, rectangular shaped, and rusty metal. It’s also very dirty, has holes in it, and is pretty old.

 Archaeologist: Annie B.

Artifact: Camel’s Tooth

Purpose: My artifact was not used for anything, except that camels used it to chew!

Where and When was it found: It was found when my mom was on an archaeological dig in Israel when she was in College.

Description: The camel’s tooth is very cool. It has different layers and is very big. You might have thought that it was a bear tooth, but no, it’s from a Camel. The camel tooth is small at one end and then gets large. For those of you who saw the tooth after someone dropped it, you probably couldn’t tell what it was. Before it broke, you could tell where the tooth was attached to the mouth. The tooth’s color is yellowish on the outside and white in the inside.  

Archaeologist: Avi Z.
Artifact: Typewriter Ball

Purpose: It is used in typewriters to change the font.

Where and when it was found: It was made about forty years ago and my mom found it on her desk while she was looking for a health reform paper.

Description: It is a hollow plastic half-sphere with characters made of grooves and raised lines on it. It is approximately an inch in diameter.

Archaeologist: Gabrielle H.
Artifact: Cherry Pitter

Purpose: My artifact, a cherry pitter, is used for pitting cherries. If you know what it is called, you should know what it is used for. My family eats a lot of fruit so when we make fruit salads we need a way to take the pits out.

Where and when it was found: The cherry pitter was found in my kitchen. I don’t know exactly when we got it but I think my dad got it about 14 years ago.

Description: The cherry pitter that I used for Artifact Alley has a lot of loops for putting your fingers in and is made out of silver metal. It is about 4 inches long and 2 inches wide in one area.

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Archaeologist: Harrison B.
Artifact: Crumb Sweeper

Purpose: It may look like half of a pen, but it’s actually a tool that waiters and waitresses use to sweep crumbs off the tables at restaurants.

Where and when it was found: While I was running through the depths of the Amazon jungle, trying to outrun the perusing Mobenyako tribe warriors, I found it. Deep within the temple of King Kitchwa Tembo was the Golden Crumb Sweeper of truth and wisdom! (A.K.A In a drawer in my kitchen.)

Description: It is about the size of a pen, it also looks like a pen, and is made out of 24 karat gold (brass).

Archaeologist: Harrison B.

Artifact: Knife Sharpener

Purpose: This looks like a turkey baster, but it is actually a knife sharpener.

Where and when it was found:  In my kitchen there is a drawer. And in that drawer is a portal. That portal leads to the parallel universe of the Glibb. The most prized position there, hidden in the secret room in the temple of Kwing Kwang, is the knife sharpener of power! (A.K.A. I found it in a drawer in my kitchen that doesn’t have a portal in it.)

Archeologist: Jonathan S.

Artifact: Old Apple IMac Speaker

Purpose: It was used to hear the audio on Mac Computers.

Where And When It Was Found: Its was shipped to my house when I was young.

Description: It is blue and silver with wires sticking out of it. It’s about two inches long and an inch wide and it's made out of metal and plastic.

Archeologist: Josh J.
Artifact:  Turkey Baster  

Purpose: This artifact holds the turkey when you are basting it.

Where and when it was found: I found this object in my cooking cabinet.  My family got it about 15 years ago.

Description: The color is silver. It has pointy ends to keep the turkey from moving while you are basting it. It is about 6 inches high and 6 inches wide.

Archaeologist:  Mia S.

Artifact: Wig Stand

Purpose: It is used to hold a wig while you are not wearing it.

Where and when it was found: My mom bought this to hold her wigs. She doesn’t use it anymore but she keeps it in her closet because it looks very cool.

Description: It is a plastic, gray stand and it is shaped like a wig. It is about a foot tall and is round on top so the wig wouldn’t get ruined. You are supposed to put a wig on the stand after you’re finished wearing it and it will stay the way you left it all through the night.

Archaeologist:  Benjamin J.

Artifact:  Stamp holder

Purpose:  It is used to hold stamps so that when you need one, you can just slide off the top and grab a stamp.

Where and when it was found:  This artifact was given to the owners as a gift.  The reason why is because they had moved into a new house, expecting their first baby.  It was given about twenty-three years ago and was found on a baker’s rack in the kitchen.

Description:  It is wooden and shaped like a turtle. It is about the size of a man’s closed fist. There are two parts to this artifact and the top part slides off revealing a compartment.  Here you can place stamps.  If you wish to have multiple stamps held, you would need to stack them on top of each other.

Archaeologist: Ruthie S.

Artifact: Earplug

Purpose: It is used to plug your ears and to keep water from getting in.

Where and when it was found: It was a hot sunny day at my swim club. I was practicing for the swim team so I was doing laps in the pool, when all of a sudden…MY EAR STARTED TO HURT! I rushed out of the pool and told my mom, then we walked (we didn’t run because it was a swim club and that would be unsafe) down to the office. Just as I was about to die from swimmer’s ear, the person at the front desk got a pair of earplugs and I put them in my ears.

Description: It is clear and about one inch in size. You mold the ear plug to fit your ear and the ear plug is made out of silicone

Archaeologist: Bryce T.

Artifact: Mexican pesos (coins)

Purpose: Money in Mexico

Where and when was it found: When I was in Mexico we did a money exchange. We received pesos and then we went to buy something.  We received change in Mexican coins. I found them in my room because I kept them as a souvenir from the trip.

Description:  They are silver around the border and fake gold in the middle, with designs around the edges.  They are round, about one inch across.  They are about the size of the inside of your ear.                

Archaeologist:  David G.

Artifact: Pen Cartridge

Purpose: hold the ink for the pen

Where and When was it found: I was helping my dad one day in the garage when I tripped over something on the ground.  I was confused and interested about what I tripped on.  I reached down and picked up the inside of a pen.  I did not know what it was but I thought of bringing it to Artifact Alley.

Description: It is about two inches long, clear, but appears black because of ink inside and it is a sphere shaped tube.

Archeologist: Zachary S. '

Artifact: This strange artifact is called a “Tea Strainer

Purpose: It is used to make tea.   You scoop up the ground tea with the spoon part and let it close. 

Then you put it in a cup of hot water.  Just like a tea bag, it brews your tea through the holes in it. 

Where and where it was found: My mom bought it in 1985 in a supermarket in Philadelphia. 

Description: It is made of metal and opens when you squeeze the two metal bars. It is about six inches long.

Archeologist: Tali G

Artifact: Chestnut Roaster

Purpose: It roasts chestnuts.

Where and when it was found: I found it inside my garage when I was looking for a football so I could play with my dad. I found the chestnut roaster and I didn’t know what it was so I asked my dad and grandma what it was.

Description: It is all brass. There is a long handle and at the end of it there is a box in the shape of a circle. The top of the circle has holes in it but the bottom doesn’t. To use it you put chestnuts in the box and then you put it over a fire and it roasts them.

Artifact: Postcard Holder
Archeologist: Dria G.

Purpose: My artifact is used for holding postcards on a desk or in an office.

Where and when it was found: My mom received the postcard holder as a present, but she never used or had postcards to place it in, so she gave it to me. It was in her office and was never used.

Description: My artifact has a round bottom to hold it up and make sure it’s stable. It has a long silver colored body with springs around it so when you pull the stem back, it starts bouncing. Also, the postcard holder has a metal clip on the top where you place the postcards. Many people guessed that my artifact was an index card holder however, the clip does not expand so widely as to fit multiple index cards. Many people guessed that it was a picture holder, but at the top of the clip, there are ridges that press inward, so you could fit a picture in there, but it would get scratched at the end.

Archaeologist: Alice S.

Artifact: Paint Stripper

Purpose: It takes paint and rust off of things.

Where and when it was found: It was found in my kitchen drawer. It has not been used by my family for a long time.

Description: It is made of metal and the ends are pointy and sharp and it looks like a brush. It is about two inches long (I think). It is silver.

Artifact: Garbage Disposal Cap

Archeologist: Josh Cohen

Purpose: It is used to cover the sink drain so when you are using your garbage disposal the scraps of food won’t fly up.

Where and when it was found:  I found it in my family’s butler’s pantry.  I found it the day before the Artifact Alley. It probably came with the garbage disposal. I use it in the sink.

Description: It is black with a few white spots around the edges.  It is rubber.  It has a big hole in the middle and some small holes around the edge.  It bends down, not up.  It is soft and bendable.

Archaeologist:  Elliot B.

Artifact: Door stoppers

Purpose: A door stopper is used to prevent doors on cabinets from banging against the cabinet and making a noise.

Where and when was it found: It was given to us last year after we renovated our kitchen by the men that did the work. I found them on a cabinet and then I found extras in a drawer in the kitchen that I could take in to Artifact Alley.

Description: It is a circle and it is as small as a button with sticky material on the bottom. It has a diameter of half an inch and is clear. It is made out of a squishy plastic material with a sticky bottom.

Archaeologist: Ariel K. 

Artifact: Digital command control system

Purpose: It is used to control two (at least) different model locomotives doing different things.

Where and when was in found: The owner bought it at a hobby shop for his son, who was attempting to build a model railroad. The product was made by a model railroad equipment making company named Bachman.

Description: It is a rounded 6 1/2” by 4” rectangle with a white plastic shell. It is covered with knobs and buttons.

Archaeologist: Max Feist
Artifact: Air Tank

Purpose: It is used to give you air in a gas mask.

Where and When It Was Found:  It was bought in an Army-Navy store last year. It came with a gas mask and a small backpack to hold it. While I was getting information for a project, the owner (Raul) showed me the gas mask and I bought it for the price of $30. It was found in a cardboard box behind loads of camouflage blankets. The blankets allow you to blend in with the ground if a plane comes from above. The air tank looks like a mine but it is part of a gas mask.

Description: The air tank is 31/2 inches tall and 43/4 inches wide. It is made from metal and then painted. I use it for a filter for a gas mask.

Archaeologist: Sam E.

Artifact: Cream/milk Pitcher

Purpose: To hold cream or milk.

Where and when it was found: It was bought by the owner in England, and was found on a shelf in her house.

Description: It is ceramic with blue, gold, brown, and white on it. It is the shape of a tea pot. It is 5 inches high and 3 inches wide. The picture on it is Big Ben (the tower with the clock in England). You pour cream in it and you serve it with coffee.

Archaeologist: Dina B.
Artifact: Skirt Marker

Purpose: It marks an even line 11-24 inches from the floor where the hem should be to cut skirts and dresses.

Where and When it was found: It was my great grandmother’s. My mom got it with her grandmother’s sewing machine.

Description: The skirt marker is 14 inches long, and the piece that holds the skirt or dress is 5 ½ inches long. The skirt marker is long and narrow, and the piece that holds the skirt or dress has a groove in it. The support and the moving piece are metal, and the ruler is made of wood. First, a person has to wear the skirt or dress that they want to cut. Then, a second person folds in the skirt or dress where they want it to be cut and moves the moving piece so the top is between 11 and 24 inches from the ground, depending on how much the first person wants her skirt or dress to be cut. They put a pin in the hole on top of the moving piece, into the dress, and take away the skirt marker. The second person continues to do this all around the skirt or dress.

Archaeologist: Zoë G.

Artifact: Stamp Holder

Purpose: It is used to hold stamps so that you will not have a hard time finding them when you need them, and it looks stylish!

Where and when it was found: A few years ago on Mother’s Day, my sister, my dad, and I bought this for my Mom as one of her presents. It was bought at Macy’s and at home it was found on my Mom’s desk.

Description: The stamp holder was made to look like a little yellow flower pot. It is 2 ½ inches high and 1 ½ wide. It is a cylinder shaped box with tiny flowers, leaves, and butterflies springing out from the top. The bottom also has leaves, butterflies, and flowers painted on it. A small gold colored metal bow is used to open up the box. You put your stamps inside of it. There is a small slit in the bottom of the stamp holder which is where you would pull the stamps out, and then you are ready to put them on your letters!

Archaeologist Ofek P.

Artifact Trader Joe’s Grocery Bag

My artifact is used for collecting recyclable objects before taking them outside to the recycling bin.

It was found when I went shopping for food.

It is about three feet tall and two feet wide. It is square and it is made of recycled materials. It works by putting something inside and then carrying it somewhere.

Archaeologist:  Charles S.

Artifact:  Herb Grinder

Purpose: It is used to grind herbs into tiny pieces for cooking.

When and where it was found: It was bought by the owner in a store that sells kitchen supplies.
It was found in a utensil drawer in the owner’s kitchen.

Description: It is made of silver colored metal with a handle and an open container for grinding the herbs. The bottom of the container has small blades on a roller which is turned by a small handle to grind the herbs. There is also a small cover to hold the herbs in place when they are being ground,.

Archaeologist: Amos E.

Artifact: Bow string stringer

Purpose: It is used to string bows because you need a lot of strength to put the string on the bow.

Where and When It Was Found: I didn’t really find it. I bought it about two years ago and it was in my amazing bow case. It was the best color the store offers--blue. I bought it at my awesome archery club.

Archaeologist: Alec C.

Artifact: Door Hanger

Purpose: My door hanger is for hanging things on, if you didn’t already know. You just nail it on a door, then hang up a towel, coat, or basically anything you want on it.

When and where it was found: I found it in my battery drawer, which was a very unexpected place for a door hanger. I found it the day before Artifact Alley.

Description: My door hanger is silver colored and pretty small. It has a flat back and a curved front. It’s about the size of two of my hands.

Archaeologist: David T.

Artifact: DIY flame thrower

Purpose: It is used for many things but I used it in model sets for movies with fire.

Where and when it was found: It was designed by my old science teacher and I built the prototype a year ago. I found it in my room this year.

Description:  It is about six inches log and is composed of two clothespins and a match. It works by lighting the match with friction as the match shoots out of the device.

Archaeologist: Adam R.

Artifact: Queen Square Reflex Hammer

Purpose: The thick rubber side is used by a doctor to hit a part of someone’s knee. The pointy plastic side is used to test if the person can feel on the bottom of their feet.

Where and when was it found: My dad bought it in 1977 when he was in medical school, training to be a doctor.

Description: It is a long thin piece of plastic with a point on one end, and on the other end is a rubber mallet. The entire artifact is almost exactly one foot long. The rubber mallet is 2 ½ inches in diameter.

Archaeologist: Adam R. 

Artifact: Vibration testing tuning fork

Purpose: It is used to test if you can feel vibration.

Where and when it was found: My dad bought it when he was a medical student in 1977.

Description: It looks like a double-pronged metal object with two circles at the end. It is eight inches in length and the two circles are each one-inch in diameter. The metal is silver and it has a handle, also made of metal.

Guest Archaeologist:  Dewey Oriente

Aritfact:  Chalk Holder

Purpose:  To hold chalk to keep your hands clean.

Where and When It Was Found:  Unknown

Description:  The chalk holder looks like a black fountain pen and is about the same size, but when you press the protruding point, metal teeth emerge from the plastic case so they can grasp a piece of chalk.