Your bedroom is a future archeological site!

Archaeology is like a magic mirror - a mirror that permits us to look back into the dark and mysterious past. People have been curious about the past for many thousands of years. Some cultures develop complex stories and myths to explain the past.

We are about to begin an exploration of the past via archaeology - and we are about to ask a lot of questions.

Some of the research performed by archaeologists is much like the work of a forensic scientist when investigating a crime. The researcher has to rely on pieces of evidence. These must be interpreted and a picture drawn of their possible significance and use.

However, unlike a forensic scientist, the archaeologist is left with only a very limited range of items that can be used to draw the picture of the past. Think about it for a moment: look around you. How many of the items surrounding you are likely to still exist in 1000 years? Doing this will give you some idea of the problems facing the archaeologist. An archaeologist is relying on physical remains of a society, but only a sample - those remains that are long lived.

Analyse your bedroom as a future archaeological site.
(Or use the one above if you would rather).

Make a list of the the things that would still be there in 1000 years.
Which items (or parts of items) would be likely to survive if the room was buried now?

You will need to list a large number of items and give reasons why you believe the item will survive or not.
Or would only part of it survive? The frame of the lamp shade, but not the material.

How would these items be identified so far into the future? What would be readily recognised? What fragment might be confusing? Is there anything in your room which they might completely misinterpret?

The tricky bit is to be able to work out the use of items (especially when they are rusted or squashed or whatever).

Is an item a decoration or a tool?
Does it have any evidence of wear and tear that might indicate use?
Is it attached to anything?

Also the prevalence - is there one or many of an item?
Is it just rubbish - discards from the main use like bones from food, bottle tops or is it an actual tool or other useful item?

What would the future archaeologist decide it is?