MODULE 15

Understanding Culture, Society and Politics

HUMAN MATERIAL REMAINS

AND ARTEFACTUAL EVIDENCE
(Neolithic Period)

Author: Ferd Francis P. Alamag

Grade Level
Illustrators: Jhucel A. del Rosario

11/12
Michael Joseph A. Lapid
Renato D. Ruz, Jr.
Layout Artist: Felipe Ryan S. Duatin
UCSP SELF-LEARNING KIT

Self-Learning Module for Grade 11/12

SOCIAL SCIENCE
15
UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY AND POLITICS

Hello, our dear student! Welcome…

I’m Teacher Victoria

I’m Teacher Kenneth

Are you ready to BEGIN your

journey with this module?
Well, it’s time to TAKE STEPS to your
quest for KNOWLEDGE. Have FUN!

ENGAGE with the Module

Here are some reminders as you use this module:

 Use the module with care especially in turning each page.
 Be reminded to answer the Pre-Test before moving on to the
Self-Learning Kit (SLK) Proper.
 Read and comprehend the directions in every exercise.
 Observe honesty in answering the tests and exercises and in
checking your answers.
 Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part of this material.
 Try to finish a given activity before proceeding to the next.
 MODULE 15
ESTABLISH Your Purpose

What can you expect to find in this module?

You will discover specific tasks which will test your
knowledge and understanding of the topic discussed in
this module.

In

This module serves as a self-learning material to guide

you in understanding target competency expected in
the curriculum.

UCSP 11/12HBS-If-13

Explore the significance of human material remains and artefactual

evidence in interpreting cultural and social, including political and
economic processes.
You will find that the presented activities / exercises and texts
are developed in order to meet the following objectives:

Objective 1

Define the concept of artefact.

Objective 2

Identify the significance of artefactual evidence and human material

remains that interprets to cultural and social, including political and
economic human’s way of life.

Objective 3

Appreciate the significance of human material remains.

EXPLORE What You Know

PRE-TEST
Read the following items carefully. Shade the
circle that corresponds to the letter of your
answer.

1. Which among these discipline refers to the study of human activity

through the recovery and analysis of material culture?

A. Archaeology
B. Ethnography
C. Geography
D. Geology

2. Which of the following choices BEST define the concept of artefact?

A. Artefacts are tools used for daily human activities.
B. Artefacts are objects that commonly be found in the museums.
C. Artefacts are materials studied by the archaeologists.
D. Artefacts are any objects made or modified by a human culture,
individual or group that is is recovered long after the time it
served its purpose, through an archaeological endeavor or even
by accident or chance.

3. One of the human material remains found during the Neolithic period
was a polished stone axes which used for the clearing of land much
simpler, allowing the spread of agriculture. What is the significance of
polished stone axes in interpreting economic process?

A. The significance of polished stone axes during that period was

mainly for spreading of agriculture resulting for food production.
B. The significance of polished stone axes during that period was for
hunting various animals.
C. The significance of polished stone axes during that period was
intended for making pots.
D. The significance of polished stone axes during that period was
intended for cave paintings.
 MODULE 15
EXPLORE What You Know

4. The Hammurabi Code of Law said to be the longest surviving text from
the Old Babylonian period consist of 282 rules. What is the significance
of this human material remain in interpreting political process?

A. The code was created for self-interest of King Hammurabi.

B. The code was mainly used for the development and construction
of the city-state resulting for a complex society.
C. The code was developed to gain power.
D. The significance of this code served as an early example of a
fundamental law, regulating a government, which considered as a
primitive constitution that resolved conflicts and regulating
organized and functional society.

5. Cuneiform is a writing system first developed by the

ancient Sumerians of Mesopotamia. It is considered the most significant
among the many social and cultural contributions of the Sumerians.
What is the significance of the invention of writing in interpreting social
and cultural processes?

A. The invention of writing signifies development of a city-estate

resulting for a much complex society.
B. The invention of writing was mainly used to keep secrets among
government officials.
C. The significance of the invention of writing was to create inequality
between educated and less educated people.
D. The significance of the invention of writing in interpreting social and
cultural processes was to assure the continuity of civilization, because
it carries a tangible record of the human race from generation to
generation.

Before you proceed to your journey,

CHECK your answers using the key to corrections
found at the last page of this module.
Thank you for your PATIENCE and HONESTY.
EMPOWER Your Skills

WELCOME to the heart of this module.

I, Teacher Victoria, with Teacher Kenneth,
will be with you every step of the way.
Have a happy journey.

FINDING ARTEFACTS

Locate and encircle the given names of Philippine artefacts from the grid,
running in possible directions: horizontally, vertically, or diagonally and
spell it out on the second page of this self learning module.

Y B K A B U L U L Q A R F
V A Q T Z W G V Z S D D L
X Q W G M T H B A A E E Y death mask
D Z S N V R V N V L A A I
manunggul
E H X B I B A P U X T R N
A B U L W N V G I G H I G yawning jarlet
T R I K P Q G W J J B T E
copper plate
H F L P M N N J D K L U L
M V W Q U X M Q A W A A E flying elephant
A O R N Q Z P X N R N L P
panika
S P A Z X M A B M W K P H
K M Q A C P N M Y G E O A ritual pot
M Z U T T L I K W J T T N bulul
M X P Y Y K K F S K R H T
L V B B N B A S F F W F S death blanket
P C N N B N Q X I R F W I
C O P P E R P L A T E Q T
 MODULE 15
EMPOWER Your Skills
SPELL IT OUT HERE.
1. The of Leta-Leta Cave

2. The Laguna inscription

3. The jar

4. The of Lena Shoal

5. Gold of Oton, Iloilo

6. as barter rings

7. Calatagan

8. also known as tinagtaggu, an Ifugao rice god

9. The of Banton, Romblon

Examine the pictures below then encircle the six artefacts that is listed on
the right box as your reference.
EMPOWER Your Skills

PICTURE ANALYSIS

Take a look at these caricatures below. Consider everything you see in

these illustrations.

SCENE 1 SCENE 2
WOW! THESE
ARTEFACTS
I THINK THESE
EXPLAINS THAT THE
ARTEFACTS HAS
THEY WERE VERY ANCIENT
SIGNIFICANT ROLES ON
PRIMITIVE…STONE CIVILIZATION HAS
HOW EARLY PEOPLE
TOOLS, CRUDE, THEIR OWN WAY OF
LIVE THEIR LIVES
POTTERY, AND JUST PROTECTING THEIR
SOCIALLY, CULTURALLY,
LOOK AT THIS MATERIAL LANDS FROM THE
POLITICALLY AND EVEN
ARTEFACT! INVADERS BY
ECONOMICALLY.
FORMING AN
ARMIES. AMAZING!

Describe the message of these caricatures it brings.

I think the messages of these caricatures explains that ___________

______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________.
 MODULE 15
EMPOWER Your Skills

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

1. The human material remains that you have listed and encountered on your
activities is called an artefact. What is the concept of artefact for you? Write
down your idea on the space provided.

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________.

2. The person who studies the human activity through the recovery and analysis
of material culture is called an Archaeologist. What makes their profession
significant to the world? Considering the messages from the caricature, explain
your thoughts on the space provided.

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________.

3. How significant it is to human history when artefacts from the ancient period
were recovered? Considering the messages from the caricature, share your
thoughts on the space provided.

__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________.
EMPOWER Your Skills

Great job! Thank you for your responses.

Your learning experience has just started.
We hope you are ready to EXPLORE more!
 MODULE 15
EMPOWER Your Skills

The word “artefact” or “artifact” comes

from two Latin words, “arte” or “ars” which
means skill and “factum” to do or to make. The
word dates back to the early 1800s, meaning
“something created by humans usually for a
practical purpose; especially: an object
remaining from a particular period” and
“something characteristic of or resulting from a
ON FOCUS particular human institution, period, trend, or
individual” (Merriam-Webster 1990, p. 105). In
other words, artifact or artefact defined as any
object made or modified by a human culture,
individual or group that is recovered long after
the time it served its purpose, through an
archaeological endeavor or even by accident or
chance.

On the other hand, archaeology refers to

the study of human activity through the recovery
Hello our dear student and analysis of material culture. People who do
this are called an archaeologists.
In this part of your
journey, We provide
Artefactual evidences and human material
something for you to
remains plays a significant roles in interpreting
read to deepen your
understanding about
cultural and social, including political and
the topic. economic processes to human’s way of life.
Let’s begin with some of the notable artefacts
Please do it with and human material remains found during the
comprehension to Neolithic Period, Neolithic Revolution, up to the
discover knowledge Earliest Civilization in the world.
that will help you out in
dealing with the next When the Neolithic Period began, or also
phase of your quest. known as the New Stone Age, people’s way of
life has changed from nomadic to being a
HAPPY READING! settlers, it is where the concept of family and
home was formed.
EMPOWER Your Skills

From being hunters and gatherers, they eventually learned how to

domesticate various plants and animals resulting to a more settled, agrarian
based one. Some of the notable artefactual evidences and human material
remains in this period were made up of stone, but it was more refined and
polished. Some of the notable human material remains were polished stone
tools that is significant in interpreting economic processes to human’s way of
life during this period because it was mainly developed and used for agricultural
activities resulting for the production of food needed by the families as the
population increases.
Let us take a glimpse of the significance of these
polished stone tools in interpreting economic processes
to human’s way of life. The polished stone ax is
considered as one of the most important developments
of the Neolithic era. Once the ax was shaped through
flaking, another stone was used to grind it smooth. Axes
make the clearing of land much simpler, allowing the
spread of agriculture. Axes also make effective weapons, and it is thought that
many Neolithic axes were meant to be used on enemies rather than for trees.
The need for self-protection led to a more centralized village life within high
walls. Until the Neolithic Revolution also known as Agricultural Revolution
started, farming became a systematic agricultural activity of people, social and
cultural shifts manifested along the way to adapt to
their setting. Permanent settlements had developed
as an early civilization and social classes had been
established to people’s economic status because of
large-scale trade and commercialization. Human
materials mainly used for agriculture.
However, during the
ancient times in the Philippines, barter rings called
panika and pellets called pitoncitos were used for
exchanged within and outside the tribe, even in
international trade, Butuan, Samar, Mindoro, Bohol, and
other Philippine Islands were part of a trading system
that included parts of Borneo and Sulawesi starting in
10th century. This human material remain signifies the
interpretation of economic processes during this period when the concept of
trading system started.
 MODULE 15
EMPOWER Your Skills

In the Philippine settings, we also have some notable artefactual

evidences and human material remains found in different parts of the
archipelago that is significant in interpreting cultural processes to human’s way
of life. As people’s life advances, they developed materials that could be part of
their daily routine. Let’s take a look at some of these.
The manunggul jar is a cultural treasure found in the
early 1960’s in Manunggul Cave, Lipuun Point, Palawan
as a secondary burial jar. The significance of this artefact
interprets the cultural process of practicing the traditional
way of storing the bones of someone who was previously
buried.
The yawning jarlet was declared a National Cultural
Treasure, was the earliest pot recovered in the country. It
has a distinct rim that resembles a shouting or yawning
person, hence the name. It was an earthen jar which
believed that it asks for a bountiful harvest.
The adze is a woodworking tool. It is
a flat blade attached to a handle, somewhat like an ax, except
that the blade is turned horizontally, somewhat like a hoe.
When it strikes a piece of wood it gouges out a chip. It was and
is still used in cultures that make dugout canoes, as it is one of
the fastest ways to hollow out a log. A larger adze also makes
an effective tool for digging, removing roots and generally preparing land for
planting. Chisels were made by attaching a sharp piece of stone to the end of
a sturdy stick. Hammers were made by rounding a rock, and either drilling a
hole through it or creating a notch around the outside that could be used when
securing the head to a handle by rope or sinew. Hammers were mostly used
with chisels in woodworking, though the difference between a hammer and a
war club is really only in the use.
Stone Beater is a stone tool used for the preparation of bark cloth. Early
man in Palawan fashioned the beaters from cylindrical stones and used the
stone beaters for pounding the bark to loosen the pulp
from the fiber. The bark cloth is ready when all the pulp
has been stripped off, leaving a network of fibers. The
stone tool found in Arku Cave, Penablanca, Cagayan
was dated 1255-605 B.C. Another bark-cloth beater was
found in Sagung cave in Southern Palawan.
EMPOWER Your Skills

On the other hand, ancient civilizations in the world started to exist like the
Mesopotamia, the earliest civilization in the world which now called Iraq,
become a complex territory provided and flourishing of: cuneiform writing
system preserved in clay tablets, wheels and transportation, great
architectural designs, temples, use of metals, wealth and status,
hammurabi code of law, and establishment of a state, defined as an
organized political community under the management of a single government.

The Hammurabi Code of Law said to be the

longest surviving text from the Old Babylonian period
consist of 282 rules. The significance of this code of law
in interpreting political process has been seen as an early
example of a fundamental law, regulating a government,
which considered as a primitive constitution in
Mesopotamia civilization that resolved conflicts between people or group of
people and regulates organized and functional society.
Cuneiform is a system of writing first developed by the
ancient Sumerians of Mesopotamia c. 3500-3000 BCE. It is considered
the most significant among the many social and cultural contributions of the
Sumerians. The significance of the invention of writing in interpreting social and
cultural processes was to assure the continuity of civilization, because it carries
a tangible record of the human race from generation to generation and replaces
other method of communication

ON FOCUS
 MODULE 15
EMPOWER Your Skills

BOX IT OUT

Box the correct answer based from the lesson you have
read. The item 1 serves as your example.

NEOLITHIC PERIOD NEOLITHIC REVOLUTION

Material remains were Materials remains were

made up of: used basically for:
1 4
( metal tools ( hunting and gathering
or or
polished stone tools) ? agricultural activity ) ?

The human activity The human activity

2 basically was: 5 basically was:

( hunting and gathering ( hunting and gathering

or or
domestication of plants agriculture ) ?
and animals ) ?

Their residency was:

Their residency was:
3 6 ( nomadic
( nomadic or
or permanent ) ?
permanent ) ?
EMPOWER Your Skills

I CAN SEE MY DRAW

Below is an image of a magnifying glass use to see smaller details of an

object. This is also one of the tools the archaeologists were using. Inside
the magnifying glass, draw one material remain we have discussed from
the lesson that you think is very important tool during Neolithic Period
and even up to this day. Answer the questions below.

Explain why do you think it is still

important tool even up to this day?
Write your answer on the space
provided. ____________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________

How significant is this

material remain you have
drawn in human’s way of
life? _________________
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
 MODULE 15
EMPOWER Your Skills

How was your learning experience so far?

We hope that you had a great journey.
We believe that you did it well!

I REFLECT!

Read the quotation below from Frank Herbert, an American science

fiction writer. Reflect on the message it brings and relate it from our
lesson about artefactual evidence and human material remains.

Base on the quotation, I learned that _________________________

_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________.
ENHANCE Your Understanding

POST-TEST
Read the following items carefully. Shade the
circle that corresponds to the letter of your
answer.

1. Which of the following choices is CORRECT definition of Archaeology?

A. Archaeology refers to the study of man, both past and present.
B. Archaeology is the study of human evolution including biological
evolution.
C. Archaeology refers to the study of contemporary society.
D. Archaeology refers to the study of human activity through the
recovery and analysis of material culture.

2. Which of the following choices below gives the correct origin of the word
“artefact” or “artifact”?
A. “artefact” or “artifact” comes from two Latin words, “arte” or
“ars” which means skill and “factum” to do or to make.
B. “artefact” or “artifact” comes from two Greek words, “arte” or
“ars” which means skill and “factum” to do or to make.
C. “artefact” or “artifact” comes from two Spanish words, “arte” or
“ars” which means skill and “factum” to do or to make.
D. “artefact” or “artifact” comes from two British words, “arte” or
“ars” which means skill and “factum” to do or to make.

3. One of the human material remains found during the Neolithic period
was polished stone axes. What is the significance of polished stone
axes in terms of economic process in human’s way of life?
A. The significance of polished stone axes during Neolithic Period
was mainly for cave paintings.
B. The significance of polished stone axes during Neolithic Period
was for making of pots.
C. The significance of polished stone axes during Neolithic Period
was for protecting their homeland from the invaders.
D. The significance of polished stone axes during Neolithic Period
was mainly for spreading of agriculture to support food production
as population increases.
 MODULE 15
ENHANCE Your Understanding

4. The Hammurabi Code of Law was said to be the longest surviving text
from the Old Babylonian period consist of 282 rules. What is the
significance of this human material remain in political process?
A. The code was mainly created for self-interest of King Hammurabi.
B. The code was mainly used for the development and construction
of the city-state resulting for a complex society.
C. The code was developed to gain power.
D. The significance of this code served as an early example of a
fundamental law, regulating a government, which considered as a
primitive constitution that resolved conflicts and regulating
organized and functional society.

5. A writing system called cuneiform was first developed by the

ancient Sumerians of Mesopotamia. It is considered the most significant
among the many social and cultural contributions of the Sumerians.
What is the significance of the invention of writing in interpreting social
and cultural processes?
A. The invention of writing signifies development of a city-estate
resulting for a much complex society.
B. The invention of writing was mainly used to keep secrets among
government officials.
C. The significance of the invention of writing was to create
inequality between educated and less educated people.
D. The significance of the invention of writing in interpreting social
and cultural processes was to assure the continuity of civilization,
because it carries a tangible record of the human race from
generation to generation.

GREAT JOB!
CHECK your answers using the key to
corrections found at the last page of this module.
Thank you for your HONESTY.

In
Performance Check

PERFORMANCE CHECK

PERFORMANCE CHECK

Happy face with two thumbs-up if you got three to

five (3-5) in the post test. CONGRATULATIONS!
You may now proceed to your next journey with
another module.

Sad face if you got two and below in the post test.
You need to study the whole lesson and take the
EXTEND Your Learning Activity.

You are now ready to take a lift on to the next

part of your journey. We hope what you have
learned in the previous parts of this material
eventually help you face new task. BEST OF LUCK.

In
 MODULE 15
EXTEND Your Learning

I CAN IDENTIFY

Identify the significance of the given artefacts that interprets to cultural

and social including political and economic ways of life base on its
used.
SIGNIFICANCE IN
INTERPRETING
MARTERIAL
CULTURAL AND SOCIAL
REMAINS / USED / DESCRIPTION
INCLUDING POLITICAL
ARTEFACTS
AND ECONOMIC
PROCESS

STONE BEATER - it is a
1) C __ L __ __ __ __ L stone tool used for the
preparation of bark cloth.

MANUNGGUL JAR - used

to store the bones of
2) C __ L __ __ __ __ L someone who was
previously buried.

STONE ADZE - it is
3) C __ L __ __ __ __ L believed to be used for
woodworking.

YAWNING JARLET - it is
an earthen jar which
4) C __ L __ __ __ __ L
believed that it asks for a
bountiful harvest.
EXTEND Your Learning

SIGNIFICANCE IN
INTERPRETING CULTURAL MARTERIAL
USED /
AND SOCIAL INCLUDING REMAINS /
DESCRIPTION
POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC ARTEFACTS
PROCESS
COPPER PLATE
INSCRIPTION -
the Laguna
Copperplate
Inscription is the
name of an inscription
5) S __ C __ __ L written on an artifact
that has great
significance for the
understanding of the
history of the
Philippines during the
10th century AD.
CODE OF
HAMMURABI - is the
longest surviving text
from the Old
Babylonian period.
6) P __ L __ T __ __ __ L The code has been
seen as an early
example of a
fundamental law,
regulating a
government.

BARTER RINGS -
also called panika,
7) E C __ __ __ M __ C were used for
exchanged within and
outside the tribe.
 MODULE 15
ANSWER KEY

THAT WAS GREAT!

To know how well you made it, take a look
on the correct answers below.

PRE-TEST FINDING ARTEFACTS ACTIVITY

1. A 1. yawning jarlet
2. D 2. copper plate
3. A 3. manunggul
4. D 4. flying elephant
5. D 5. death mask
6. panika
7. ritual pot
8. bulul
POST-TEST 9. death blanket

1. D
2. A
3. D
4. D
5. D
ANSWER KEY

FINDING ARTEFACTS ACTIVITY

BOX IT OUT ACTIVITY I CAN IDENTIFY ACTIVITY

NEOLITHIC AGE 1. cultural

1. polished stone tools 2. cultural
2. domestication of plants and animals 3. cultural
3. permanent 4. cultural
5. social
NEOLITHIC REVOLUTION 6. political
4. agricultural activity 7. economic
5. farming
6. permanent