How to Use the Images

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Photo 2: Artifact found at Inclined Plane No. 6.

Artifacts are objects made by humans that offer tangible evidence of their activities. As such they are useful for understanding our past. By studying artifacts, we can put together a clearer picture of history. The artifact in the picture was discovered at Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site when one of the inclined planes was being reconstructed.

Questions for Photo 1

1. Based on the photo, the readings, and the location in which this object was found, what do you think it is?

2. Artifacts have five basic properties: history, material, construction, design, and function. Looking at Photo 2, and remembering the readings, describe the basic properties of this artifact.
a. History: When was it probably made and who made it?
b. Material: What does it appear to be made of?
c. Construction: How is it put together?
d. Design: What basic idea underlies its form?
e. Function: Artifacts have both intended functions and unintended functions. How was this artifact originally intended to be used? How were later forms of this artifact used?

*The photo on the screen has a resolution of 72 dots per inch (dpi), and therefore will print poorly. You can obtain a high quality version of Photo 2, but be aware that the file will take as much as two minutes to load with a 28.8K modem.