The mysteries of the Copan tomb
I can describe what archaeologists found at the Copán tomb.
The mysteries of the Copan tomb
I can describe what archaeologists found at the Copán tomb.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- In 1993 archaelogists discovered a magnificent tomb in the Honduran city complex of Copán.
- Inside the tomb they found the remains of a person covered in red cinnabar and surrounded with shell and jade ornaments.
- Around the human remains were burnt offerings of birds, turtles and fish.
- Due to the things she was buried with the archaeologists think that these were the remains of an important woman.
- She was either a ruler, or the wife or mother of a ruler, of a group of people who lived at Copán called the Maya.
Keywords
Honduras - Honduras is a country in Central America
Cinnabar - cinnabar is a bright red mineral made of mercury (a shiny liquid metal) and sulphur (a yellow chemical).
Offering - an offering is something that is given to a god as a part of a religious ceremony
Common misconception
Queen Margarita was buried in the queen's tomb discovered by archaeologists in 1993 in Copan.
While the tomb is known as the Margarita Tomb, the name does not necessarily refer to an individual named Margarita.
To help you plan your year 6 history lesson on: The mysteries of the Copan tomb, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 6 history lesson on: The mysteries of the Copan tomb, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 2 history lessons from the The Maya: what made the Maya so distinctive? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
the ideas, customs and social behaviour of a particular society
beliefs, behaviours or customs passed down within a society
events that happened in the past
events after the year 1
events before the year 1
Exit quiz
6 Questions
a red mineral
a green gemstone
gifts for a god