Test your knowledge of the past!

Examine the Date Code chart shown at the left to learn different ways to describe periods of time. When you feel pretty sure you understand the codes, select the most appropriate answer to describe the objects shown below.

Hint: Click on the pictures to get information from our Artifact Database!

a) c. - circa (about)
b) BMe - Before Me
c) A.D. - anno Domini
d) B.P. - Before Present
e) All of the above
f) None of the above

Grand Coulee
Commemorative Plate

a) BE - Before Extinction
b) B.C. - before Christ
c) c. - circa (about)
d) MYA - Million Years Ago
e) All of the above
f) None of the above

Clovis Point

a) B.C. - before Christ
b) MYA - Million Years Ago
c) BE - Before Extinction
d) A.D. - anno Domini
e) All of the above
f) None of the above

Mammoth Tooth

a) BE - Before Extinction
b) B.C. - before Christ
c) BP - Before Present
d) BMe - Before Me
e) All of the above
f) None of the above

Embroidered Hat

a) BE - Before Extinction
b) A.D. - anno Domini
c) B.C. - before Christ
d) MYA - Million Years Ago
e) All of the above
f) None of the above

Woolly Mammoth

a) MYA - Million Years Ago
b) A.D. - anno Domini
c) c. - circa (about)
d) B.P. - Before Present
e) All of the above
f) None of the above

Fossil Ammonite

a) BMe - Before Me
b) c. - circa (about)
c) MYA - Million Years Ago
d) Both a and c
e) All of the above
f) None of the above

To learn more about artifacts and how to date them, check out the History Lab Artifact Database.