What are cultural artifacts?

Cultural artifacts are things that tell us about people’s lives and traditions from long ago or far away.

Imagine you find a toy in your grandma's attic, it’s old, but when you hold it, you can almost feel her happiness playing with it as a kid. That toy is like a cultural artifact, it helps you understand what life was like for her.

Think of cultural artifacts like time machines that take you to another place or time. A pottery bowl from ancient Egypt shows how people cooked and ate long ago, just like your lunchbox shows how you eat today.

A hula hoop is a fun toy we use today, but in some cultures, it’s used to dance, like a cultural artifact that turns play into celebration. A book from centuries ago might look different than your tablet, but both are ways people share stories.

So cultural artifacts are just special things that help us learn about the lives of others, and sometimes even feel closer to them!