How do we come to understand the history of those before us? How do we learn what ancient civilizations were like? Historians and archaeologists study what people left behind, like writings, objects, and oral histories, to piece together the past. Analyzing these clues helps uncover different parts of past cultures, events, and societies, much like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. Each clue reveals how people once lived, what they believed, and how their cultures developed. This mural fragment helps us learn about the ancient city of Teotihuacán (pronounced tey oh tee wa CAHN), which was an important cultural center located in current-day Mexico.

Dating from around 500–550 CE, this fragment is part of a larger mural depicting an entire ceremonial procession. Here, a priest stands with an open mouth, perhaps in song, and holds an incense bag in their right hand while water and flowers pour out of their left hand. The figure appears to wear large jade beads around their neck and is dressed in an elaborate headdress, likely make from quetzal feathers.

From this puzzle piece, we can learn that Teotihuacán—one of the most densely populated cities in the Americas, home to an estimated 100,000–200,000 people at its peak—drew people from various cultural groups. Items like jade and quetzal feathers, which were symbolic of nature’s abundance and prized for their vibrant colors, likely originated in Guatemala. Their presence on this mural fragment indicates complex and wide-reaching trade networks throughout Mesoamerica.

• Ask students to pick an everyday object from present times, like a wire whisk, an umbrella, or a keyboard. Invite them to imagine themselves as future archeologists discovering the object for the first time. Ask students to write a detailed description of the object as well as an imagined use for it. Encourage them to be creative: Is their object used for a sacred ritual or is it used for protection against an unknown predator? Is it a status symbol or an everyday tool? Take turns sharing what they have written about their artifacts.
• Create a class mural using the grid method. This process involves dividing an image into small squares and transferring it to a larger grid on the wall or large surface, square by square. To begin, select an image and create a small grid on the image and a corresponding larger grid on the wall or large sheet of paper. Assign squares for each student to reproduce. Encourage students to focus on the lines and shapes within their individual squares, rather than what they “think” should come next. If a student is struggling to draw what they see, suggest they turn their paper and reference image upside down to focus on shapes and lines without making assumptions. Assemble the class squares to form the complete image.

Use the links below to see examples of grid method drawings as well as step-by-step instructions.

Grid Drawing Worksheet

Grid Scale Technique