Lesson plan

Toadstone

, published in Mainz in 1491. , showing the teeth in situ The toadstone, also known as bufonite (from Latin , "toad") and crapaud-stone, is a fossil gem that was once believed to be found in the heads of toads, and ascribed magical powers. It was supposed to be an antidote to poison and in this it is like batrachite, supposedly formed in the heads of frogs. Toadstones were actually the button-like fossilised teeth of Scheenstia (previously Lepidotes), an extinct genus of ray-finned fish from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. They appeared to be "stones that are perfect in form" and were set by European jewellers into magical rings and amulets from Medieval times until the 18th century.

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Article summary

, published in Mainz in 1491. , showing the teeth in situ The toadstone, also known as bufonite (from Latin , "toad") and crapaud-stone, is a fossil gem that was once believed to be found in the heads of toads, and ascribed magical powers. It was supposed to be an antidote to poison and in this it is like batrachite, supposedly formed in the heads of frogs. Toadstones were actually the button-like fossilised teeth of Scheenstia (previously Lepidotes), an extinct genus of ray-finned fish from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. They appeared to be "stones that are perfect in form" and were set by European jewellers into magical rings and amulets from Medieval times until the 18th century.

Key claims

  1. publication date: 1491 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

  1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
  2. The record states that the publication date is "1491". What evidence would count against this claim?
  3. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
  4. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

  1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1376110917

Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.