Prehistoric Ages Flashcards
What is anthropology?
The study of human life and culture
What are the branches of study in anthropology?
Physical, social and cultural, linguistic (languages), and psychological
What is archaeology?
The scientific study of past human beings through the analysis of artifacts, studying the prehistory of human beings
What is prehistory?
The time before written records
How must scientists and historians discover information about prehistory?
They must rely on other evidence such as artifacts and fossils
What was the Australopithecus?
One of the first human-like creatures that could walk upright and had small canine teeth similar to humans
What is “Lucy” the Australopithecus?
An intact Australopithecus skeleton about 3.2 million years old found by Donald Johanson in 1974
What was found in 1978 at the Laetoli archaeological site in Tanzania?
Footprints in hardened volcanic ash about 3.5 million years old left by an upright walking hominid discovered by Mary Leakey
What is one of the defining characteristics of our Paleolithic ancestors?
They made tools
Were Paleolithic humans artists?
Yes
What is one of the best pieces of evidence that Paleolithic humans were artists?
The Lascaux Cave in France with cave art containing animal paintings about 17,000 years old
What else does anthropology uncover?
The study of the development of civilization
What do anthropologists do?
They study ancient culture to try to find values and traditions that were passed down through generations
What is a more analytical definition of archaeology?
Specialized form of anthropology that studies societies through material remains
What do archaeologists do?
They may study tools or pottery and many other things to draw conclusions about ancient civilizations
