6th Grade UBD - Unit 2 - Rise of Human

Analyzing Artifacts- Archaeologists use technology to study
artifacts. Their discoveries may result in new evidence that
modifies old theories about ancient humans.

Hominins- The lifespan of the hominins extends from 5.8
million years ago to the present. Hominins include a
significant number of distinct species.

Habitat and Environment- Hominins survived changes in
their environment by being adaptable. This allowed them to
endure for millions of years.

What kind of clues are left
behind at a crime scene?
What can we learn from
those clues? What can we
learn from clues left by
people who have died
thousands of years ago?
(5 minutes)

Work with a
neighbor and
compare your
answer with theirs.
What things are
the same and what
things are
different? (3
minutes)

Early archaeologists often collected only the
most valuable artifacts. They did not always
keep good records or take good care of the site.

Today, archaeologists follow strict rules to
preserve both artifacts and sites.

Archaeologists study the technology and
culture of ancient civilizations.

Archaeologists are social
scientists who study how people
lived in an earlier time.

They examine the remains of
what those people made and
used.

They are like detectives. They
investigate the clues left behind
and piece together the story of
how ancient peoples lived.
Key Term
ArchaeologistsSocial scientists
who study how
people lived in an
earlier time.
Video- Anthropologists

Many archaeologists today
work for universities or
museums.

Often archaeologists travel
to the location where
ancient people lived to
search for artifacts—
remains and objects.

What archaeologists find
provides them with
information about what
early life was like.

Archaeologists must
carefully record and analyze
the artifacts they find.

They then share this
information with others.
Key Term
Artifact- An
object made by
human beings;
often refers to a
primitive tool or
other relic from
an earlier period.

Today, archaeology is a
science, but it did not start
out this way.

In the early 1900s,
archaeologists were
explorers.

Often, they focused on
finding valuable items that
could be sold.

Early archaeologists did not
always take the greatest of
care with smaller, fragile
artifacts that they believed to
be less valuable. Many
artifacts were destroyed

By the 1960s, archaeology
had become a more exact
science.
Key Term
Dig Site- A place
where an
archaeological dig
is going on.

Archaeologists often search for
years before they find a site to dig.

They look for elements that would
help the creation of a civilization.
 They search in places close to
water and with good soil quality.
 Sites of large cities or societies
are likely to contain more
artifacts.

Fossils and other artifacts help to
explain who lived in certain areas
and when they lived there.

Old tools reveal information about
the technological abilities of a
people.

Sculpture, art, and pottery provide
clues about ancient cultures and
the people’s beliefs.
Video- Neanderthal Tools
Key Term
Fossil- The
remains (or an
impression) of a
plant or animal
that existed in the
past geological
age.
Key Term
Culture- The
attitudes and
behavior that are
characteristic of a
particular social
group or
organization.

Present-day archaeology has
worldwide rules for digging.

Shovels and picks are used
only for a small portion of the
work.

Much more is done with
much smaller instruments to
avoid destroying anything.

The found objects are also studied
extensively.

Laboratory analysis is performed
to see how old the material is.

Often scientists from other fields
examine the artifacts, too. Their
knowledge contributes
information that the archaeologist
might not have.

Archaeologists use artifacts to
learn about ancient people and
cultures.

They draw conclusions from
their research about the daily
lives of ancient humans. They
are particularly interested in
the technology and culture of
ancient civilizations.

Each subsequent hominin increased in height and
brain size.

Over time, hominins began walking on two feet
instead of climbing.

Exploring hominins helps us understand more about
modern humans. The discovery of Homo erectus
solidified the theory that Africa is the birthplace of
humanity.

Looking at technology can tell us
about the lifestyles of people. For
example, consider the discovery
of spears used by early humans.

These might suggest that the
civilization was centered on
hunting, or that the people faced
threats from other people or wild
animals.

Later civilizations
developed farming tools
like plows.

The discovery of these
tools is a sign that people
grew crops.

They were settled down in
one location, not
constantly moving in
search of food.

In 1992, archaeologists found
a molar tooth in Ethiopia.

This tooth was unlike any
remain that had been seen
before.

Archaeologists believed that
they had found a new kind of
hominin.
Key Term
Hominin- Are
humans and their
early ancestors.

The ancient skeleton was
thought to be more than five
million years old.

Archaeologists called the
species Ardipithecus, and
nicknamed the skeleton “Ardi.”

Archaeologists concluded that
Ardi was about 4 feet tall and
weighed 110 pounds.

Archaeologists also
determined that she was
she walked on two feet.

She also climbed trees and
could grasp with her feet.

She did not walk on her
knuckles like an ape, nor did
she climb as easily as a
chimpanzee.

There are many species of
hominins.

Modern humans are the
only ones that survive
today.

However, all hominins are
part of the hominid family,
which also includes gorillas
and chimpanzees.

Hominins had to cope with intense weather shifts that
lasted for years. These conditions affected where they
lived.

Larger brain size in later hominins allowed them to
process information and adapt to the changing
environments.

Later hominins learned to make tools, find shelter, and
control fire. These developments helped them to survive
harsh environments and move to new locations.

Scientists can determine the
climate, environment, and
habitats of hominins millions of
years ago.

Hominins were very adaptable.

They endured for several million
years during unpredictable
environmental change.

The unpredictable weather played
a large role in where early hominins
chose to settle.

Hominins lived by sources of food
and water.

If the environment changed,
hominins had to move. Otherwise,
they might die. They avoided
places with few resources..

Much evidence of the earliest
hominins has been found in
Africa.

Africa provided wooded
areas and grassland where
animals grazed.

Plants, fruits, insects, and
small animals were plentiful.

The ability to adapt was necessary for
survival.

Caves protected them from the
elements. Their shelters also provided
a place to store food.

Eventually, hominins learned to use
fire. These developments enabled
some to move to regions in Asia and
Europe where they would not have
survived before.

What has been the
“muddiest” point so far in
this lesson? That is, what
topic remains the least
clear to you? (4 minutes)

Work with a
neighbor and
compare your
muddiest point with
theirs. Compare
what things are the
same and what
things are different?
(3 minutes)