Name
_________________________
Period _____
Early Gatherers and Hunters
Studying Prehistory
Prehistory is that long period of time before people developed systems of writing and written
language. Prehistoric people did not leave books, newspapers, or letters to help us understand how they
lived. However, even without written information, we can learn about prehistoric people and their way
of life.
Archaeology is the study of past cultures through the things that remain such as buildings, tools, or
pottery. The main task of an archaeologist is the careful uncovering of evidence, or clues, from the past.
Archaeologists are most interested in finding and analyzing ancient artifacts, objects made by people long ago.
Artifacts can include weapons, jewelry, and pottery. Artifacts of prehistoric people include sharpened
stones for cleaning flesh from animal hides, bone needles for sewing hides together for clothing, and cords and
knots used to tie together hides for shelter. A location with many hard rock flint chips might have been the
workplace of a toolmaker. Archaeologists also are interested in the ashes of ancient campfires, the bones of
animals left after a meal, or even nut shells. These items become prized puzzle pieces that help complete a
picture of the past. The archaeologists can draw conclusions about the daily lives of ancient people.
Artifacts tell us that ancient people hunted both small and large animals for food. Hides of larger
animals were used for clothing and shelter. Ancient people also ate berries, fruits, nuts, wild grains, and
roots that they gathered from nearby forests and meadows. They needed to move around in order to
find a constant source of animals and fruit. For this reason early peoples are described as hunters and
food gatherers.
1.
Why is the long period of time before the development of written language called
prehistory?
2.
If two archaeologists saw the same ancient site and the same artifacts from it, they might
sketch two different illustrations of life at that site. How is that possible?
3.
If your house were buried under sand tomorrow, what artifacts would there be to show an
archaeologist in the twenty-fifth century how your family lived?