Transcript Investigating the Past

Chapter 1
History Alive
Introduction: Ancient History
 Distant past
 Earliest humans
 First great civilizations
Lascaux, France
 September 12, 1940
 Four boys found a cave
 Cave paintings over the
wall and ceilings
 Great Discovery
Experts who study the past
 Archeologists
 Historians
 Geographers
Archeologists: Digging up the Past
 Study the past by
examining objects left
behind.
 Artifacts are anything
made or used by people.
 They study artifacts for
clues.
Historians: Recording the Past
 Recorders of the past.
 They study artifacts and
documents.
 They read diaries and
letters.
 Try to understand why
events happened.
Geographers: Mapping the Past
 Study the natural
features of the earth
such as water, landforms,
plants, and animals.
 Study human-made
features such as towns,
roads, bridges, and
dams.
 Study how people used
the environment to
survive.
Cave Art: Treasures of the Past
 Provides clues to what
life was like in
Prehistoric times.
 Caves have provided
clues in the forms of
artifacts such as lamps,
rope, and tools.
Prehistoric
 Before written history.
Cave Painting of a Human
 Paintings of humans are
rare in cave art.
 The humans are drawn
simply like stick figures.
Cave Paintings of Animals
 Cave paintings were
created 17,000 years ago.
 Many prehistoric
animals such as bulls,
bison, and horses are
painted.
Cave Paintings
of Shapes and Handprints
 Shapes and handprints
are common in cave art.
 Their meaning is a bit of
a mystery.
Spear Thrower
 Probably made 18,000
years ago.
 Made from a reindeer
antler bone.
Clay Sculptures
 Clay sculptures of Bison
were also found.
 They could have been
tied to the clan.
 They could have been
part of an important
ceremony.
Cave Art Tools
 Grindstone
 Rock-hard minerals
 Sculptor’s pick
 Engraving Tool