Name: Answer Key_ How do scientists learn about early humans? People can learn about the past by using written Vocabulary use the text to define the – records. But these records cover only the last 5,000 following terms: years or so of human life. To learn about the time Artifact: before written records, scientists called archaeologists use special skills and tools. Artifacts are man-made objects like tools or jewelry that archaeologists Archaeologists work at places called digs. They study to learn about ancient uncover artifacts: tools, jewelry, or other things made civilizations. by people. Archaeologists also dig up bones—the bones of ancient humans and of the animals that lived with them. Some of these bones have become fossils, meaning they have survived over time because they Culture: were preserved in stone. By studying bones and Culture describes the way of life for artifacts, scientists learn about the culture, or way of a group of people what they do, life, of early humans. – eat, and what they are like. This can In the early 1970s, archaeologists in be studied by looking at artifacts and East Africa found the footprints of fossils. humanlike beings, called Australopithecus. Humans and other creatures that walk Hominids: upright, such as Australopithecus, are Hominids are humans and other called hominids. creatures that walk upright, such as These footprints were australopithecines. made about 3.5 million years ago. Because these early beings walked upright, Q: What were the first humanlike they could travel long beings, and where were they found? distances more easily than four-footed ones. The 1st human-like beings were They could also use called australopithecines about 3.5 their free arms to carry food, tools, and children. million years ago. They were They also had an opposable thumb that could move discovered in East Africa. across the palms of their hands and touch their other fingers. The opposable thumb allowed them to pick up and hold objects. © Students of History -
Name: Answer Key_ How do scientists learn about early humans? People can learn about the past by using written records. But these records cover only the last 5,000 years or so of human life. To learn about the time before written records, scientists called archaeologists use special skills and tools. Archaeologists work at places called digs. They uncover artifacts: tools, jewelry, or other things made by people. Archaeologists also dig up bones—the bones of ancient humans and of the animals that lived with them. Some of these bones have become fossils, meaning they have survived over time because they were preserved in stone. By studying bones and artifacts, scientists learn about the culture, or way of life, of early humans. In the early 1970s, archaeologists in East Africa found the footprints of humanlike beings, called Australopithecus. Humans and other creatures that walk upright, such as Australopithecus, are called hominids. These footprints were made about 3.5 million years ago. Because these early beings walked upright, they could travel long distances more easily than four-footed ones. They could also use their free arms to carry food, tools, and children. They also had an opposable thumb that could move across the palms of their hands and touch their other fingers. The opposable thumb allowed them to pick up and hold objects. Vocabulary – use the text to define the following terms: Artifact: Artifacts are man-made objects like tools or jewelry that archaeologists study to learn about ancient civilizations. Culture: Culture describes the way of life for a group of people – what they do, eat, and what they are like. This can be studied by looking at artifacts and fossils. Hominids: Hominids are humans and other creatures that walk upright, such as australopithecines. Q: What were the first humanlike beings, and where were they found? The 1st human-like beings were called australopithecines about 3.5 million years ago. They were discovered in East Africa. © Students of History -
02_-_Early_Humans_Origin_Reading_Worksheet.docx