Name ________________________________
Study Guide for
Group ____________
Paleolithic and Neolithic Eras
Piecing Together History
Historians use many different ____________ of information to learn about the past.
When ______________________ dig up (or _________________) historical sites, they
sometimes find ___________________ from a different period of history. These manmade objects can give us a lot of information about that particular time.
_____________________ sources are important because they come from that
period of time. One example could be the diary of a sailor aboard an explorer’s ship. We also
get information from ____________________ sources that provide a record of earlier
times. Your social studies textbook is one example of this type of source. We can even learn
about the past by talking to people. An ____________________ is information passed on
through generations by word of mouth.
“Secrets of the Ice Man”
Historians were excited about the discovery of a man frozen in the Austrian-Italians
Alps for more than ___________ years. His body was preserved very well in the snow and
ice. There were many _________________ found as well. These included flint blades, a
____________ ax, ________________ made from animal hides and ___________, and
even a broken piece of his ____________. The Ice Man is a terrific ________________
source that has already given lots of new information about the Paleolithic Era.
“Early People”
Many scientists believe that human life started in __________________ and spread
throughout the rest of the world. In the African country of Tanzania, archaeologists
discovered human remains that may be 2____________ years old. They also discovered
simple ____________ tools. Along with these tools, they also found animal ____________
which suggest that these very early people hunted for food. This period of time is called the
____________________ Era (or Old Stone Age) and lasted until about 12,0000 years ago.
Discoveries in South African caves have yielded new information about the lives of
these people. Archaeologists working in ________________ Cave found carved bone blades
dating back 70,000 years. These ______________ bone blades were also _____________
with designs and even stained with a yellowish powder known as ____________. These
blades indicate that the people of Blombos Cave appreciated beauty 70,000 years ago.
On the side of a cliff overlooking a valley, _________________ Cave was an ideal
location for the hunters that camped there. Small arrow-head shaped stones suggest the
people of Border Cave hunted with bows and arrows. Archaeologists have also learned that
these people lined the floor with _________________ for bedding and even used
_______________ for cooking and light.
In addition to hunting, these people knew a lot about the _______________ of their
area. They would carefully collect ________________ and _____________ for food. They
also knew to avoid _______________ plants. The people of the ________________ Era
are referred to as _____________-______________ because of the way they survived.
Archaeologists also found the bones of a __________ with a beautiful ___________
nearby. The bead was carved from a seashell which came from the ocean more than ______
miles from the cave. Taking the time to bury the baby, getting the seashell, and carving the
bead showed that the people of Border Cave both admired _____________ and cared about
their _______________.
“Stone Age Technology”
During the ______________ Era, people used tools and skills to meet their needs.
This use of ___________________ included mostly items made from __________,
__________, and ___________. Hunters started shaping their stone into sharper tools by
using a technique known as _________________ to chip off the edges.
Paleolithic people used many parts of the animals they hunted for various tools. They
made bone _______________ from the antlers of deer. Dried animal muscle was even used
as _____________.
These people used _____________ for both warmth and cooking. In various places,
they used items like mammoth ____________ or branches to make _____________. They
developed long-distance weapons like spear-____________ and bows that helped them hunt
animals from a ______________ distance.
“The Beginning of Agriculture”
The beginning of the ________________ Era is considered to be when people
started to settle ___________________ in one location. A major development that helped
these people stay in one location was _________________. Once people learned how to
_______________plants and animals, they were able to have a steady supply of
______________ without having to hunt wild animals or gather wild plants.
We learned a great deal about early agriculture from the ancient city of
___________________. This city was active more than 8,500 years ago in what is now
southern Turkey. The brick walled houses were built against each other. People entered
their houses through a hole in the ______________. Each house had a ______________
that was used for warmth and cooking. They also had raised platforms that were used as
both ____________ and _____________. Each family had large clay pots to store
_____________ and barley.
Due to the development of ______________, these people actually had a
____________ of food that could be ___________ winter or used for ___________.
Agriculture also led to the __________________ of skills. People could now do other types
of work like making wheat into ____________ or making __________, weaving
___________, or even making _______________. The people of Catal Huyuk traded their
goods with other groups of people from as far as modern day _________. The black, glossy
rock known as _______________ was very valuable to the trade of Catal Huyuk because it
could be used to make _____________ and ______________.