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Before the 1950s, anthropologists knew little about early humans and their ancestors. prehistoric groups did not have cities, countries, organized central goverments, or complex inventions, so clues about them were hard to find. However, archaeologists in east africa started uncovering ancient footprints, bones, and tools. With these first key discoveries, scholars began to form a picture of life during prehistory.

Ancient clues found in East Africa

in the 1930s, anthropologists Mary and Lewis Leaky started searching for clues to the human past in a deep canyon in Tanzania called Olduvai Gorge.
Geologists have dated the bottom layers of olduvai gorge to an age of 1,7 to 2,1 million years. As the Leakeys searched the sides of the gorge, they found very ancient tools chipped from stone. Although these tools looked simple, with jagged edges and rough surfaces, they showed that whoever had made them had learned to develop technologies to help them survive. Technology refers to the skills and tools people use to meet their basic needs and wants.

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about 150 years ago, scholars began studying the period of prehistory. they hoped to learn about the origins and development of people and their societies. Today, we call this field of study Anthropology.
Anthropology: modern  anthropologists specialize in certain areas of their field. for example, some study the bones of our ancestors to understand how human physical traits have changed over time. other anthropologists focus on characteristics of human cultures from both the past and present. in anthropology, culture
refers to the way of life of a society, which includes its beliefs, values, and practices. culture is handed down from one generation to the next through learning and experience.

Archaeology: within the field of anthropology, a specialized branch exists called archaeology. Archaeology is the study of past people and culture through their material remains. include buildings, artifacts such as tools, weapons, pottery, clothing, and jewelry. archaeologists find and analyze artifacts to learn about life during prehistory as well as during historical times. This helps them draw conclusions about beliefs, values, and activities of our ancestors. however, most archaeologists agree that the story of the past is never fully known. Since archaeologists make new discoveries frequently, at times they must revise their theories in light of the new evidence

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by about 5,000 years ago, groups of people in different parts world had begun to keep written records. The invention and use of writing marked the beginning of recorded history. However, humans and their ancestors had lived on earth for thousands upon thousands of years before the recording of history began. we call the lomg period of time before people invented writing prehistory
Studying the historical past

Historians are scholars who study and write about the historical past. Historians often learn details of the past from artifacts or  objects made by humans. Clothing, coins, artwork, and tombstones are all types of artifacts. However, historians rely even more on written evidence, such as letters or tax records. Although it is often hard to find thorough written records from early times, those that exist offer us a narrative of events, as well as names and dates. Historians of the recent past also study such evidence as photographs or films.
Like a detective, a historian must evaluate all evidence to determine if it is reliable. Do records of a meeting between  two officials tell us exactly what was said? Who was taking notes? Was a letter writer really giving an eyewitness report or just passing on rumors? Could be the letter be a forgery?
Historians try to find the answers to questions like these. They then interpret the evidence, or explain what it means. Often, a historian´s goal is to determine the causes of a certain development or event, such as a war or an economic collapse. By explaining why things occured in the past, historians can help us understand what happens today and what may happen in the future.
Generally, historians try to give a straightforward account of events. However, sometimes their personal experiences, cultural backgrounds, or political opinions bias their interpretations. Other times, historians disagree with one another about what the evidence proves. Such differences can lead to lively debates.

Checkpoint: What kinds of evidence do historians use to study the past?

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objectives
- learn how scholars study the historical past.
- find out how anthropologists investigate the period of prehistory.
- understand how discoveries in africa and beyond have influenced anthropologists´ views about early humans and their ancestors.

Terms, people, and places

prehistory        historian
artifact            anthropology
culture             archaeology
technology