Unit 2: Archaeology and Early Human Societies

If you were an archaeologist and discovered a stone tool in a cave, what could this suggest about early humans?

• They built large cities

• They used tools to hunt and survive

• They only ate plants

• They did not interact socially

How would carbon dating help archaeologists understand the age of an artifact?

• By comparing it to modern tools

• By determining the amount of remaining radioactive carbon

• By guessing based on historical records

• By using metal detectors

Why might early humans have created cave paintings?

• To decorate their homes

• To communicate important events or religious beliefs

• To sell their art

• To record detailed written histories

If an early settlement was discovered with advanced pottery and woven fabrics, what might that suggest?

• The people were still nomadic

• They had a stable food supply and surplus resources

• They only hunted animals for survival

• They did not engage in trade

What evidence might indicate a transition from a Paleolithic society to a Neolithic society?

• The presence of stone tools only

• The discovery of permanent structures and farming tools

• The complete absence of artifacts

• A large number of abandoned settlements

How might the discovery of ancient fire pits change our understanding of early human societies?

• It suggests they did not know how to cook food

• It provides evidence of cooking, warmth, and protection from predators

• It means they lived underground

• It suggests they did not use tools

If an archaeologist found evidence of wheat farming in an ancient site, what could this imply about the society?

• They had transitioned to an agricultural way of life

• They were still primarily hunters

• They only ate meat

• They had no permanent settlements

What might the presence of jewelry in a Neolithic settlement indicate?

• Early humans did not care about appearance

• The society had developed artistic and possibly trade-based practices

• People in the Neolithic Era were nomadic

• Jewelry was only used for hunting

Why would an archaeologist study garbage pits from ancient settlements?

• To find gold and valuable artifacts

• To learn about diet, daily life, and available resources

• To see if people lived underground

• Because they had no other evidence available

What can burial sites reveal about ancient societies?

• Religious beliefs, social structure, and customs

• That early people were always at war

• That people did not care about their dead

• That they moved frequently