Open to Open to Lesson 1: Early Lesson 1: Early Humans Humans

BellringerBellringer: What does the word “pre-history” : What does the word “pre-history” mean?mean?

Shoebox Shoebox Archaeology Archaeology

Answer these questions using your “artifacts”

Who left these artifacts?

How old are these artifacts?

What was life like for the people who left these “artifacts”?

What else can you infer from these “artifacts”?

What are these What are these objects?objects?

1.1. Animal skins used to make a tentAnimal skins used to make a tent

2.2. Samples of cave paintings found near tentsSamples of cave paintings found near tents

3.3. Picture of fossilized footprintsPicture of fossilized footprints

4.4. Stone toolStone tool

5.5. FlintFlint

6.6. Ashes found near tentsAshes found near tents

Taking NotesTaking NotesWrite what is in Write what is in

color color (to be (to be determined daily)determined daily)

Today we will just Today we will just go through the go through the slidesslidesNO NOTE TAKINGNO NOTE TAKING

Enjoy!Enjoy!

History and Other History and Other DisciplinesDisciplines

Archaeology; the study of past societies through an analysis of what people left behind Also known as artifactsWord origin: Greek, arkhaios, "ancient";

Latin, logia, “indicating the science or study of”

Anthropology; the study of human life and cultureWord origin: Greek anthrōpos, "man"

Interdisciplinary Interdisciplinary

Both these disciplines must use artifacts to piece together a story (or hypothesis)Similar to what

scientists doMany different

professions need historical skills

History + History + ScienceScience

Historians and archaeologists must use scientific dating techniquesRadiocarbon dating (C-14); measure

radioactive carbon left in an object Objects release radioactive carbon, so

historians or archaeologists count backwards

Cannot date farther back than 50,000 years however

Thermo luminescence dating; can date objects up to 200,000 years old by measuring the light given off by electrons trapped in the surrounding soil Scientists can also study ancient DNA and

plant remains

Historical BiasHistorical BiasDating techniques may give us absolute dates, Dating techniques may give us absolute dates,

but the story we create with the artifacts found but the story we create with the artifacts found can change between historians.can change between historians.

Historians are given a set of objects and sources and must piece Historians are given a set of objects and sources and must piece together the story themselves. Filling in the blanks will differ together the story themselves. Filling in the blanks will differ between historians.between historians.

This is because we all come to the table with personal BIASThis is because we all come to the table with personal BIAS BiasBias: : a particular tendency or inclinationa particular tendency or inclination For example: For example:

http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/vanga/cultural_bias/?Welcomehttp://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/vanga/cultural_bias/?Welcome

In history, bias can change how you view an event Historians write history, so bias gets into history

Your Thoughts . Your Thoughts . . .. .

Free write: write on a topic without regard for formatDo you think there are

“absolute truths” in history?

How does this make history different from math or science?

How does it impact the job of a historian?

Historical ScenarioHistorical ScenarioScenario; Archaeologists find multiple early homo sapiens bodies buried in

the same area.Questions

What do you think the archaeologists have discovered?Who buried the homo sapiens and why?Why do you think this?

Forming a hypothesis (just like in science)