Lesson 1: Investigating the Past

Which of the following is a topic that would be included in the study of ancient history?

• the causes of World War II

• where early humans lived

• the first American presidents

• where the airplane was invented

What is a geographer?

• a person who creates artifacts for other scientists to study

• a person who builds human-made features such as roads

• an expert who studies and records the past

• an expert who studies Earth's natural and human-made features

Archaeologist is to artifact as historian is to...

• detective

• diary

• landform

• laboratory

What evidence supports why scientists think prehistoric artists built scaffolding in caves?

• cave paintings showing people sleeping on scaffolding

• remains of scaffolding found inside caves

• cave paintings painted on high ceilings inside caves

• plentiful forests growing nearby the caves

Scientists believe that prehistoric cave artists made different colored paints by

• using the blood of animals mixed with dirt.

• mixing ground minerals with animal fat.

• following a written recipe found in a cave.

• making a paste from ashes and vegetable oil.

People who study ancient history make educated guesses called

• interpretations

• solutions

• investigations

• hypotheses

Which of the following is an example of an artifact?

• a mountain

• a plant

• a rock

• a sculpture

A prehistoric object is one that comes from a time

• before history was written

• after people lived in caves

• before humans hunted animals

• after electricity was discovered

What type of paintings is rare in prehistoric cave art discoveries?

• paintings of humans

• paintings of shapes

• paintings of animals

• paintings of handprints

Prehistoric artists used engraving tools to

• apply paint to cave walls

• build scaffolds inside caves

• write in detailed diaries

• carve details on sculptures