Prehistoric Times:Prehistoric Times: How to study the pastHow to study the past

Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. AgostaMrs. Johnson and Mrs. Agosta

1. Scientists Discover Clues1. Scientists Discover CluesA.A. PrehistoryPrehistory is the is the

time before writing, time before writing, ~5,000 years ago.~5,000 years ago.

B.B. Archaeologists sift Archaeologists sift through dirt to find through dirt to find artifactsartifacts or objects or objects made by people like made by people like tools or jewelry.tools or jewelry.

C.C. Anthropologists Anthropologists study study cultureculture, or , or people’s way of life.people’s way of life.

D.D. Paleontologists Paleontologists study fossils – evidence study fossils – evidence of early life preserved in rocks.of early life preserved in rocks.

2. Primary vs. Secondary Sources2. Primary vs. Secondary SourcesA.A. AA primary sourceprimary source is a document or is a document or

physical object which was written or physical object which was written or created during the time under study. created during the time under study.

Examples of Primary SourcesExamples of Primary Sources ORIGINAL ORIGINAL

DOCUMENTSDOCUMENTS: Diaries, : Diaries, speeches, manu-speeches, manu-scripts, letters, scripts, letters, interviews, news film interviews, news film footage, auto-footage, auto-biographies, official biographies, official records  records 

CREATIVE WORKSCREATIVE WORKS: : Poetry, drama, novels, Poetry, drama, novels, music, art  music, art 

RELICS OR RELICS OR ARTIFACTSARTIFACTS: Pottery, : Pottery, furniture, clothing, furniture, clothing, buildingsbuildings

B.B. A A secondary sourcesecondary source interprets and interprets and analyzes primary sources. analyzes primary sources.

C.C. These sources are one or more steps These sources are one or more steps removed from the event. removed from the event.

Examples of Secondary SourcesExamples of Secondary Sources PUBLICATIONSPUBLICATIONS: :

Textbooks, Textbooks, magazine articles, magazine articles, histories, journals, histories, journals, commentaries, commentaries, textbooks, books, textbooks, books, newspapers, and newspapers, and encyclopedias.encyclopedias.