Prehistoric Times: Prehistoric Times: Studying the pastStudying the past

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

1. Clues1. CluesA.A.PrehistoryPrehistory is the time is the time

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

B.B. Archaeologists Archaeologists study the way of life of study the way of life of early people by sifting early people by sifting 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.

DON’T WRITEDON’T WRITE

2. Sources of Info2. Sources of Info

A.A. Primary sourcesPrimary sources

B.B. Secondary sourcesSecondary sources

- Examples- Examples ORIGINAL DOCUMENTSORIGINAL DOCUMENTS

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

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

RELICS OR ARTIFACTSRELICS OR ARTIFACTS: : Pottery, furniture, Pottery, furniture, clothing, buildings clothing, buildings

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.