prehistory
the long period of time before people developed systems of writing and written language
archaeology
the study of past cultures through the things that remain such as buildings, tools, or pottery
archaeologist
a scientist who examines objects to learn about the human past
artifact
an object made by people long ago
migrate
to move from one place to another
Clovis
a city in New Mexico where archaeologists found many early human made objects
Ice Age
a period of time when glaciers covered great stretches of land
glacier
A large body of moving ice
Tassili
an area in the North African country of Algeria; the site of ancient cave paintings
Beringia
a prehistoric "land bridge" that once connected Asia and North America
Monte Verde
site in Chile near where archaeologists found artifacts dating to 12,500 years ago
Topper Site
a place in South Carolina where archaeologists found artifacts that were up to 18,000 years old
Skara Brae
a Stone Age village in Northern Scotland discovered by archaeologists in the 1800s
Stone Age
a period of time when humans relied primarily on stone tools
Old Stone Age
the early, longer period of the Stone Age when little progress was made
technology
the way in which humans produce the items they use
New Stone Age
the late period of the Stone Age when humans made great improvements in technology
domesticate
to tame
harvest
to gather
excavation site
a site where archaeologists uncover artifacts
agriculture
the raising of plants or animals for human use
surplus
an extra supply
nomad
a person who travels from place to place without a permanent home
social division
a group that does a certain type of work
climate
the average weather conditions of a place over a long span of time
carbon dating
a method of estimating the age of after it has died