Questions and Answers
The Prehistoric period lasted from ______ to 3KYA.
250KYA
The Stone Age spans from ______ to 5KYA.
250KYA
The Paleolithic Age lasted from ______ to 12KYA.
250KYA
During the last ice age, many large mammals went extinct and there was near extinction of ______.
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The early humans who inhabited the Americas are known as the ______ peoples.
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The first archaeological evidence of Clovis peoples was found near ______, New Mexico.
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The Clovis First Theory suggests that humans migrated across the Bering ______.
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Pre-Clovis remains dating about 19KYA were found in ______ Pennsylvania.
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Evidence suggests that Homo Sapiens migrated from ______ to Australia around 40KYA.
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The land bridge that formed during the ice age is known as ______.
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Study Notes
Prehistoric Period Overview
- Spanning from 250,000 years ago (KYA) to 3,000 years ago (YA), marked as the unrecorded stage of human history.
- Divided into three main ages:
- Stone Age (250 KYA to 5 KYA)
- Bronze Age (5 KYA to 3,300 YA)
- Iron Age (3,300 YA to 2,900 YA)
Stone Age Subdivisions
- Stone Age further categorized into:
- Paleolithic Age (250 KYA to 12 KYA)
- Mesolithic Age (12 KYA to 10 KYA)
- Neolithic Age (10 KYA to 5 KYA)
Paleolithic Age Significance
- Coincided with Earth’s last ice age, leading to mass extinction of many species and near extinction of Homo Sapiens.
- Provided migration opportunities via land bridges while large ice sheets restricted access to certain regions.
- Marked by significant human migration from Eurasia to the Americas towards its end.
Clovis Peoples
- Early inhabitants of the Americas recognized for unique spear points and stone tools discovered near Clovis, New Mexico.
- First archaeological evidence linked to their existence was uncovered in the 1920s.
Migration Theories
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Clovis First Theory
- Proposes migration across Bering Strait from Siberia to Alaska around 13 KYA via a land bridge known as Beringia.
- Migrants moved south through new openings in the ice sheets covering Canada, reaching as far as New Mexico.
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Pre-Clovis Evidence
- Archaeological finds pre-dating Clovis discovery:
- Meadowcroft, Pennsylvania (19 KYA)
- Pedro Furada, Brazil (30 KYA)
- Monteverde, Chile (30 KYA)
- These finds suggest earlier migrations that could not have occurred by land route due to ice sheet geography.
- Archaeological finds pre-dating Clovis discovery:
-
Coastal Route Theory
- Suggests that Pre-Clovis peoples may have migrated by boat from Siberia along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts around 20 KYA using canoes.
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Solutrean Hypothesis
- Proposes that between 21 KYA, people from the Solutré region of France navigated to North America via pack ice in the Atlantic.
- Notable for similarities in tool designs between Solutrean and North American archaeological sites.
Conclusion on Migration Theories
- Theories regarding Clovis and Pre-Clovis migrations may not be mutually exclusive; a combination of these methods could have facilitated human migration into the Americas.
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Description
Explore the fascinating timeline of the prehistoric period, including the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age. Delve into the subdivisions of the Stone Age, such as the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic epochs, and understand the significant events that shaped human history during these times.
