What do the artifacts tell us about the lives of early humans?

I think that the artifacts tell us a lot about early humans,the animals that they hunted and what kind of clothing they wore. They give us clues about rituals and ceremonies that may have taken place and an insight into daily life.

Artifacts can tell us what they ate because of the bones that they left behind around their fires and caves. We can form ideas about what they might have eaten from the tools and weapons they used to hunt small animals or even very large animals. Spear throwers have been found that  have been engraved very carefully. This could mean that this was a very important tool,possibly a good luck charm or the name of a clan. Clay sculptures are also very detailed these show the animals that were around and may have been used as clan names or during important ceremonies,like the coming of age of a child.

Tools have been found that were not only for hunting but for creating sculptures and cave drawings. The artists used sharpened stones,picks and engraving tools. They used grindstones to pound minerals which they mixed with animal fat or oil to make their colors. Early man also made brushes from moss, fur and hairpin their cave drawings as well as in their use of tools we can see that they were intelligent. That is what I think artifacts tell us about the lives of early humans.


Information curtesy of:History Alive Chapter 2