The Palaeolithic period WhAT WErE ThE TrACES oF EArLY hUMAn LIFE LIKE?

t HINK

How did our Palaeolithic ancestors survive?

1 Look, listen and read.

The first period of Prehistory is the Palaeolithic period. It began when the first hominids appeared in Africa.

They were nomads as they travelled from place to place looking for food to survive.

The first hominids

Cave paintings. They drew scenes of their daily life with engravings on the cave walls.

Early humans lived in small groups.

Palaeolithic a) Palaeolithic people stayed in one place. b) The first humans hunted and gathered their food. c) The first humans moved to Africa from Asia. d) The discovery of fire is very important in the Palaeolithic period. a) Where is Atapuerca located in Spain? b) What is its most famous cave called? Why is it important?

Fire control made it possible to eat much more food and to favour group relationships around the light and warmth of the campfire.

They made their tools from stones, wood and bones.

They formed tribes (clans) and lived in caves.

They left Africa and travelled to other continents.

They hunted, fished and gathered fruit and vegetables to live on.

They made clothes from animal skins and plant fibres.

2 When did Prehistory begin? How did humans get food?

3 Read the sentences and decide if they are true or false.

Watch the ‘Kima in the Palaeolithic period’ at anayaeducacion.es and learn more about life in this period.

1 Atapuerca is one of Europe’s most important archaeological sites. Traces of hominid life from a million years ago have been found in this area.

2 In pairs, choose a clan: the Northern clan own tools and objects and the Southern clan owns food. Someone has mixed up the belongings and now you need to ask questions to find out what items belong to which clan.

Whose are these oranges? Whose is that fish? These are mine.

That is yours!

NOW I KNOW…

Palaeolithic people started to gather fruits and vegetables. They contain vitamins, calcium, iron, etc. which help to strengthen the immune system and protect us against diseases.