Mrs. Wheeler Exploring the Cave

Bellringer Copy the objective: I will be able to analyze photos and create a hypothesis. What do scientist study to learn about prehistory? Analyze the clothes you wear and the things you carry to school. What do they say about your life? How does your story compare to the Iceman’s story?

Introduction Today you will be visiting a cave once inhabited by early humans. While there, you will be detectives of the past and learn a great deal about how early humans lived.

Cave Art: Treasures of the Past Cave paintings like those at Lascaux, France, provide clues about what life was like in prehistoric times, before writing was invented. Caves with paintings thousands of years old have roamed the Earth. They show how people hunted. Often they offer hints about what people believed. Many of the rooms that are decorated with paintings are deep inside the caves. Scientists guess that cave artists used torches as they worked in these dark places. Some of the paintings are very large and taller than a person. Some were done on high ceilings. Scientists guess that prehistoric artists built scaffolding, or planks raised above the floor, to reach the highest places. Caves have also provided clues in the form of artifacts. Scientists have found lamps for burning animal fat, bits of rope, and tools for painting and engraving. Cave paintings and artifacts are amazing treasures, because they can help answer many questions about how ancient humans lived. But, as you will see, they also raise new questions for scientists to puzzle over.

Directions for Exploring the Cave Select one person from your pair to go through the cave entrance. Retrieve one picture from inside the cave. Be very careful not to disturb the contents of the cave. Leave through the cave exit and return to your research station. Follow the directions on your worksheet Raise your hands for your teacher to check your work Switch roles so the other partner enters the cave, returns the picture you just analyzed, and retrieves a new picture. Repeat the steps above until you have examined all six pictures.

1.4 Cave Painting of a Human This painting was found inside the cave at Lascaux in France. It was painted between 11,000 and 18,000 years ago. The painting shows a scene from a hunt. The man is about to be gored (pierced by the horn of an animal). The animal, which is a wooly mammoth or a bison (a kind of buffalo), is wounded. It has a spear in its side, and its insides are spilling onto the ground. The man is lying in front of it. He is wearing a mask that looks like a bird. Next to him is a long stick with a bird on top. The stick is probably a spear thrower, a kind of handle use to hurl a spear. Paintings of humans are rare in cave art. Notice that the man is drawn simply, like a stick figure. The animal is much more realistic. Most social scientists think this painting was created as part of a hunting ritual. The artist may have been asking for a successful hunt. Or the painting might be a record of an actual event or simply a decoration.

Directions for Exploring the Cave Select one person from your pair to go through the cave entrance. Retrieve one picture from inside the cave. Be very careful not to disturb the contents of the cave. Leave through the cave exit and return to your research station. Follow the directions on your worksheet Raise your hands for your teacher to check your work Switch roles so the other partner enters the cave, returns the picture you just analyzed, and retrieves a new picture. Repeat the steps above until you have examined all six pictures.

Create Your Own Create a “cave painting” that represents the most important aspects of your life. Follow these guidelines: Use the back of your worksheet Use black, red, brown, or any other earth tone colors Show at least five different objects in your painting

Conclusion How did it feel to explore a cave and learn about early humans? What do you think was similar about your cave exploration and what real social scientists do when they explore a cave? What do you think might be different? Based on the evidence you gathered, what do we know for certain about early humans who left their marks on these caves? What are some questions that still remain to be answered by future social scientists?

Exit Ticket On a sheet of notebook paper answer the following questions: Explain one new thing you learned about today. Explain one thing that you would like more information about after the lesson today. R- restate the question A- answer the question P- provide details and information to support your answer