Lesson 3: Investigating the Past

Social scientists are like history detectives. Archaeologists dig for physical objects, or artifacts, like tools and pottery. Historians study written records, such as laws. Geographers examine how the land and environment influenced people.

To investigate prehistory (the time before writing), scientists also study fossils. By using methods like radioactive dating, they can determine how old these objects are and piece together the story of early humans.

At the ancient city of Ur, archaeologist Sir Leonard Woolley used scientific methods to carefully dig and record findings. His goal was to understand the people, not just find treasure.

His discoveries helped historians reconstruct daily life and beliefs in ancient Sumer, showing how archaeology helps us understand cultures that left few written records.

Historians analyze two types of sources. A Primary Source is a record from the actual time period, like a diary, a letter, or an artifact found at a dig site.

A Secondary Source is written later by someone who was not there, like a history textbook. Historians compare these sources to find the truth.