Section 1: The Earliest Americans United States History p. 13-15

Key Words Archaeologist: one who studies the remains of past human life Beringia: a thousand mile wide land bridge that connected Siberia to Alaska Caribou: large deer that lives in arctic regions Culture: the same values, attitudes, and customs of a group Ice Age: a period of time when much of the earth and the earth’s water was frozen Nomads: people who do not live in one place Theory: a best guess Clovis Point: a finely flaked stone spearhead Glacier: a large body of ice

The __________ was a finely flaked stone spearhead. WORD BANK Archaeologists Beringia Clovis Point Ice Age Nomads __________ was a thousand-mile-wide land bridge that connected Siberia to Alaska. The __________ was a finely flaked stone spearhead. __________ are people who do not live in one place. __________ study the remains of past human life. Much of the earth and the earth’s water was frozen during the __________.

Chapter 1 Workbook Activity 1 How have we gained knowledge of the first inhabitants of North America? We have learned about the first inhabitants of North America from the work of archaeologists. 2. From where did the first inhabitants of North America come? By what route? The first inhabitants of North America came from Siberia in Asia across a land bridge called Beringia.

Chapter 1 Workbook Activity 1 3. The history of the first Americans was not written down. How do experts explain what is known about these people? Much of what we know of early Americans is based on theories or “best guesses.” 4. What hunting tool of the early Americans has been found? The Clovis Point, a finely flaked stone spearhead, is believed to have been used beginning in 11,000 B.C.

Chapter 1 Workbook Activity 1 5. As of the year 18,000 B.C., people were no longer able to walk to North America. Why? As of 18,000 B.C., the glaciers were melting and the level of oceans was rising.