Through studying and dating artifacts and fossils, anthropologists and archaeologists have revealed prehistory. This incomplete record shows how the earliest humans developed and how they adapted to make tools, use fire, and survive Ice Age conditions.

Who studies prehistory?

An archaeologist is a person who studies human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts and other physical remains. An artifact is something made or given shape by humans, such as a tool or a work of art, especially an object of archaeological interest.

What era do anthropologists study?

Many scholars argue that modern anthropology developed during the Age of Enlightenment, a cultural movement of 18th century Europe that focused on the power of reason to advance society and knowledge. Enlightenment scholars aimed to understand human behavior and society as phenomena that followed defined principles.