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Explore the Ancient World Student Reseach Guide Guidelines
Research Tips

Unit 1
  • Chapter 1
  • Chapter 2
  • Chapter 3
  • Chapter 4

    • Unit 2
  • Chapter 5
  • Chapter 6
  • Chapter 7

    • Unit 3
  • Chapter 8
  • Chapter 9
  • Chapter 10

    • Unit 4
  • Chapter 11
  • Chapter 12
  • Chapter 13

    • Unit 5
  • Chapter 14
  • Chapter 15
  • Chapter 16
  • Chapter 16A

    • Unit 6
  • Chapter 17
  • Chapter 18
  • Chapter 19
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    Unit 1: Prehistoric Times - Chapter 1: Clues to the Ancient Past

    Key Words: Louis Leakey, Mary Leakey, Paleolithic Period, Stone Age, fossils, Australopithecus boisei, Homo habilis, Donald Johanson, Tim White, archaeology
    Nonfiction Books

    Gallant, Roy A. Early Humans. New York: Marshall Cavendish Inc., 2000. This book discusses human evolution and the search for the earliest forms of humans, examining the Neanderthals, Homo erectus, the variety of fossils found in Africa, and the early apelike hominids. 80 pages. Nonfiction.

    Lambert, Lisa Ann. Leakeys. Vero Beach, FL: Rourke Publishing, 1993. This book highlights the accomplishments of the Leakey family and the important discoveries the Leakeys made in Africa. 112 pages. Nonfiction.

    Poynter, Margaret. Leakeys: Uncovering the Origins of Humankind. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Publishers, Inc., 1997. This book profiles the lives of Louis and Mary Leakey and their dedication to the study of human evolution. 128 pages. Nonfiction.

    Sloan, Christopher. The Human Story: Our Evolution from Prehistoric Ancestors to Today. Washington: National Geographic Society, 2004. This book explores the origins of humans from our prehistoric ancestors to modern Homo sapiens. Wonderfully written and illustrated with photographs and drawings, this book will appeal to readers. 79 pages. Nonfiction.
    Web Sites
    http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/information/biography/klmno/leakey_louis.html
    Louis Leakey. Interested in how archaeologists dig up bones that tell us about the past? Learn more about Louis Leakey and his discoveries at Olduvai Gorge. Make sure to click on the hyperlinks for information about Leakey's wife, Mary, also a renowned archaeologist, and Olduvai Gorge, where the husband and wife team made many of their noted finds. You can even visit the web site of Cambridge University in England, where Louis Leakey went to college.

    http://www.mnh.si.edu/anthro/humanorigins/
    The Human Origins Program at the Smithsonian Institution. Click on "The Hall of Human Ancestors" link to see photographs of the Homo habilis skull excavated from Olduvai Gorge. Then take a look at the page of frequently asked questions. You can find out how to become a paleoanthropologist!

    http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/tryit/evolution/
    A Science Odyssey: You Try It: Human Evolution. Study about the theory of human evolution the interactive way! Check out the human evolution activity where you can slide your mouse along the time line to reveal the different stages of human development. You can also scan articles about the Leakeys, radiocarbon dating, and the Piltdown man—a fake artifact that shook the scientific world.

    http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/stoneage
    NOVA: America's Stone Age Explorers. You have read about Stone Age people in Africa, now journey to North America for a glimpse into the lives of Stone Age people in what is now the United States. Read about how new discoveries have changed scientists' views of how an important hunting tool developed. Then go to the "Stone Age Toolkit" link to see how well you can match ancient artifacts with their uses—a fun way to learn something new!

    http://www.nationalgeographic.com/
    National Geographic. Discover maps of the world, historical photographs, and interactive adventures on the National Geographic site.