Arch Essay Prep

Acheulean Handaxes

Large bifacial tools from the Lower Palaeolithic period, indicating advanced cognitive abilities and planning.

Levallois Technique

A prepared core method from the Middle Palaeolithic, signifying increased efficiency and advanced mental templates.

Microliths

Small, composite tools from the Mesolithic, used for specialized hunting tools like arrows and harpoons.

Cave Art

Art from the Upper Palaeolithic that may be linked to rituals, hunting magic, or spiritual practices.

Dolní Věstonice

Site in the Czech Republic that provides evidence of coordinated big game hunting with mammoth remains.

Stonehenge

A neolithic monument in England, indicating organized labor and collective decision-making in construction.

Çatalhöyük

An early Neolithic settlement in Turkey known for evidence of farming, communal living, and social organization.

Social Differentiation

The emergence of social hierarchies and specialized roles during the Neolithic period.

Permanent Settlements

The establishment of stable communities during the Neolithic resulting in village life and social complexities.

Neolithic Symbols

Carvings and markings that reflect cultural identity, cosmology, and early forms of abstract thought.

Bifacial Flaking

A stone tool production technique involving flaking on both sides to create a symmetrical edge.

Evidence of Planning

Indications of cognitive abilities in early humans demonstrated through complex tool-making and resource use.

Big Game Hunting

A cooperative hunting strategy involving groups coordinating efforts to hunt large animals.

Monumental Architecture

Large scale constructions from the Neolithic period, reflecting organized labor and community efforts.

Food Storage

Strategies implemented during the Neolithic to manage agricultural surpluses, involving community cooperation.

Ritual & Spiritual Use

The use of marks and signs in early societies for spiritual or ritualistic purposes.

Advanced Cognitive Abilities

Mental skills developed through tool-making and social living that allowed for problem-solving and planning.

Resource Exploitation

The efficient use and management of natural resources that developed during the Neolithic.

Knowledge Transfer

The sharing of skills and information across generations, indicative of complex social learning.

Cognitive Significance

The implications of tool-making and social cooperation on the intellectual development of early humans.