The first people who migrated to Texas probably began their trip _______ years ago in Siberia.
18,000 to 20,000
This migration occurred when vast ice sheets covered parts of the Eurasian and North American continents.
What significant geographical feature allowed the first humans to occupy the Americas?
Beringia
A land bridge from Siberia to Alaska exposed due to lower sea levels.
The earliest Americans were fully evolved members of the species _______.
Homo sapiens
They had the physical form and intellectual capabilities of modern humans.
According to one scholar, early humans were described as ‘the most formidable, vicious, and successful _______ ever to adorn the face of the world.’
mammal
This highlights their dominance and adaptability in their environment.
What cultural elements did early humans possess to ensure their survival?
- Fire
- Clothing
- Shelter
- Weapons
These elements were crucial for warmth, protection, and hunting.
Early humans formed small bands whose members worked _______ to survive.
cooperatively
This social structure was essential for their survival in harsh conditions.
What animals did the first migrants to America pursue?
- Mammoth
- Reindeer
These animals were found in both Asia and North America.
Early migrants spread southward from Alaska along an intermittent ice-free corridor that bordered the eastern edge of the _______ Mountains.
Rocky
This corridor facilitated their movement into the heart of North America.
Humans arrived on the South Plains in what is now Texas about _______ years ago.
12,000
This marks the beginning of their settlement in the region.
The first Texans extended their domicile from the plains region to the canyon country of the lower _______ River.
Pecos
Their migration also included areas across central Texas to the Gulf coast.
For the next four to five millennia, early Texans lived approximately _______ to _______ years before the present.
12,000 to 7,000 or 8,000
This period marks significant habitation and adaptation in the region.
Who were the first Texans to live on the plains of what is now the Panhandle?
The Early Big Game Hunters
They encountered an environment more favorable to human habitation.
The environment encountered by the Early Big Game Hunters in the Panhandle was more favorable than that found in the same region at the beginning of what period?
The beginning of the region’s history
This suggests a change in environmental conditions over time.
What is the target area when aiming spears at a separated animal suffering from illness or injury?
thoracic region
The aim is to penetrate the heart or spinal column.
What were the most useful weapons for hunters?
- Spears tipped by stone projectile points
- Clovis Fluted point
The Clovis Fluted point was named after a town in New Mexico where it was first discovered.
Describe the Clovis Fluted point.
Shaped and flattened by flaking chips from a flint rock core, fluted from the base of each side
It was attached to a handle or shaft and used as a spear.
What is an atlatl?
A wooden spear thrower that lengthens the arm of the hunter
It allows the hunter to give much greater velocity to the projectile.
What challenges did hunters face when trying to kill large animals?
- Animals could stand 12 to 14 feet at the shoulder
- Required special circumstances and luck
Hunters often aimed at the thoracic region of animals that were young, separated from the herd, or suffering from illness or injury.
