Archeology, Archaeology

The Maya monuments of Copan, Palenque, and Uxmal: In 1839, Frederick Catherwood and John Lloyd Stephens explored Central America, and visited the marvels of the Maya.

Stephens' fascination with the Maya has continued to these modern times.

A large, often undressed, stone used in building constructions: A prehistoric monument often used a megalith, which was a a very large stone slab.

A term for Central America: Mesoamerica is said to be a pre-Columbian cultural area or region stretching from southern Mexico to the countries of Honduras, Nicaragua, and El Salvador.

A period of European prehistory after the Paleolithic but before the advent of Neolithic farmers, when hunter-gatherers were adapting to a warming environment.

An architectural section between two triglyphs in a door frieze: A metope was a flat slab of stone , sometimes carved, that was part of the architectural ornament in Doric architecture.

An extinct form of Homo sapiens that appeared in the Old World before 100,000 years ago and lived until about 30,000 years ago: The Neanderthals had a large head, were stockily built, and are associated with Middle Paleolithic tools.

A geographical region around the eastern Mediterranean: The countries of the Near East include Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, among others.

The prehistoric time from about 8500 to 4500 B.C.: The Neolithic was the period of Old World prehistory characterized by the appearance of farming, settled communities and pottery.

It follows the Mesolithic and appears at different times in different places.

The western hemisphere: The generic term New World refers to the Americas, consisting of North America, Central America, and South America.

The term New World was used by the Italian historian Peter Martyr (1457–1526).,

The eastern hemisphere, except for Australia: The Old World is a generic term for Europe, Asia, and Africa.

The pomegranate has been naturalized in the Old World, but no one really knows where it originated, but probably in Persia.

A broken piece of pottery or a stone: In classical Greek cities people voted on whether individuals should be exiled by writing their names on ostraka, or fragments of pottery.

The scientific study of human ancestry: The research of paleanthropology suggests that the earliest evolution towards modern humans started in Africa six million years ago.

More human-like species (classified in the genus Homo) evolved from about two million years ago, from the more ape-like Australopithecines followed by the various Homo species that migrated from Africa to colonize the rest of the world.

A vast period that covers most of human existence, from our origins five million years ago to about 12,000 years ago; the Old Stone Age: This period sees the emergence of biologically modern humans, as well as, significant developments in the human cultural repertoire or the entire range of skills or aptitudes or devices used during the time of the Paleolithic.

The triangular space, sometimes covered with sculpture: A pediment was placed at the end of a Greek temple and formed by the angle of the roof.

An image that has been pecked or engraved onto a rock wall: A petroglyph can be a rock carving, an inscription, or drawing on rock, especially created by prehistoric people.