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Pre-History Trivia

Pre-History Trivia Quizzes

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24 Pre-History quizzes and 240 Pre-History trivia questions.
1.
Those Natty Neanderthals
  Those Natty Neanderthals!   best quiz  
Photo Quiz
 10 Qns
If Neanderthals were alive today and dressed in modern clothes, would they differ greatly from modern humans?
Average, 10 Qns, ponycargirl, Mar 05 15
Average
ponycargirl editor
1354 plays
2.
The Neolithic Revolution
  The Neolithic Revolution   great trivia quiz  
Photo Quiz
 10 Qns
The term "revolution" is defined in part as any radical and pervasive change in society. Why was the Neolithic Revolution a major turning point in human history?
Average, 10 Qns, ponycargirl, Mar 02 15
Average
ponycargirl editor
1268 plays
3.
Neolithic Age The Best of Times Or the Worst The Neolithic Revolution dramatically changed life. However, was all the change positive?
Tough, 10 Qns, ponycargirl, Mar 12 15
Tough
ponycargirl editor
751 plays
4.
Skull Diggery
  Skull Diggery!   best quiz  
Photo Quiz
 10 Qns
My team of paleoanthropologists has uncovered a skull at our dig site. Will it belong to an hominid or a human? Can you help us classify it?
Average, 10 Qns, ponycargirl, Mar 09 15
Average
ponycargirl editor
696 plays
5.
Hurrah for Hominins
  Hurrah for Hominins   popular trivia quiz  
Photo Quiz
 10 Qns
A quiz about some of the many extinct species that have shared the human family tree since we split from the apes.
Average, 10 Qns, agentofchaos, Oct 19 21
Average
agentofchaos gold member
Oct 19 21
519 plays
6.
Tales of the Ancient Winery
  Tales of the Ancient Winery   best quiz  
Photo Quiz
 10 Qns
In January 2007, archaeologists discovered Areni-1, a site which yielded the remains of the oldest known wine-making facility in the world. Come explore with me!
Average, 10 Qns, ponycargirl, Nov 18 15
Average
ponycargirl editor
542 plays
7.
Tales of Otzi the Iceman
  Tales of Otzi the Iceman   top quiz  
Photo Quiz
 10 Qns
Since the discovery of Ozti the Iceman in 1991, his remains have undergone a series of scientific tests which have uncovered information about who he was and how he lived. What do you know about Ozti?
Tough, 10 Qns, ponycargirl, Feb 14 17
Tough
ponycargirl editor
568 plays
8.
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
  "Lucy" in the Sky with Diamonds   top quiz  
Photo Quiz
 10 Qns
"...At some point during that unforgettable evening--I no longer remember when--the new fossil picked up the name of Lucy".
Average, 10 Qns, ponycargirl, Mar 07 15
Average
ponycargirl editor
562 plays
9.
Dong Son Drums
  Dong Son Drums   great trivia quiz  
Photo Quiz
 10 Qns
The artefacts left by pre-historic civilisations offer fascinating clues as to the nature of society at that time. The Dong Son drums are an example of this.
Tough, 10 Qns, looney_tunes, Aug 07 18
Tough
looney_tunes editor
Aug 07 18
328 plays
10.
  Human Prehistory   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
While most of us know plenty about human history, what do we know about prehistory? Let's discover a little more about our primitive ancestors in this quiz ... best of luck.
Difficult, 10 Qns, thejazzkickazz, Mar 11 08
Difficult
thejazzkickazz gold member
9083 plays
trivia question Quick Question
In what country can the famous Zhoukoudian Cave be found, where a great many remains of the species Homo erectus have been discovered?

From Quiz "Human Prehistory"




11.
Footprints in the Ash
  Footprints in the Ash   top quiz  
Photo Quiz
 10 Qns
First a volcano erupted. Ash covered the ground. A group of hominids walked across the area as a light rain began to fall. The rain cemented the ash into tuff, creating fossilized footprints. Over time, more ash covered and protected them.
Average, 10 Qns, ponycargirl, Mar 04 15
Average
ponycargirl editor
515 plays
12.
  Ahh, Those Silly Irish!   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz will look at prehistoric Ireland, anything predating 400 AD, to see what it tells us about human prehistory. Join me as we look at some silly Irish men and women to see what this time was like.
Average, 10 Qns, tazman6619, Jul 18 17
Average
tazman6619 gold member
3714 plays
13.
  Neanderthal - Knuckle-dragger or Stand-Up Guy?   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
When most people think of Neanderthal, they picture an unintelligent, hairy brute who wrestles dinosaurs. Ongoing research has taught us that these ideas are more the product of Hollywood than of science. This quiz should clear up some misconceptions.
Average, 10 Qns, kathyr_1, Oct 25 12
Average
kathyr_1
3983 plays
14.
  The Origins of Man   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The evolution of man is a controversial topic to this very day. Even the experts do not always agree, but they study the evidence and try to form educated assumptions.
Tough, 10 Qns, ponycargirl, Oct 28 09
Tough
ponycargirl editor
3124 plays
15.
  Tales of Peking Man   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The discovery of fossils in the 1920s changed the way paleontologists had previously viewed hominids. Also called Beijing Man, Peking Man is believed to have lived 680,000-780,000 years ago. What do you know about this early human?
Average, 10 Qns, ponycargirl, Nov 04 22
Average
ponycargirl editor
Nov 04 22
230 plays
16.
  Our World: Pre-History    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
During my seven years in University, I took an interest in world pre-history. This is a sample of the facts and historical content that I had derived during my time in school. Good Luck!
Tough, 10 Qns, apathy100, Sep 05 12
Tough
apathy100 gold member
5128 plays
17.
  Prehistory of Hong Kong   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
What do you know about the prehistory of Hong Kong? Previously it was believed that the area had been inhabited only 7,000 years ago, but relatively new evidence suggests that some sites are much older.
Average, 10 Qns, ponycargirl, Mar 31 18
Average
ponycargirl editor
Mar 31 18
308 plays
18.
  Early Humans    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Here's a quiz about the early humans. Enjoy :)
Average, 10 Qns, Thark, Nov 02 18
Average
Thark
Nov 02 18
3407 plays
19.
  The First Americans    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Is the term Native American historically accurate or should we be calling them Americans Who Came Before? In this quiz, you will learn about some of the earliest inhabitants of both North and South America.
Average, 10 Qns, RedHook13, Mar 13 21
Average
RedHook13 gold member
Mar 13 21
250 plays
20.
  Britain Before the Days of Writing   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A quiz on British pre-history.
Very Difficult, 10 Qns, tnrees, Dec 11 06
Very Difficult
tnrees
3465 plays
21.
  Who or what was Otzi?   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
If you don't know, I think it's time you did!
Tough, 10 Qns, russalka, Jul 19 18
Tough
russalka
Jul 19 18
579 plays
22.
  He Who Hesitates Is Last    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
It is well known that, in history and nature, he who hesitates is last. Well, our prehistoric ancestors certainly didn't hesitate moving everywhere! Let's see what they were up to in prehistoric India.
Tough, 10 Qns, Saleo, Aug 18 20
Recommended for grades: 11,12
Tough
Saleo
Aug 18 20
170 plays
23.
  The Prehistoric Site of Lepenski Vir    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Explore this unusual and intriguing archeological site that depicts well the most important cultural transition in the human history.
Tough, 10 Qns, St Sava Jr., Aug 11 12
Tough
St Sava Jr.
402 plays
24.
  Prehistory II: Fantastic Animals    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Jurassic Park was famous for the animals it brought to life. The film was fun, but what do you really know about these extinct animals?
Difficult, 10 Qns, RioBR, May 27 18
Difficult
RioBR
May 27 18
2399 plays

Pre-History Trivia Questions

1. Many historians believe that the first Americans migrated from Asia via a natural land formation towards the end of the last Ice Age. What is this area named?

From Quiz
The First Americans

Answer: Beringia

Beringia refers to a natural land formation that is theorized to have emerged towards the end of the last Ice Age. The land bridge connected the continents of Asia and North America allowing humans and animal species to travel between the two continents. It is believed to have been caused by the simultaneous receding of glaciers combined with low sea levels at the time. Over time, as the glaciers melted and sea levels continued to rise Beringia became submerged and the area was changed into what we know today as the Bering Strait. The area was named after Danish explorer Vitus Bering who explored the region in the early 1700s.

2. From 1929-1937 remains of individuals that were eventually called Peking Man were found at a site called Zhoukoudian near Beijing. What feature of the site made it a gathering place for early humans?

From Quiz Tales of Peking Man

Answer: Cave System

Zhoukoudian is a natural limestone cave system. However, way before 1921 the roof of some of the cave had collapsed on top of what had previously been deposited inside. Scientists have charted thirteen layers of debris at the site where Peking Man was discovered. Fossils and implements have been found in Layer 13, however, the first skull of Peking Man, found in 1929, was located in Layer 11. In 1966 Layer 3 yielded another such skull. By 1937, more than 10,000 pieces of stoneware, 200 human fossils belonging to 40 different people, and fossils from 200 animal species have been found at the site. Fossils have been found in 20 different locations in the cave system since then.

3. Who or what is Otzi?

From Quiz Who or what was Otzi?

Answer: A frozen mummy found in the Alps

The 5,300 years old male frozen mummy was found in September 1991. Only his head and shoulders were showing, the rest of his body was encased in ice.

4. In which country is the Lepenski Vir archeological site located?

From Quiz The Prehistoric Site of Lepenski Vir

Answer: Serbia

The Lepenski Vir site is located on the right bank of river Danube, close to Iron Gates gorge, in Serbia. The entire area is rich in prehistoric finds. The Danube is one of the main corridors for the influence and/or immigration of neolithic cultures from Asia Minor into Europe.

5. Whose theory of the process of natural selection began the study of man's evolution?

From Quiz The Origins of Man

Answer: Charles Darwin

Darwin's book, "On The Origin of the Species" set forth the idea that animals (including humans) changed their form over a long period of time in an evolutionary process called natural selection. In a developing species the superior individuals would gradually take the place of those with inferior characteristics. The press distorted Darwin's ideas by reporting that he said man derived from apes. What he did say, however, was that man and apes share a common ancestor. The most important evidence that man did not derive from apes is the fact that apes are still a thriving species.

6. Neanderthal belongs to what species?

From Quiz Neanderthal - Knuckle-dragger or Stand-Up Guy?

Answer: Homo sapiens neanderthalensis

Australopithecus lived about 3 million BC. Homo habilis came after them, arriving around 2 million BC. Homo erectus's arrival was approximately 1.5 million BC, immediately preceding the Neanderthal, who appeared around 500,000 years BC.

7. What animal was very well equipped against cold weather?

From Quiz Prehistory II: Fantastic Animals

Answer: Woolly Mammoth

Woolly Mammoth was a cold climate dweller equipped with a thick layer of fat for insulation, and an exterior of long black hair.

8. Where have the oldest fossils of any human ancestors been found?

From Quiz Early Humans

Answer: Africa

In March 2015 a 55-million year old primate fossil was discovered in Ethiopia.

9. Which species of prehistoric man was found at Boxgrove?

From Quiz Britain Before the Days of Writing

Answer: Heidelbergensis

Boxgrove dates to a warm period about 500,000 years ago. It was originally thought to be 200,000 years old. Apart from the human remains (a tibia and two teeth), what makes the site special is the huge preserved land surface - it is possible to reconstruct flint working methods from the scatter of chips and even reassemble flint nodules with a hand axe sized hole in the middle. Some of the bones that were found had marks that are very similar to those that would be made by a modern butcher. Some sceptics have pointed out that Boxgrove is not far from Piltdown (the 'source' of the infamous fake ape man).

10. In which Canadian province or territory would you find the Bluefish Caves, where some prehistoric artifacts have been unearthed?

From Quiz The First Americans

Answer: Yukon Territory

The Bluefish Caves as well as the Old Crow Flats are two archeological sites located in northern Yukon Territory, Canada. Artifacts unearthed at these locations seem to suggest that human migration across Beringia may have occurred earlier that what scientists had previously anticipated. While human remains have yet to be discovered at these locations, archaeologists have found the remains of animals such as mastodons and horses which show evidence that they were hunted by human civilizations that may have existed in the area more than 20,000 years ago.

11. Although initially discovered by another archaeologist, a Canadian scientist became involved in the project at Zhoukoudian in 1922. What was his name?

From Quiz Tales of Peking Man

Answer: Davidson Black

Davidson Black earned a degree in medical science from the University of Toronto in 1906. He continued to study comparative anatomy before becoming an anatomy teacher three years later. It was while working in England in 1914 that he became interested in paleoanthropology; it was at that time that Piltdown Man, which turned out to be an elaborate hoax, had been discovered. At the end of WWI after being discharged from the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, Black took a job at Peking Union Medical College, where he would become head of the anatomy department, and moved his family to China. Although he was interested in studying fossils during this time, the college did not support the study. Other scientists, however, were making fossil discoveries, and by 1922 Black had been given a Rockefeller Foundation grant to search on his own. It was then that he began to search at Zoukoudian.

12. Where was Otzi found?

From Quiz Who or what was Otzi?

Answer: On the border between Austria and Italy

Because his body was encased in ice, it was very difficult to remove it without damaging it.

13. To which archeological epoch does Lepenski Vir belong?

From Quiz The Prehistoric Site of Lepenski Vir

Answer: Mesolithic

Lepenski Vir is a typical Mesolithic culture, i.e. the transitional phase from paleolithic (hunter gatherer cultures) to neolithic (predominantly sedentary agricultural) cultures. People from Lepenski Vir knew of some domesticated animals and corns, but used them only in the rituals. Thus Lepenski Vir clearly demonstrates both paleolithic and neolithic cultural traits.

14. The Olduvai Gorge in Africa's Great Rift Valley is considered by many to be the Grand Canyon of Evolution and the Cradle of:

From Quiz The Origins of Man

Answer: Mankind

Beginning in 1931 Louis and Mary Leakey found not only bones of hominids, but also tools and other debris left behind - even fossilized dung, containing lizard bones and other creatures that must have been eaten whole. In addition a circle of stones was found that is believed to be the foundation of a hut over 700,000 years old, which is the earliest man made structure in the world.

15. What type of predator did Neanderthal NOT have to worry about?

From Quiz Neanderthal - Knuckle-dragger or Stand-Up Guy?

Answer: Dinosaurs

The dinosaurs died out approximately 65 million years ago -- well before the time of Neanderthal.

16. In what period did the Trilobites first appear?

From Quiz Prehistory II: Fantastic Animals

Answer: Cambrian period

The Cambrian period of the Paleozoic era was characterized by a diverse new creatures in the seas. The Trilobites emerged in this period and continued right through to the end of the Permian era.

17. The Amesbury archer found near Stonehenge dates from 2300BC (when work on the henge was starting). Where is he believed to come from?

From Quiz Britain Before the Days of Writing

Answer: Alps or South Germany

His probable place of origin was found by looking at the isotopes in his teeth. The nearest place that produces the mix of isotopes he has is somewhere near Switzerland. His burial place was incredibly rich compared with that of his contemporaries and included two gold ornaments and copper knives. The metal in the knives came from Spain or western France. Some people have called him the "King of Stonehenge". Near him was a second body with a pair of identical pieces of gold and an identical rare peculiarity in the bones of his feet. This man was born locally but had spent time in his teens in central England or Scotland.

18. Some of the oldest prehistoric artifacts found in the United States were unearthed at the Paisley Caves in Oregon. How old are these remains estimated to be?

From Quiz The First Americans

Answer: greater than 12,000 years old

The Paisley Caves are located in southern Oregon. The area has been under archeological investigation since the late 1930s. A team of researchers from colleges and universities in Oregon began studying the area more closely in 2002. Archaeologists soon began to unearth evidence that humans from Pleistocene era may have existed in the region. Some of the artifacts that were analyzed via radiocarbon dating methods were estimated to be greater than 12,000 years old, which makes them some of the oldest specimens in the United States.

19. Sohanian culture was present in the Indian subcontinent in the Lower Paleolithic. What is the 'godly' name of the hills where many Sohanian sites are present, giving an indication that humans lived there during prehistoric times?

From Quiz He Who Hesitates Is Last

Answer: Sivalik Hills

The Sohanian or Soanian culture was present in the Indian subcontinent during the Lower Paleolithic. This culture is distinct in the technology and traditions that were used compared to the other cultures present at that time. Archeological evidence for this culture was found on many sites along the Sivalik Hills in what is present day northwestern India and Pakistan. This culture gets its name from the Sohan River. Many stone tool assemblages like pebbled tools, hand axes, and cleavers have been found in these Sohanian sites. There have been fossilised remains of animals like elephants, horses, and hippopotamus that have also been found here. The Sohanian tradition is estimated to have lasted from the Mindel-Riss interglacial (300 - 400,000 B.C.) to the end of the Pleistocene.

20. The Lepenski Vir culture reached its peak during roughly which time period?

From Quiz The Prehistoric Site of Lepenski Vir

Answer: between 5500 BC and 6500 BC

The caves surrounding Lepenski Vir were inhabited from around 20,000 BC on. The first humans arrived at the Lepenski Vir site around 7000 BC (Proto Lepenski Vir), when the climate became significantly warmer after the last glaciation. It reached its peak between 6500 BC and 5500 BC. The culture slowly evolved into a Neolithic type of culture, common to the surrounding area.

21. So the first settlers in Ireland were leprechauns, right? Sorry, no. The oldest settlement discovered by archeology in Ireland is this place that sounds like something you might wear to the beach. Which site is it?

From Quiz Ahh, Those Silly Irish!

Answer: Mount Sandel

It is believed that humans first came to Ireland around 8000 BC during the Mesolithic era. Although this earlier date is suspected, the earliest evidence for human habitation comes from charcoal remains found at Woodpark in County Sligo that date to 7490 BC. Another site at Lough Boora in County Offaly dates to around 6800 BC but again no structures or permanent settlement buildings were found. It is believed it was a temporary camp site, most probably a summer one. The oldest settlement evidence has been found at Mount Sandel in County Derry and dates back to 7000 BC. This site also shows signs of consistent habitation and possible rebuilding of structures. It is located near the iron age site of Mount Sandel Fort (Kill Santain or Kilsandel). The fort site is believed to have been the residence of the Norman king John de Courcy in the 12th century AD.

22. Which discovery was made first?

From Quiz The Origins of Man

Answer: Neanderthal

The first Neanderthal skull was found in 1856. Although modern commercials suggest otherwise, some scientists argue that Neanderthal man looked so much like homo sapiens sapiens that if a Neanderthal dressed in modern clothes walked down the street, no one would notice any difference.

23. Where did Neanderthal get its name?

From Quiz Neanderthal - Knuckle-dragger or Stand-Up Guy?

Answer: From the valley where the remains were first found

The first remains were found in the Neander Valley, near Düsseldorf, in Germany. The valley was named after Joachim Neander, a theologian who composed more than sixty hymns for the Reformed (Calvinist) Church. Many of them were later widely adopted by other denominations.

24. The Carboniferous period is known for the emergence of what animal(s)?

From Quiz Prehistory II: Fantastic Animals

Answer: Snakes and salamanders

Large amphibians could also live on land at this time, and sharks existed in abundance.

25. What are modern humans called?

From Quiz Early Humans

Answer: Homo sapiens sapiens

Yes, I know, hard to believe right? In fact, we are all Homo sapiens sapiens! Homo sapiens is the heading in front of another 'modern' human, such as Homo sapiens: Neanderthal.

26. The last glaciation of the most recent Ice Age is sometimes referred to by the name of what river in Europe?

From Quiz Human Prehistory

Answer: Würm

The Würm, or Wisconsin, Glaciation began its retreat about 15,000 years ago, but not before human beings would cross the Bering Strait from Asia into the Americas. During the most recent Ice Age, the Neanderthals, a people especially suited for cold weather, flourished in Europe. The term 'Würm' comes from a river in Switzerland at which the glaciation was first discovered.

27. In 1989, the skeleton of a prehistoric woman was discovered near a town in the state of Idaho. What was she named?

From Quiz The First Americans

Answer: Buhl Woman

The Buhl Woman was discovered by a team of quarry workers in January, 1989. She was named Buhla or the Buhl Woman after the town of Buhl, Idaho, which was the closest town to the location where she had been found. The town of Buhl is located in southern Idaho, about 15-20 miles west of the city of Twin Falls. Radiocarbon dating has estimated that the remains of the Buhl Woman are more than 10,000 years old. Scientists also believe that the woman died at an early age, between 17 and 21 years old.

28. The Acheulean culture did not spread to which part of India during the Lower Paleolithic?

From Quiz He Who Hesitates Is Last

Answer: Northeast India

There is no evidence of Acheulean occupation in many parts of India like the Western Ghats, the western coastline, the Ganga plains and the northeastern part of India. This is speculated to be because of many reasons, like the presence of heavy rainfall and/or dense forests or the lack of stone. This culture spread to many regions of the Deccan plateau, Eastern Ghats, Chota Nagpur plateau, and western Rajasthan. The remnants of this culture have also been found scattered around the Sivalik Hills in India, alongside the remnants of the Sohanian culture. The Acheulean culture is named after the French site of St. Acheul.

29. Why the name Otzi?

From Quiz Who or what was Otzi?

Answer: He was found in the Otztal Alps

He has also been called the Iceman, but when they started calling him Otzi, the nickname stuck.

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