Early Southern African Hunter-Gatherer Communities: A Guide
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9 cards
Question: Who were the hunter-gatherers of southern Africa called?
Answer: The San.
Question: What name was given to the herders in southern Africa?
Answer: Khoikhoz.
Question: About how long ago did some communities in the Southern Cape start herding sheep?
Answer: About 200 years ago.
Question: How did the San pass on their beliefs and values without writing?
Answer: They told stories about animals that acted like people, showing values such as sharing and helping.
Question: In San stories, what kinds of characters are shown as good and what kinds as bad?
Answer: Good characters are people or animals that share and help each other; bad characters are proud and selfish.
Question: Why is there limited direct information about how ancient San lived?
Answer: Very few people still live as hunter-gatherers, and the San did not have writing.
Question: How did many San families organize their living arrangements during the year?
Answer: They moved around and did not build permanent houses; once or twice a year many families gathered in a large cave for a few weeks to share stories, me
Question: What kinds of archaeological evidence help researchers learn about ancient San life?
Answer: Archaeologists dig into cave soil to look for objects that ancient San people may have left behind.
Question: What activities took place when San families gathered together in caves?
Answer: They shared stories, met their relatives, and sometimes married.