This is an artist's drawing of people who lived in Utah 7,500 years ago. (That's before the pioneers came to Utah!) If you like scientific names, you can call this time the Archaic Period. (You may as well. Scientists call it that too.)

What was it like to live 7,500 years ago?

Well, the people didn't leave us any movies or books about themselves. So we don't know for sure. But we can learn a lot through science. And we can imagine. Twelve-year-old Madison Hewitt-Brown, who lives in Park City, used both scientific facts and imagination to write about a child living in Archaic times:

"I watch as my mother weaves a new basket that will be used to gather food. My sister uses the mano and metate to grind the seeds they collected yesterday. They will not let me help since I always get in the way. "Some of the men of our village hunt rabbits for everyone to eat. We also use their fur for clothes. Another man waits patiently to kill an antelope with an atlatl and spear. Others in the village use pictures to write stories on the rocks. A child and his mother go to a nearby cave to rest. "All the animals listen to us as we go about our daily routines. No one notices they are there. No one notices but me. While everyone else is busy doing something I am left to do nothing but watch and listen. I am too young to help with anything, yet too old to be cared for like the babies. No one notices me."

Try writing your own story about the picture.

ARCHAIC TECHNOLOGY
When they think of technology, most people think of things like computers and space shuttles. But to an archaeologist, technology is anything humans have invented to make a job easier.

Technological wonders of the Archaic Period

1. Burden basket People carried food in baskets long before grocery bags were invented. Come to think of it, the Archaic people didn't have grocery stores, either—they had to gather food from the land.
2. Atlatl Humans aren't that strong, but they have invented tools that give them superhuman strength—like the atlatl. This throwing stick lets a hunter throw a spear farther and faster.
3. Sandal No need to buy shoes. If you lived 7,5000 years ago, you would make your own by weaving together yucca leaves.
4. Mano and Metate With these stone tools, the people could crush and grind the seeds they gathered into meal or flour—kind of an early food processor. With the ground seeds, the people could make little flat breads or gruel. (You know, like hot cereal? Mm.)
5. Awl The Archaic people used this sharp bone tool to punch holes and sew leather things. No doubt the moms were always telling their kids, "Don't run with the awl in your hand!"
6. Parching basket No oven? Put your seeds on this basket long with some hot coals, then shake it back and forth. You'll roast your seeds in no time.
7. Pitch-lined basket For carrying and boiling water. People carried water in these baskets. But how could a basket hold water, you ask? It can—if you coat it with pine pitch. Okay, but how could you boil water in a basket? This seems impossible. Putting a basket on the fire will just burn it up. But the Archaic people figured out a way. How would you boil water in a basket? *
   

 

*Archaic people put stones in the fire. When the stones g0t really hot, they dropped them in the water.