When we read about prehistoric people, most of it is about cave men. There isn’t much about cave women. Most of us think of prehistoric women from cartoons, many of which show men dragging women by their hair. In other words, we get the idea that men were the dominant gender of ancient times.

Science tells a very different story. Evidence from prehistoric statues and cave art tells us that women were probably held in high regard and probably invented many things necessary to human societies. For example, it seems likely that women, not men, invented gardening, as well as created the first baskets and pottery. This makes sense for two reasons. First, women had to care for young children, so they remained close to the camp or cave. Men were often away somewhere hunting for game. Women were also the ones who had the time to weave baskets, make clay pots, and help feed the people by tending to gardens.

Use your own words to explain the main idea in the paragraph.

List two details that support the main idea.

List two details that give information about why women probably were the ones to invent pottery, baskets, and gardening.