Final answer:
Paleolithic animals are known from cave paintings and zooarchaeological finds like fossilized animal bones near human settlements.
Step-by-step explanation:
We understand the animals Paleolithic people saw by studying cave paintings and archaeological remains like fossilized bones. Paleo-art, such as cave paintings, depicts a variety of prehistoric animals, which provides insights into the species that existed during that time. Additionally, zooarchaeological findings, which include fossils and bones of animals found near human settlement sites, give clues to what those humans hunted, domesticated, or competed with for resources.
Biological anthropologists and zooarchaeologists analyze these remains to construct a detailed picture of the Paleolithic environment. This research reveals not only the types of animals but also the diets and lifestyles of early humans, thus uncovering how they interacted with and perceived their natural surroundings. The discovery of animal bones alongside human tools or in rubbish heaps suggests which species were hunted or scavenged by these ancient peoples.