Final answer:
The Greek root 'Paleo' means 'ancient' or 'old,' and 'zoic' pertains to 'life,' especially animal life. When combined in terms such as 'Paleozoic,' it pertains to eras with ancient forms of life. 'Paleoanthropology' is the study of human origins through fossilized remains.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Greek root word 'Paleo' derived from 'palaio' means 'ancient' or 'old,' and it is commonly used to denote something from a distant past, such as in the term 'Paleolithic,' which refers to the early phase of the Stone Age, characterized by the use of rudimentary chipped stone tools. On the other hand, the root word 'zoic' from 'zo' relates to 'life,' particularly animal life, and it is often used in geological contexts to denote time periods where particular forms of life were prevalent, as seen in the terms such as 'Mesozoic' and 'Cenozoic'. When combined, 'Paleozoic', these roots refer to an era in Earth's history, known for ancient forms of life that preceded the Mesozoic era.
For example, the Paleolithic era is a division of prehistoric time, predating the invention of writing, and marks early human cultures, where tools made from old stones were indicative of human development. In biological anthropology, the study of these eras and their respective diets, like the Paleolithic diet, help us understand the evolution of human food consumption and activity levels. Paleoanthropology, related to these studies, is a field of anthropology focused on the origins and predecessors of the present human species using fossils and other remains.