Most of the information we have found out about Africa is not from written records. Instead, it's from all types of structures that were left behind. The buildings show how the inhabitants tried to live in deserts, rain forests, savannas, and mountains. They also show the influence of foreign invaders such as the Portuguese.

Archaeologists also have found relics of religious rites and signs of the influences of the varied animal wild life. Africa's wild life still affects archaeologists today: One of the dangers archaeologists face at African excavations is hungry lions!