The Neolithic Period: Early Villages

Ms. Carmelitano

Recap: How do we learn about the past

Archaeology Archaeological digs Radiocarbon Dating: The process of studying the decay

of carbon-14 to estimate the age of organic materials, such as wood and leather, up to about 58,000 to 62,000 years

Historians study the past by locating and analyzing:› Human remains› Settlements› Fossils› Artifacts

Tools Bones Cave paintings

Development of Civilizations

The Neolithic Revolution lead to the development of civilization› Sedentary life style

Specialized jobs Government Social Stratification (Social classes) Development of a Traditional Economy

Neolithic Villages

Aleppo and Jericho Stonehenge Catalhoyuk Ur – in Sumer

Aleppo and Jericho

Location: Fertile Crescent Two of the earliest Neolithic Civilizations Difficult to excavate because modern cities

now sit on top of the sites Walls of Jericho

› Massive stone wall surrounding Jericho› Defense against floods and ceremonial

purposes Similar homes are evidence of city-planning

› Result of job specialization

Stonehenge

Location: England› Construction began during the stone age, and

completed during the Bronze Age› Through dating, discovered built over 6,500

years Circular burial mound surrounds 50 “pi”

shaped mega stones, and 43 smaller bluestones

Durringham Settlement, 2 miles away, one of the largest Neolithic Settlements› 4,000 people

Catalhoyuk

Currently under excavation in Anatolia Rectangular, honey-combed homes are

evidence of city- planning› Job specialization

Traded Obsidian – volcanic rock polished to look like glass

UR – in Sumer

Large scale irrigation ditches found A trading city Large temple – Ziggurat – located in the

center of the city› Tiered, pyramid shape› “mountain of the Gods”

Simple one story houses with no windows Earliest evidence of writing

› Cuneiform Number system based on 60

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=HJk8EzX-n4-L-M&tbnid=29zLxNHSI2LjqM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://history-world.org/ur.htm&ei=eBYyUtbPHfjl4AOioYDACA&bvm=bv.52109249,d.dmg&psig=AFQjCNHV8ixF1WrNdtlRqvlTWKrK_8ITOQ&ust=1379100661138572