PrehistoryPrehistory

Archaeology and PrehistoryArchaeology and Prehistory

Archaeology is a branch of Archaeology is a branch of anthropologyanthropology

Archaeologists constantly re-Archaeologists constantly re-evaluate conclusions in their evaluate conclusions in their study of past humans / study of past humans / hominidshominids

The Ice Age…The Ice Age…

1 million to approximately 9 1 million to approximately 9 thousand years agothousand years ago

Glaciers covered 1/3 of the Glaciers covered 1/3 of the northern hemisphere four timesnorthern hemisphere four times

Humans migratedHumans migrated Sea level dropped and land Sea level dropped and land

bridges formedbridges formed

http://www.becominghuman.org

Prologue and Evidence DocumentaryPrologue and Evidence Documentary Why is Hadar, Ethiopia important to Why is Hadar, Ethiopia important to

archeological study?archeological study? Who is LUCY? Why is her Who is LUCY? Why is her

discovery significant?discovery significant? How did early hominids How did early hominids

utilize their environment?utilize their environment?

Paleolithic EraPaleolithic Era

Australopithecus anamensisAustralopithecus anamensis and and Australopithecus africanusAustralopithecus africanus – 2.5 to 4 – 2.5 to 4 million years agomillion years ago

Homo habilisHomo habilis – 2.5 million years ago – 2.5 million years ago

Homo erectusHomo erectus – 1.8 million years ago – 1.8 million years ago

Neanderthals – 230,000 to 35,000 Neanderthals – 230,000 to 35,000 years ago – mysteriously died out?years ago – mysteriously died out?

Homo habilisHomo habilis

Homo erectusHomo erectus

Human versus Non-Human Apes Human versus Non-Human Apes

HumanHuman Parabolic jawParabolic jaw ChinChin Small caninesSmall canines No diastemaNo diastema Fully upright Fully upright

postureposture Little sexual Little sexual

dimorphismdimorphism

Non-Human ApesNon-Human Apes Parallel sided jawParallel sided jaw No chinNo chin Enlarged caninesEnlarged canines Diastema (space to Diastema (space to

lock canines)lock canines) No permanent upright No permanent upright

postureposture Strong sexual Strong sexual

dimorphismdimorphism

Paleolithic EraPaleolithic Era Homo sapiensHomo sapiens emerged in Africa emerged in Africa

100,000 to 400,000 years ago100,000 to 400,000 years ago

Homo sapiensHomo sapiens migrated from Africa migrated from Africa to Eurasia, Australia, and the to Eurasia, Australia, and the AmericasAmericas

Early humans were hunters and Early humans were hunters and gatherers whose survival depended gatherers whose survival depended on the availability of wild plants and on the availability of wild plants and animalsanimals

Homo sapienHomo sapien

Human ExpansionHuman Expansion

Paleolithic HighlightsPaleolithic HighlightsOvercame the environment to survive!Overcame the environment to survive!

Hunter and Gatherer SocietyHunter and Gatherer Society Nomadic Nomadic Invented first tools and simple Invented first tools and simple

weaponsweapons Learned how to make fireLearned how to make fire Lived in social groupings Lived in social groupings Created “cave art”Created “cave art”

Cave ArtCave Art

Look at the following slides Look at the following slides depicting cave paintings from depicting cave paintings from the Cro Magnon culture. the Cro Magnon culture.

Why do you think prehistoric Why do you think prehistoric groups painted cave walls? groups painted cave walls? What do you think that these What do you think that these paintings mean?paintings mean?

Cave Art - Lascaux, FranceCave Art - Lascaux, France

Cave Art - Lascaux, FranceCave Art - Lascaux, France

Cave Art - Lascaux, FranceCave Art - Lascaux, France

Paleolithic ToolsPaleolithic Tools

Neolithic EraNeolithic Era

Neolithic EraNeolithic EraHomo sapiens sapiensHomo sapiens sapiens – 40,000 – 40,000

years ago until todayyears ago until today

11,000 years ago with the 11,000 years ago with the establishment of agriculture and establishment of agriculture and development of citiesdevelopment of cities

Period between the Hunter/ Gatherer Period between the Hunter/ Gatherer and Early Civilizationand Early Civilization

Neolithic Town LifeNeolithic Town Life

Jericho – first cityJericho – first city Catal Huyuk – Catal Huyuk –

largest citylargest city

Neolithic HighlightsNeolithic HighlightsBeginning of settled social groups!Beginning of settled social groups! Domesticated animalsDomesticated animals Developed agricultureDeveloped agriculture Used advanced toolsUsed advanced tools Made potteryMade pottery Developed weaving skillsDeveloped weaving skills Beginning of town lifeBeginning of town life

Neolithic Funeral PotteryNeolithic Funeral Pottery

Neolithic Archaeological SitesNeolithic Archaeological Sites

Stonehenge is an example Stonehenge is an example of an archeological site in of an archeological site in England that began during England that began during the Neolithic Age – and the Neolithic Age – and was finished during the was finished during the Bronze AgeBronze Age