The First Humans Prehistory – 3500 B.C. Chapter 1 The First Humans Prehistory – 3500 B.C. Chapter 1

Early Humans The period of time before writing was developed prehistory

Early Humans Items left behind by early people such as tools, pottery, paintings, weapons, buildings, and household items artifacts

Early Humans A remnant or impression of an organism from a past geologic age that has been preserved in the earth’s crust fossil

Early Humans The study of past societies through an analysis of the items people left behind them archaeology

Early Humans The study of human life and culture based on artifacts and human fossils anthropology

Early Humans Measure of C-14 (radioactive carbon) in the artifact or fossil Radiocarbon dating

Early Humans Measure of light given off by electrons around artifacts and fossils Thermoluminescence dating T h e r m o l u m i n e s c e n c e

Early Humans Biological analyses of organic remains (deoxyribonucleic acid) such as blood, hair, and plant tissue DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) analysis D e o x y r i b o n u c l e i c

(Greek) Old Stone Age Use of simple stone tools P A L E O L I T H I C A G E

Paleolithic Age 2,500,000 – 10,000 B.C. Hunting and gathering for food = nomadic in a group Equality between men and women Shelters Art Burials Fire

Wanderers Moving from place to place to hunt and gather food n o m a d s

F I R E Warmth Protection Hunting Center of community Move to cooler areas Cooking Warmth Protection Hunting Center of community Move to cooler areas Cooking

improve taste preserve food help digestion (easier to chew)

100,000 – 8,000 B.C. Sheets of thick ice covered large parts of Europe, Asia, and North America Threatened human life Ability to adapt was crucial to human survival Fire helped to change the environment to better adapt for survival I c e A g e

During the Pleistocene epoch of the Quaternary Ice Age, glaciers (represented on map in white) covered much of the Earth’s northern hemisphere. Ice Ages consist of glacial periods and warmer interglacial periods. Although the Pleistocene, the Earth’s most recent glacial event, ended 10,000 years ago, many scientists believe that the Earth remains in an interglacial state of the Quaternary Ice Age.

Video: BEFORE HISTORY 1. What are some of the ways archeologists determine the age of symbols found on rocks in the open air? 2. What type of rock art can be radiocarbon- dated? 3. What is believed to be the significance of the birds painted atop people’s heads in some of the ancient art? 4. Why does archeologist Sally Cole say it is better to view these images in their original settings rather than in museums?