Early Man

Basic Historical Tools Archaeology The study of past societies through the analysis of what people left behind Artifacts:      Tools and Weapons Art and Sculpture Pottery Jewelry Human Remains Buildings and Monuments

Anthropology Carbon Dating The study of human life and culture Fossils Remains of plants and animals What people ate, domesticated, and culture Carbon Dating Used to date organic artifacts or things that were once alive All living things contain a radioactive isotope of Carbon called Carbon 14 which they absorb from the sun while they are alive. Carbon 14 has a half-life of 5000 years. That means it takes 5,000 years for half of the Carbon 14 in something to break down. If we know how much Carbon 14 something has left we can count back to how much is had to begin with to determine the age of the artifact. Is limited to things 50,000 years old or less.

Hominids Humans or other creatures that walk upright

1) Australopithecus First Hominid Believed to have come from East Africa about 3-4 million years ago. Homo habilis “handy man” An age between Australopithecus and Homo Erectus

Homo Erectus 2nd large stage of human development “Upright human being” Emerged about 1.8 million years ago Considered first hominids to leave Africa and move to Europe and Asia Used more complex tools

Neanderthals Discovered in the Neander Valley in Germany Believed to have lived in 100,00- 30,000 Used stone tools Buried their dead, believed to have had some primitive religious beliefs First believed they were killed off by homo sapiens sapiens but new evidence suggests some genetic mixing

Homo Sapiens Sapiens Modern man Believe to have appeared in Africa between 150,000-200,000 years ago By 10,000 BC Homo Sapiens Sapiens could be found throughout the world due to migration Two theories to this migration…….

Migration Theory 1) “Out of Africa” model Multiregional model Homo sapiens sapiens migrated out of Africa and slowly replaced other groups in the world Multiregional model The development of modern humans happened in different locations (Africa, Asia, and Europe) at different times.

During the last ice age between 100,000 B. C. and 8000 B. C During the last ice age between 100,000 B.C. and 8000 B.C. the water level in the oceans dropped revealing a land bridge over the Bering Strait connecting Asia and North America

Paleolithic Old Stone Age Lived in groups called clans (20-30 people) Clans hunted and gathered, but still Nomadic to follow food. Notable for: Fire Language Cave art Stone tools

Matriarchal society Female dominated Women are often seen as a symbol of life and fertility. Many ancient religions were centered around the worship of the earth and woman was often representative of earth.

Mesolithic Age Transition period between Paleolithic and Neolithic eras Shift from old food-gathering and hunting to food-producing (domestication)

Neolithic Era Neo – “new” Lithic – “stone” Transition from Paleolithic due to the discovery of agriculture Systematic Agriculture: crops growing a constant basis Domestication of animals Hunting dogs, sheep, cow, etc Advanced stone tools Developed weaving Made pottery Food storage