By: Ashleighh, Lilah, Ian, Marty Cro-Magnons! By: Ashleighh, Lilah, Ian, Marty

Introduction Let’s take you back to the past, during the end of the Ice Age, to explore and learn about the life of Cro-Magnons. You’ll learn about when they lived, their physical appearance, how they hunted and gathered, what tools they used, and much more. Now let’s go!

Lived Cro-Magnons lived in Africa and Asia, and then they migrated to Europe and America during the Ice Age around 40,000 years ago. [1]

Appearance & Clothes These early humans look a lot like humans today. Their chins were pointed, their foreheads were flat, and they also had smaller teeth, heads, and chins than previous early humans. The men were usually about five feet, four inches to six feet tall; the woman were around five feet tall, too. The men were about 168 pounds, and the women were 148 pounds.[3] In cooler climates, they would wear softened leather to keep warm; during warmer seasons, they wove grass and sometimes bark clothes. They sewed their clothes with animal gut string and needles made from other animal’s bones. They made jewelry from shells, teeth, feathers, and bones. They usually made necklaces and bracelets. Sometimes they even painted and tattooed their bodies with natural dyes with colors such as red, brown, and black. [2]

Shelters Cro-Magnons built permanent huts, so the homes would be able to last long, through a long harsh winter during the Ice Age. They built their houses out of branches and mammoth bones and covered that with a layer or animal’s skin. These homes were teepee-style. In the process, they would dig huge holes in the ground and inserted the tall poles and tied the top with rope made from animal guts, and then very carefully, they would lay the warm furs around the top; then placed large rocks around the bottom. [4]

Food They ate foods from seeds and berries to game and fish. The gatherers picked and foraged for all sorts of roots and nuts, berries and seeds. The hunters hunted for all different types of game, from reindeer and elands, to seals and fish. They caught these animals by using home-made bows and arrows, traps, and nets. They also built rafts and canoes to ride into the water, and then soon caught their huge fish and prey.[5] Cro-Magnons didn’t let any meat go to waste.

Daily life The Cro-Magnons were great hunters. They were hunters and gatherers. Since they would get in great moods when it was nice weather, sometimes after some hard work, they could actually relax for once if they were done with hunting and gathering.[6]

Tools & Weapons The men were great toolmakers. Weapons, usually created by the men, were stone axes, knives, spears. Harpoons, wooden bows, and sharp stone-tipped arrows were also made and were usually used for hunting their prey.[7]

Fire Fire for Cro-Magnons was their only source of heat during the Ice-Age through the long, harsh winters. They also used fire to catch prey. These people got fire from when a lighting bolt struck. They hoped it would hit a tree to start a fire, and then Cro-Magnons got the fire from the tree. Additionally, they would use flint and stone to create a spark that could become a fire.[8]

Religion and ceremonies Since their lives were very difficult, and because of the harsh, long Ice Age, Cro-Magnons barely celebrated, but they’d have to cherish the times they would celebrate.[8] Though, when someone died, they’d gather, and they’d put the bodies into the ground. The religious leader, the Shaman, would put some ingredients in the grave. For their religion, they’d have stories and reenactments Using animal skin, drums, and percussions, they would enjoy playing music and dancing/chanting.[9]

Language Cro-Magnons were the first of our ancestors to be capable of pronouncing clear speech so they could develop more understanding with their language while hunting and gathering.[10] Since they could speak, they had more complex thoughts, and they could plan for the future.[11]

Paintings and Carvings Cro-Magnons used art in their religion and were also the first of the Early Humans to sculpt, paint, carve, and to use colors. Their sculptures/little statues were usually animals or woman figures. These were made from bone, ivory, antlers, and stone. Cave paintings were made of ground up, colored rocks in the colors/shades of red, orange, brown, black, and yellow. These paints were stored in hollow bones. Brushes were made of animal hair that was tied to small bones.[12]

Quiz Time! How long ago did Cro-Magnons live and where? Explain Cro-Magnons’ philosophy about meat. Also name three food items they ate. What was their fire wish?

Answers They lived 40,000 years ago. They first started out in Africa and Asia and then migrated to Europe and America. Cro-Magnons never wasted any meat. Three food items they ate were the following: Berries, reindeer, and fish.  Their fire wish was when lightning struck, they’d hope it’d hit a branch for a fire to start.

Conclusion Now that we’re back to the present time, let’s summarize what we learned. We learned that Cro-Magnons were skilled hunters, terrific toolmakers, the first Early Humans to speak clearly, and that they were the earliest -colorful group of Early Men!

Endnotes 1. Early humans packet Cro-Magnon page. 1 2. earlyhumans.mrdonn.org Cro-Magnon 3. Early humans packet Cro-Magnon page. 1 4. earlyhumans.mrdonn.org Cro-Magnon 5. Ibid. 6. Early humans packet Cro-Magnon page. 7. earlyhumans.mrdonn.org Cro-Magnon 8. Early humans packet Cro-Magnon page. 1

More End Notes 9. 2. earlyhumans.mrdonn.org Cro-Magnon 10. Early humans packet Cro-Magnon 11. www.docstoc.com 12. Early humans packet Cro-Magnon page. 4

Bibliography California Visits Ancient Civilizations. Macmillan/MacGraw Hill: New York, NY, 2007. “Cro-Magnon.” Cro-Magnon. http://www.earlyhumans.mrdonn.org. Kearns, Marsha.“Homo Habilis.” Early Humans. Creative Teaching Press: CA, 1993. www.docstoc.com