Paleolithic Era - Explained 2,000 to 10,000 BCE

As you can see by your chart, we will investigate both the Paleolithic as well as the Neolithic time period and then we will compare them. Our first focus will be the Paleolithic time period. Lascaux Caves was done during the Paleolithic time period. We will have the opportunity to see them (virtually) during a web quest tomorrow.

The First Humans Paleolithic Paleo = Old Lithic = Stone Neolithic Neo = New Lithic = Stone

The earliest humans probably lived in Africa. They spread to the rest of the world over the next tens of thousands of years as they hunted and gathered food to survive.

How old are we? A. 1 billion years old B. About 65 million years old C. About 30 million years old D. About 3 million years old Dinosaurs lived about Over 65 million years ago… … but even though you may find lots of movies with humans getting eaten by dinosaurs, dinosaurs were long dead before humans showed up on earth!

How do we know? Lucy discovered in 1974 discovered in Hadar, Ethiopia Lucy is believed to be over 3 million years old! Evidence of humans walking upright!

Paleolithic Era REMEMBER Paleolithic Era also means Old Stone Age. The Paleolithic Age began two million-years ago

Paleolithic Era Homo Sapiens during this period were... –Nomads – Making simple tools and weapons. –Making cave art –Mastering the use of fire. –Developing language –Living in clans

Paleolithic Lifestyle-Dwellings Homes Small homes Caves, huts, or “tents” Small groups of people Found near water (rivers, lakes) Nomadic – move around often Food Hunter/Gatherers Meat was either hunted or scavenged Fruits/Vegetables must be scavenged NO GROWING FOOD

Key Concepts:- Dwellings  Nomadic Lifestyle – followed herds  Temporary Houses  Small groups of people  Animal skin tents, caves, and huts – Interesting note: People did not live in caves like Lascaux or if they stayed, it was for a very short period of time. One theory is that Lascaux was more “magical”, used as a kind of place of worship Remember that Paleolithic people often had to move from place to place, hunting and gathering. Because of the lack of food and the constant moving, populations tended to be small. Although people were generally healthy, it is relative because of their short life span. They died at a very early age because of hunger, disease, or injury. It was a very rough lifestyle.

Groups of related families united in bands to collect roots, nuts, fruits and seeds. They also hunted together. By co-operating together they met their basic needs for food, clothing and shelter.

The animals they killed provided meat for food, bones for tools, and hides for clothing. They set up seasonal camps in caves or rock shelters wherever the animals were plentiful.

 Because populations were small, both men and women were important in these early societies. It is believed that men were probably the leaders of these little tribes.  The eldest man ruled until his death. At that point power would move to the next oldest male.  Women, however, had the most important roles during this time period.  They had the important role of carrying on life and for the most part they were more successful in finding food.  They were the “gatherers.” They found nuts and berries while the men hunted. Most times the men were unsuccessful in finding food while the women weren’t.

While the Paleolithic era refers to the "old stone age," the entire time period during which human beings were making tools of stone, art begins at approximately 35,000 BCE a time at which human beings seem to have circled the globe. The time frame for "Paleolithic art" can be described from 35,000 BCE to approximately 12,000 BCE. Some theories state that cave artists breathed life into their animal/hunting pictures – Showing the important connection between the hunt and the cave paintings – Other theories state that cave painted stopped when early humans began farming (agriculture) – and felt superior to the animals that they drew before…

Key Concepts: - Clothes  Animal skins  Bones used as needles to sew skins together Key concepts: Hunt/Farm  Hunter/gatherers  Nomadic – moved with food supplies – followed herds  Fished  Ice Age forced them to move/change Key concepts: ART Cave Paintings-mostly of animals Cave art used in rituals- sometimes animals sacrificed Animism – the belief that all living things have spirits

The Paleolithic Age Tool usage Tool usage The invention of chipped stone tools Hunting and gathering bands (20-30 people) Constantly moving from place to place following food sources (herds of animals, etc.) Nomadic Nomadic

Paleolithic Age began about 2 million years ago Paleolithic Age is often referred to as the Old Stone Age Rocks were used as tools and weapons during the Paleolithic Revolution Stone Axe Spearhead Flint

Stone Age Artifacts

Cave Paintings are Artifacts too.

1.How did early people get the food they needed to survive?

3. Besides food, for what purposes might early people have worked together?

Bands migrated when food (plants or animals) became scarce in one location. We’re outta here! Yaba-daba-doo!

Spreading Through the World

Reasons for the Migrations Couldn’t find enough food Growing number of bands Changing climate (desertification) Follow animals on the move (hunting)

Ice Age About 35,000 years ago Ice sheets covered about 1/3 of the earth Result…ocean level lower & land bridges made migration to various parts of world possible

And it made a cool movie too…

Key Concepts (chart): - Tools  Chipped stone tools  Spears, knives, axes, clubs scraper, needles, harpoons  Cave Lamps (as used for light to paint in caves) Key Concepts (chart) Other:  Climate – cold, glaciers, fewer plants  Lived in small groups (clans)  Women gathered fruit, nuts, roots  Men were hunters, elders had power  Everyone SHARED property equally  People were generally healthy during their short life span