Pre-History Chapter 1

PREHISTORIC TIMES Between 4,000,000 B.C. – 3500 B.C. Between 4,000,000 B.C. – 3500 B.C. 1 st sign of hominids 3.6 million years ago 1 st sign of hominids 3.6 million years ago Hominid: a creature that walks upright rather than on all fours Hominid: a creature that walks upright rather than on all fours

Why is Prehistory hard to study? Prehistory lacks written records such as letters, dairies, ledgers, and tablets Prehistory lacks written records such as letters, dairies, ledgers, and tablets Writing wasn’t invented until 5,500 ago Writing wasn’t invented until 5,500 ago Homo Sapiens: “Thinking Man” is up to 300,000 years ago Homo Sapiens: “Thinking Man” is up to 300,000 years ago

Who and What is studied in Prehistoric times? ARCHEOLOGISTS, SOCIETY, CULTURE ARCHEOLOGISTS, SOCIETY, CULTURE Society: network of people who interact with each other Society: network of people who interact with each other Culture: the way of life that a group of people develop and pass on to their children Culture: the way of life that a group of people develop and pass on to their children Archeologists: a person who studies the remains of ancient societies Archeologists: a person who studies the remains of ancient societies

Historians rely on the following kinds of information Artifacts- a human made object like a tool, weapon or ornament that represents a stage of human development Artifacts- a human made object like a tool, weapon or ornament that represents a stage of human development Fossils- a trace or fragment of ancient plants and animals Fossils- a trace or fragment of ancient plants and animals

Methods of dating fossils and artifacts: Radiocarbon dating Thermo-luminescence Microscopic and biological analysis

Dating Methods Relative Dating Relative Dating –Location and comparison of objects Absolute Dates Absolute Dates –Carbon 14 dating –Layers of clay –Tree ring dating

Early Human Origins found in Ethiopia “Lucy” Southern Ape Southern Ape 3 million year old female classified as a Australopithecine 3 million year old female classified as a Australopithecine 3 to 5 feet 3 to 5 feet Brain size was about a third the size of modern humans Brain size was about a third the size of modern humans

Homo Habilis “Skillful” Between 2.5 million and 2 million years old Between 2.5 million and 2 million years old Founded in eastern Africa Founded in eastern Africa 50% larger brain than Australopithecines 50% larger brain than Australopithecines Made stone tools mostly out of lava rock Made stone tools mostly out of lava rock

Homo Erectus “Upright Man” 1.6 million years old 1.6 million years old Average male believed to be about 6 feet tall Average male believed to be about 6 feet tall Brain was ¾ the size of human brain today Brain was ¾ the size of human brain today First hominid to leave the continent or migrate First hominid to leave the continent or migrate First hominid to use fire First hominid to use fire