Human Origins in Africa

Chapter 1 Section 1

Key Terms

• Artifact• Culture• Hominid• Paleolithic Age• Neolithic Age• Technology• Homo Sapiens

Scientists Search for Human Origins

• Prehistory- 5000 years ago

• Artifacts- are human made objects such as jewelry and tools

• Culture-people’s unique way of life

Scientists

• Archeologist-uncover stories of prehistoric people

• Anthropologists-study people’s culture

• Paleontologist- study fossils in rocks

Early Man

• Hominids- humans and other creatures that walk upright

• Lucy- female skeleton 3.5 million years old

• Footprints in Africa 3.6 million years old

Old Stone Age Begins

• Paleolithic Age- 2.5 million to 8000 BC– Stone age– Oldest stone chopping

tools• Neolithic Age- 8000 to

3000 BC– Polish stone tools– Make pottery– Grow crops/raise animals

Homo Habilis

• 2.5 million years ago• Found in southern and

eastern Africa• Means man of skill• Used tools

Homo Erectus

• Means “upright man”• Knowledge of tools• Skillful hunters• Tools for digging,

scraping and cutting• First to migrate out of

Africa• First to use fire• Language

Homo Sapiens

• Means “wise man”• Neanderthal man-

200,000 to 30,000– Religious beliefs, rituals– Lived in caves– Cut up and skinned prey– Survived ice age– Flute 43,000 to 80,000

years– Cave painting 35,000 years

Homo Sapiens

• Cro-Magnon– 40,000 years ago– Identical to modern

humans– 5 feet tall– Migrated to Europe and

Asia– Hunting strategies– Spoken language

Cave Paintings Argentina

Cave Painting Tassili n’Ajer, Algeria

Cave Painting Lascaux, France

Cave Paintings

• Appear in – France (Europe)– Algeria (Africa)– Argentina (South

America)– Australia– All show features of

humans or animals or both

– Three basic colors, yellow, black, red