Paleolithic PeoplesPaleolithic Peoples

Southern African Rock Art

Early Human HistoryEarly Human History5 million BCE - first hominids (human

relatives) evolved in east Africa@500,000 years ago - first modern

hominids (humans like us): larger brains

150,000 to 200,000 BCE - first homo sapiens (modern humans)

Other hominid groups died outLinks to Human Family Tree &

Timeline

Age of Earth vs. HumansAge of Earth vs. Humans

1 billion years =1000 million years

Age of the Earth = 4.5 billion years

Hominid history = @ 5-6 million years

Homo sapiens (like us) = 200,000 years

Early Human History Early Human History (cont.)(cont.)Human adaptations to

environment and resourcesHuman migrations for food and

other survival reasons – populated other continents

By 50,000 BCE humans in Southeast Asia and Australia

By 12,000 BCE in northeast Asia and Americas

Great website on human evolution:

Smithsonian Institution’s “What Does It Mean to Be Human” website

History of Human History of Human MigrationMigration

First homo sapiens evolved in eastern Africa – migrated to other continents over next 50,000 years

Problems Studying Early Problems Studying Early Human History?Human History?1st written records only 5

thousand years ago – few surviveUsing artifactsFossil recordsHave to use other sources of info.Accuracy?Meaning?Forensic scienceDNA, carbon dating

Link - list and explanation of diff. forms of dating

Paleolithic Rock and Cave Paleolithic Rock and Cave ArtArt

Video LinksVideo LinksRick Steves at Lasceaux, FranceLasceaux Prehistory of Art, Part 1

Paleolithic Cave Paintings: Paleolithic Cave Paintings: EuropeEurope

Location of African Rock ArtLocation of African Rock ArtSpans centuries: 35,000 B.C.E+ to Spans centuries: 35,000 B.C.E+ to presentpresent

Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa

Cave Art, Inanke, Cave Art, Inanke, ZimbabweZimbabwe

Drakensberg, South AfricaDrakensberg, South Africa

Characteristics of Paleolithic Characteristics of Paleolithic PeoplesPeoples

Paleolithic Life: 2 million – Paleolithic Life: 2 million – 10,000 years ago10,000 years agoEarly hominids and homo sapiens

used stone tools Lived in family groupsForaged for food – cooperation Hunting and gatheringAdapted to environment and

other changing situationsDeveloped different cultures

Paleolithic Tool KitPaleolithic Tool Kit

Linton Panel – The ‘Rosetta Linton Panel – The ‘Rosetta Stone’ of S.A. Rock ArtStone’ of S.A. Rock Art

Created in 18th or 19th century, C.E.

Game Pass, SA – original Game Pass, SA – original location of Linton Panellocation of Linton Panel

Linton Panel DrawingLinton Panel Drawing

Interpretation of Rock Art?:

San Trance RitualSan Trance Ritual

Lonyana Rock, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.

Meaning? Significance?Meaning? Significance?

San Trance – Bleeding from San Trance – Bleeding from NoseNose

Trance: Bleeding from Trance: Bleeding from NoseNose

San Trance RitualsSan Trance Rituals

Trance: Meaning? Trance: Meaning? Significance?Significance?

Storm Shelter, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Meaning? Significance?Meaning? Significance?

ShamanShamanTransformedTransformed

Trance: Swallows (Birds)Trance: Swallows (Birds)

Shaman and ParticipantsShaman and Participants

ShamanShaman

Portrait of a ShamanPortrait of a Shaman

Storm Shelter, Eastern Cape, South Africa

ModernModernRock Art:Rock Art:

Men on Men on horses withhorses withriflesrifles

Link to The African Rock Art Link to The African Rock Art ArchiveArchive

Were Paleolithic people Were Paleolithic people civilized? orcivilized? orWhat do we know about What do we know about Paleolithic culture?Paleolithic culture?