SOL 8.2

1. Define archeologists along with methods for analyzing past culture

2.  Choose the proper routes of early human migrations from beginnings to places reached

3. Identify characteristics for the Paleolithic Era

4. Identify characteristics for the Neolithic Era

5. Identify specific archeological sites including their locations

Discovery of Early Humans in Africa

History began with the invention of writing- 5,500 years ago

Time period before writing developed- Prehistory

Human beings and the humanlike creatures that preceded them belonged to the hominids

Archaeologists investigate prehistoric life by unearthing and interpreting the objects left behind by prehistoric people

Artifacts are objects that were shaped by human hands- tools, pots, and beads

Archaeologists apply scientific tests such as carbon dating to analyze fossils and artifacts.

Culture=WAY OF LIFE Includes knowledge people have, language

they speak, ways they eat and dress, religious beliefs, achievement in art and music

• Problems arise in assigning a definite age to fossil bones, tools, and other remains

• Radiocarbon Dating- used for organic matter that is less than 50,000 years old

• Researchers can date older remains- up to 26 billion years ago

Historians have divided the Stone Age into 3 different period. 1. Paleolithic Age – Old Stone Age

Lasted from 2 million BCE to around 8,000 BCE.

2. Mesolithic Age – Middle Stone Age Lasted from 8,000 BCE to 6,000 BCE.

3. Neolithic Age – New Stone Age Lasted from 6,000 BCE to 3,500 BCE.

First “humans” appeared 2,000,000 years ago.

Homo Sapiens emerged in Africa between 100,000 and 400,000 years ago.

Homo Sapiens migrated from Africa to Eurasia, Australia, and the Americas.

According to the map, which continent did humans reach last?

Donald C. Johnson and Tom Gray uncovered the 3.2 million year old skeleton of a hominid nicknamed “Lucy”

Hers was the most nearly complete skeleton of any erect-walking pre-human found up to that time

1994- assembled first almost complete skull of Lucy- proving that males and females were different sizes

Replica of Lucy

Homo= human (Latin)

Scientists divided homo into three groups that arose at different times in pre-history

Homo habilis- person with ability

Homo erectus- person who walks upright

Homo sapiens- person who thinks

Early humans were hunters and gatherers whose survival depended on the availability of wild plants and animals.

These people were nomadic – they migrated from place to place in search of food, water, and shelter.

They invented the first tools and simple weapons from stone.

Learned how to make fireWhat do you think

is a simple tool?

Lived in clans Clans are small

groups of people who join together for a purpose.

In the case of early humans, it was survival.

Developed oral language.

Created “cave art”.

Why would oral language be important in the development of

early man?

People who lived about 230,000 years ago at the end of the Paleolithic Age. Made tools and

used tusks to create needles to sew “clothing”.

Had strong family ties and even buried their dead.

Cro-Magnon were people who lived about 38,000 years ago.

They replaced Neanderthals.

With Cro-Magnon, technology improved.

The Appearance of Homo Sapiens

6,000 – 3,500 BCE Neolithic Revolution=

Development of Agriculture Learned how to plant seeds and grow

food. Agriculture freed people from hunting

and gathering and “towns” began to form and grow.

The beginning of settled agriculture was a major step in the advance of civilization.

Raised and domesticated animals

Used advanced tools

Made pottery Developed weaving

skills

First wheels and axels were used.

First forms of government were established. To protect

themselves and food supplies.

The discovery of copper about 4,000 BCE changed the New Stone Age.

Copper is better than stone, but very soft.

Copper mixed with tin forms bronze Harder and more durable.

Tool making moved from stone to bronze to iron.

Smelting – removing metal from ore. Allowed for more metals for tools and

weapons

Villages began to develop where soil was fertile and water abundant

Jericho- modern Israel West Bank- 8,000 BCE

Aleppo- example of modern city in Fertile Crescent

Çatalhoyük- Turkey- 7,000-6,300 BCE Largest Neolithic

village that has been discovered

Çatal Hüyük Excavation site

Example of an archaeological site in England that was begun during the Neolithic Age and completed during the Bronze Age.

From study of these archaeological sites we have learned about the Stone Age.

1. Locating and analyzing human remains, fossils, and artifacts

2. Applying scientific tests such as carbon dating to analyze fossils and artifacts

1. Stonehenge

2. Stonehenge was begun during the Neolithic period and completed during the Bronze Age

1. What was a most important step in the advancement of civilization during the Neolithic Era?Permanent settlements that included

agriculture and the domestication of animals

2. In what era was fire discovered?The Paleolithic Era

3. The first use of advanced tools was a part of what era?The Neolithic Era

4. What is Eurasia?Asia and Europe together make up

Eurasia. They are both separate continents though.