The Mesolithic, Neolithic and

Onward…

Remember the Upper Paleolithic?

When it ended…human

development did NOT end!

Upper Paleolithic Ends…Mesolithic Begins

• The Ice Age ends…lakes emerge…forests grow… deer

flourish..new tools created, like arrowheads to hunt deer in

forests

And Then…The Transition to

Agriculture

Hot spots of agriculture origins

Features of an Agricultural Society

Sedentary Village Life…Skara Brae, Britain

Domesticated Plants and Animals

Features of Agriculture…

Differences in Social Status

Food Storage…Pottery

Cemeteries

Craft Specialization

So, why is the move into

farming so SLOW?

There are few benefits of

farming…and a number of cons

Population increase since the

origin of agriculture

New selective factors?

Malnutrition Results in Cribra

Orbitalia/Anemia

Lesions on the Tibia Show

Poorer Healther Overall

Swollen bone on bottom has lesion

Cross-section of

bone with lesion

Reduced Height in

Agricultural Groups

Increased Violence