Anthropology and Prehistoric Times

The analysis of a set of facts and their relation to one another

A scientifically acceptable principle offered to explain something

What’s a Theory?

Creationism◦ Theory that the

various forms of life and the world were created by God

Two Evolution Theories

Evolution◦ The idea that

different species developed, one from another, over long periods of time.

The study of humans in the environment Physical Anthropology

◦ The study of human biological nature, heredity, abd evolution.

Anthropology

Cultural Anthropology◦ The study of how people in other societies live,

and the effects that environments have on their life styles.

◦ Archeology: Branch of anthropology that attempts to find out what life was like in the past by examining things left behind by the people of a culture.

Early Discoveries

1. 4,000,000 BCE – 1,000,000 BCE1. 4,000,000 BCE – 1,000,000 BCE

2. 1,500,000 BCE -- 250,000 BCE2. 1,500,000 BCE -- 250,000 BCE

3. 250,000 BCE – 30,000 BCE3. 250,000 BCE – 30,000 BCE

4. 30,000 BCE -- 10,000 BCE

Paleolithic Age:( Old Stone Age )

2,500,000 BCE to 8,000 BCE

Paleolithic Age:( Old Stone Age )

2,500,000 BCE to 8,000 BCE

“Paleolithic” --> “Old Stone” Age “Paleolithic” --> “Old Stone” Age

2,500,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE 2,500,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE

hunting (men) & gathering (women) small bands of 20-30 humans

hunting (men) & gathering (women) small bands of 20-30 humans

NOMADIC (moving from place to place) NOMADIC (moving from place to place)

Made tools

Made tools

4,000,000 BCE – 1,000,000 BCE4,000,000 BCE – 1,000,000 BCE

Hominids --> any member of the family of two-legged primates that includes all humans.

Hominids --> any member of the family of two-legged primates that includes all humans.

Australopithecines Australopithecines

An Apposable Thumb

An Apposable Thumb

HOMO HABILIS ( “Man of Skills” ) HOMO HABILIS ( “Man of Skills” )

found in East Africa.

found in East Africa. created stone tools.

created stone tools.

Humans during this period found shelter in caves.

Humans during this period found shelter in caves. Cave paintings left behind. Cave paintings left behind.

Purpose??Purpose??

1,6000,000 BCE – 30,000 BCE1,6000,000 BCE – 30,000 BCE

HOMO ERECTUS ( “Upright Human Being” ) HOMO ERECTUS ( “Upright Human Being” )

Larger and more varied tools --> primitive technology

Larger and more varied tools --> primitive technology

First hominid to migrate and leave Africa for Europe and Asia.

First hominid to migrate and leave Africa for Europe and Asia.

First to use fire ( 500,000 BCE )

First to use fire ( 500,000 BCE )

BIPEDALISM BIPEDALISM

Are we all Africans “under the skin”????

Are we all Africans “under the skin”????

200,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE200,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE

HOMO SAPIENS ( “Wise Human Being” )

HOMO SAPIENS ( “Wise Human Being” )

Neanderthals( 200,000 BCE – 30,000 BCE )

Neanderthals( 200,000 BCE – 30,000 BCE )

Cro-Magnons( 40,000 BCE – 10,000

BCE )

Cro-Magnons( 40,000 BCE – 10,000

BCE )

NEANDERTHALS:NEANDERTHALS:

Neander Valley, Germany (1856)

Neander Valley, Germany (1856)

First humans to bury their dead.

First humans to bury their dead.

Made clothes from animal skins.

Made clothes from animal skins.

Lived in caves and tents.

Lived in caves and tents.

NEANDERTHALSNEANDERTHALS

Early Hut/TentEarly Hut/Tent

CRO-MAGNONs:CRO-MAGNONs: Homo sapiens sapiens ( “Wise, wise human” )

Homo sapiens sapiens ( “Wise, wise human” )

By 30,000 BCE they replaced Neanderthals.

WHY??? WHY???

70,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE70,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE

“Neolithic” “New Stone” Age “Neolithic” “New Stone” Age

10,000 BCE – 4,000 BCE 10,000 BCE – 4,000 BCE

Gradual shift from: Gradual shift from:

Nomadic lifestyle settled, stationery lifestyle.Nomadic lifestyle settled, stationery lifestyle.Hunting/Gathering agricultural production and domestication of animals.

Hunting/Gathering agricultural production and domestication of animals.

8,000 BCE – 5,000 BCE 8,000 BCE – 5,000 BCE

Agriculture developed independently in different parts of the world.

Agriculture developed independently in different parts of the world.

SLASH-AND-BURN Farming SLASH-AND-BURN Farming

Middle East India Central America China Southeast Asia

8,000 BCE 7,000 BCE 6,500 BCE 6,000 BCE 5,000 BCE

Middle East India Central America China Southeast Asia

8,000 BCE 7,000 BCE 6,500 BCE 6,000 BCE 5,000 BCE

Growing crops on a regular basis made possible the support of larger populations.

Growing crops on a regular basis made possible the support of larger populations. More permanent, settled communities emerged. More permanent, settled communities emerged.

9,000 BCE Earliest Agricultural Settlement at JARMO ( northern Iraq ) wheat

9,000 BCE Earliest Agricultural Settlement at JARMO ( northern Iraq ) wheat

8,000 BCE Largest Early Settlement at Çatal Hüyük ( Modern Turkey ) 6,000 inhabitants

8,000 BCE Largest Early Settlement at Çatal Hüyük ( Modern Turkey ) 6,000 inhabitants

Division of labor Division of labor

Engaged in trade Engaged in trade

Organized religion Organized religion

Small military Small military

12 cultivated crops

12 cultivated crops

An obsidian dagger