Human Origins in Africa

Chapter 1 Section 1

I Scientists Search for Human Origins• Prehistory dates back to the time before

invention of writing• Scientists act as detectives by unearthing

artifacts and analyze them– Artifacts= remains such as tools, jewelry, and

other human made objects

• Anthropologists are scientist who study culture– Culture= a people unique way of life

• Paleontologists= scientists who study fossils and date fossil remains and rocks– Fossils=evidence of early life preserved in rocks

• These scientists and others work together to determine how prehistoric people lived

A. Mary Leakey Finds Footprints• Mary Leakey, an archeologist, finds prehistoric

hominid footprints in Tanzania (East Africa)– Footprints are on hominid species– Hominid=humans and other creatures that walk

upright

B. Johansson Discovers Lucy“Lucy”

• Donald Johansson discover a complete skeleton of adult female in Ethiopia– Name the skeleton Lucy

• Lucy and other Hominids were able to travel long distances, carry food, and spot threats because they walked upright

II Progress During the Old Stone Age• Invention & mastery of tools, fire, and

language occurred during the prehistoric period known as the Stone Age or Paleolithic Age– New Stone Age AKA Neolithic Age sees the

beginning of humans polishing stone tools, make pottery, grow crops, etc.

Paleolithic Age Neolithic Age

• Most Paleolithic Age occurred during a period of history knows as the Ice Age– Ice Age= period when glaciers advanced and

retreated and covered most of the earth’s surface– By beginning of Neolithic Age, glaciers retreated to

about same area they are now

A. Homo habilis & Homo erectus• Mary Leakey also finds male hominid fossil

who they name Homo habilis– Homo habilis means “man of skill”

• Found tools made of lava rock that could cut meat and crack open bones

• Around the time Homo habilis was around there was a species of hominids called Homo erectus– Homo erectus means “upright man”

Homo erectus • More intelligent than Homo habilis & developed technology– Technology= ways of applying

knowledge, tools, and inventions to meet their needs

• Skillful hunters who migrated from Africa– Know this because fossils and

tools found on other continents• 1st to use fire

– Provided warmth, cooked food, & allowed to settle in new land

• May have developed beginning of spoken language– Language gave them control of

environment and boosted chances of survival

III the Dawn of Modern Language• Scientists believe Homo erectus evolved into

Homo sapiens– Homo sapiens= modern humans and means “wise

man”• Neanderthals are not decendents of Homo

sapiens but competed with Cro-Magnons for land and food

A. Neanderthals’ Way of LifeNeanderthal • Parts of Neanderthal bones found

in Europe and Asia– Powerfully built with well

developed muscles & thick bones

• Evidence that they tried to explain and control their world– Practiced religion & rituals like

burial• Survived harsh Ice Age by living in

caves, using animal skins, and tools• Their disappearance is still a

mystery

B. Cro-Magnons Emerge• Cro-Magnon skeletal remains

are identical to modern humans (Homo sapiens)– Unlike Neanderthals they

planned their hunts and studied habits of animals

• Advanced hunting strategy allowed them to survive more easily – Population grows and

eventually replace Neanderthals

• Advanced Language also helped

C. Recent Findings• History of early humans changes with new

discoveries– Example= researchers dated Neanderthal bone flute

which hints that they may have been more sophisticated then previously thought

• Each discovery makes the history of early humans clearer

• what we do know is that as time progressed, so did the skills and ability of early humans which will launch a revolution in the way humans lived