Pre-History andThe Beginnings of Civilization What is Pre-History?

The time before people kept records (writing)

Paleolithic - Neolithic Paleolithic or Old Stone Age dates from

the first stone tool makers (approx. 2 million BCE) to about 10,000 BCE.

Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age Neolithic or _____ Stone AgeNew

Early Humans Strong archeological evidence indicates the

first humans came from Africa This evidence was provided by Mary and

Louis Leaky & Donald Johanson

The oldest human footprints in the world were unearthed at

Laetoli, near Olduvai Gorge, in Tanzinia. These footprints led

Owen Lovejoy to conclude that even these early hominids walked with an upright, striding gait just

as modern humans do.

Lucy - is one of the oldest and most complete skeletons of human ancestry, which was discovered by Don Johanson in Ethiopia's Afar Triangle.

Otzi, the oldest mummy ever unearthed, was found in the Italian Alps in 1991. Scientists were thrilled to find he had remained frozen, and almost perfectly preserved, for thousands of years.

http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/ancient/AncientRepublish_924421.htm

Otzi…..The Ice Man He wore clothing made from leather and grasses and carried

a copper axe, a bow and arrows. Speculation immediately began about who he was and why he died where he did, but it was hard to do too much checking without damaging his body.

Later, an arrowhead was found in his left shoulder, suggesting Otzi did not simply freeze to death while climbing the high mountains, but was shot by a fellow hunter.

After studying the corpse's intestines, Italian researcher Professor Franco Rollo, an archaeologist at the Universita di Camerino in Italy concluded last year that the iceman's final meals consisted of venison and ibex meat.

http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/ancient/AncientRepublish_924421.htm

Characteristics of Paleolithic Period The people were hunters and gatherers They lived in small groups of about 20-30 people Sexual division of labor Nomadic people who followed game and ripening

fruit Developed simple tools from stone, bone or wood Invented clothing Cave paintings and religious rituals

In a handful of pierced seashells found in a South African cave, scientists believe that they have discovered the world’s oldest known jewelry and the earliest reliabile evidence of creative symbolic thought at work. The 41 tiny shells, unearthed at Blombos Cave, were strung as beads more than 75,00 years ago, making them at least 30,000 years older than any other reliably dated personal ornaments….

http://www.krsh.com/morningshow/blindedarchive/JewelryEverAppropriate.htm

Neolithic Period Approx. 10,000 years ago Hunter and

Gatherers began to farm Life became more sedentary and

permanent villages developed Seed planting and animal domestication Neolithic people became food producers Farming…..Farming……Farming…. ___________ led to growth in population

Out of Africa

Characteristics ofNeolithic Period Councils of elders began making decisions Individuals accumulated more personal

property Some type of calendar invented Animals used in field work These innovations led to the emergence of

civilizations

Skara BraeAn early Neolithic village

Stonehenge

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/england/stonehenge

Stonehenge Archaeological evidence suggests that

Stonehenge built in 4 stages beginning around 3100BC and continued until around 1100BC. Stage 1= circular embankment, 'Heel Stone', wooden

poles Stage 2= rows of bluestones at the centre Stage 3= doorways and trilithons. Stage 4= bluestones reset and roadway extended.

http://ukirishhistory.suite101.com/article.cfm/stonehenge#ixzz0PPPYPUCk

Stonehenge

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/england/stonehenge

Stonehenge site around 2000 BC.

The surviving stones are shown as shaded rectangles.