Warm-upWarm-up

You are an Archaeologist at a dig site in Ethiopia and you uncover this unique rock, what is your initial hypothesis? Write 3-4 sentences summarizing your thoughts.

Human Origins in Human Origins in AfricaAfrica

Pre-historyPre-history

PurposePurpose

The purpose of today’s lesson is to The purpose of today’s lesson is to identify and understand the identify and understand the important aspects of the lives’ of important aspects of the lives’ of early humansearly humans

ObjectivesObjectives– The students will gain an understanding of The students will gain an understanding of

complex culturecomplex culture– The students will be able to identify major The students will be able to identify major

human evolutionary advancementshuman evolutionary advancements– The students will determine early human The students will determine early human

migration routes based on evidencemigration routes based on evidence

PrehistoryPrehistory

The story of humankind begins about The story of humankind begins about 5,500 years ago…5,500 years ago…

Prehistory:Prehistory:– The The longlong period of time before people period of time before people

invented systems of writinginvented systems of writing

Culture. What is it?Culture. What is it?

Webster: the concepts, habits, skills, Webster: the concepts, habits, skills, art, instruments, institutions, etc. of art, instruments, institutions, etc. of a given people in a given period; a given people in a given period; civilizationcivilization

Culture is the way of life of a group of Culture is the way of life of a group of peoplepeople

CultureCulture

Religion, Region, Religion, Region, Socioeconomic Socioeconomic Status, Race Status, Race Language, Gender, Language, Gender, Art, Food, Symbols, Art, Food, Symbols, Rituals, Beliefs, Rituals, Beliefs, etc.etc.

Each one of us are Each one of us are members of members of multiple culturesmultiple cultures

Key TermsKey Terms

Cultural Determinism- the culture in Cultural Determinism- the culture in which you are raised determines which you are raised determines your behaviors and actionsyour behaviors and actions

Cultural Relativism- your individual Cultural Relativism- your individual beliefs and activities should be beliefs and activities should be understood through another persons understood through another persons cultural lens cultural lens

Cultural Ethnocentrism- your culture Cultural Ethnocentrism- your culture is the bestis the best

ReviewReview

Make a list of 5-7 cultural traits and Make a list of 5-7 cultural traits and rank from most-least important.rank from most-least important.

Write 3-4 sentences explaining your Write 3-4 sentences explaining your orderorder

Turn to a partner and each share Turn to a partner and each share your lists and reasoning'syour lists and reasoning's

Class discussClass discuss

HominidsHominids

The first humanlike creatures can be The first humanlike creatures can be traced back 4.4 million yearstraced back 4.4 million years

These are called These are called hominidshominids

ScientistsScientists

AnthropologistsAnthropologists– Study human culturesStudy human cultures

PaleontologistsPaleontologists– Study fossils to determine Study fossils to determine

characteristicscharacteristics Archaeologists Archaeologists

– Study human artifacts left behind (tools, Study human artifacts left behind (tools, pots, beads, etc.)pots, beads, etc.)

Dating Early ArtifactsDating Early Artifacts

Archaeologists and anthropologists Archaeologists and anthropologists have to determine when the fossils have to determine when the fossils or artifacts originatedor artifacts originated

Stratigraphic layersStratigraphic layers In situIn situ Radio-carbon dating:Radio-carbon dating:

– Test for carbon decayTest for carbon decay

Prehistoric FindsPrehistoric Finds

Oldest human ancestorOldest human ancestor– Fossils found in Fossils found in EthiopiaEthiopia– Teeth, bones, skullTeeth, bones, skull– 4.4 million years old4.4 million years old– These creatures would have weighed These creatures would have weighed

about 65 pounds, and stood 4 feet tallabout 65 pounds, and stood 4 feet tall

Prehistoric FindsPrehistoric Finds

Lucy- Australopithecus afarensisLucy- Australopithecus afarensis– 3.2 million year old skeleton3.2 million year old skeleton– Found in 1974 in AfricaFound in 1974 in Africa– Donald JohansonDonald Johanson

The First HominidsThe First Hominids

Australopithecus-Australopithecus-– ““southern ape”southern ape”– 5.5-2 million years5.5-2 million years

Homo habilis Homo habilis – ““person with ability”person with ability”– 2.5-1.5 million years2.5-1.5 million years– Believed first stone toolsBelieved first stone tools

The First HominidsThe First Hominids

Homo erectusHomo erectus– ““person who walks upright”person who walks upright”– 1.4-50,000 BCE1.4-50,000 BCE

Homo sapienHomo sapien– ““Person who thinks”Person who thinks”– 200,000-present200,000-present– This is you!This is you!

Neanderthalensis Neanderthalensis (Neanderthals)(Neanderthals)

• 200,000-30,000 BCE• Europe, Asia

HumansHumans

Paleolithic AgePaleolithic Age

Old Stone AgeOld Stone Age Began with Homo habilis making Began with Homo habilis making

stone toolsstone tools Lasted until about 12,000 BCELasted until about 12,000 BCE Crude stone toolsCrude stone tools

– Oldowan ChoppersOldowan Choppers More refined toolsMore refined tools

– Acheulian bi-faceAcheulian bi-face

Early Stone ToolsEarly Stone Tools

OldowanOldowan Acheulian

The Ice AgesThe Ice Ages Four long periods of cold climateFour long periods of cold climate During, only the middle latitudes of During, only the middle latitudes of

Earth were warm enough for human Earth were warm enough for human and animal lifeand animal life

Land bridges allowed for movementLand bridges allowed for movement

Early Humans were Hunter-Early Humans were Hunter-Gatherers Gatherers

What does it mean to be a hunter-gatherer? What does it mean to be a hunter-gatherer? – Mostly hunted for the majority of their foodMostly hunted for the majority of their food– Captured fishCaptured fish– Gathered nuts, berries, and other easy to find Gathered nuts, berries, and other easy to find

food to add to their diets food to add to their diets This lifestyle forced humans to move often in This lifestyle forced humans to move often in

order to find foodorder to find food– NomadsNomads– Constantly tracking herds of animalsConstantly tracking herds of animals

Used animals for food, clothing, making Used animals for food, clothing, making homes and even tools from their bones homes and even tools from their bones

Cave PaintingsCave Paintings

Cuevas de las Manos, ArgentinaCuevas de las Manos, Argentina– 13,000-9,500 BCE13,000-9,500 BCE

Lascaux, FranceLascaux, France– 15,000-13,000 BCE15,000-13,000 BCE– http://www.lascaux.culture.fr/?lng=en#/http://www.lascaux.culture.fr/?lng=en#/

fr/02_00.xmlfr/02_00.xml Tassili n’Ajer, AlgeriaTassili n’Ajer, Algeria

– 9,000 BCE9,000 BCE– http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/179/videohttp://whc.unesco.org/en/list/179/video

So what’s the big deal?So what’s the big deal?

More efficient toolsMore efficient tools Easier to acquire foodEasier to acquire food Free time to develop complex cultureFree time to develop complex culture

– Cave paintings, religion, etc.Cave paintings, religion, etc.

ReviewReview

Four groupsFour groups Each group assigned a topic and Each group assigned a topic and

become experts on that topicbecome experts on that topic Teach your peersTeach your peers

Hominid MigrationHominid Migration

AustralopithecinesAustralopithecines– 5.8-2 million5.8-2 million– South and Central AfricaSouth and Central Africa

Homo HabilisHomo Habilis– 2.5-1.5 Million years2.5-1.5 Million years– AfricaAfrica

Homo erectusHomo erectus– 1.4-50,000 BCE1.4-50,000 BCE– Africa, Asia, EuropeAfrica, Asia, Europe

Hominid Migration Part DeuxHominid Migration Part Deux

Homo NeanderthalensisHomo Neanderthalensis– 200,000-30,000 BCE200,000-30,000 BCE– Europe, AsiaEurope, Asia

Homo SapiensHomo Sapiens– 200,000-present200,000-present– YOU and EverywhereYOU and Everywhere