DIVISION OF THE HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE Pre-historical/Stone Age (c.3.000.000.000 – 3.000 BC) Historical Age (3.000 BC – nowadays) c. 3.000 BC Invention of writing by the Sumerians (cuneiform writing)

Paleolithic Age Neolithic Age Stone Age Mesolithic Age (12.000 – 6.800 BC) Paleolithic Age Neolithic Age (2.000.000 – 12.000 BC) (6.800 – 3.200 BC) - The limits of each period may differ a little bit in the history books.

During the Paleolithic Age, the first human being appeared on Earth The “Archanthropos” of the Petralona Cave (1960) in Chalkidiki (Greece) is the oldest anthropoid found in Europe. His age is 700.000 years old!!! Europe was first inhabited by anthropoids at least in 700.000 BC.

Archaeological finds in petralona cave - 1959: cave – 1960: skeleton – 1965: systematic excavations by Aris Poulianos (founder of the Greek Anthropological Society) - Finds: human skull (fossilized & covered with stalactites) & skeleton (feminine) – paleo-fauna (lions, mammoths, etc)

Paleolithic Age (2.000.000 – 12.000 BC) Hunting and gathering as the basic way of life Moving of people in groups to scare away wild animals Use of fire for cooking and scaring away the animals while living in caves Humans covered with coarse animal skin and large leaves for protection Pictures of everyday’s life, painted on rocks or in caves - Cave painting from Lascaux Cave in France

Greece in the Paleolithic Age Geomorphologic and climatic changes Strong and constant earthquakes Fluctuation of the level of the Aegean Sea Changes in flora and fauna and in human way of life Flora: conifer-trees, wild-beans, etc. Fauna: bears, mammoths, deer, wild-boars, etc. More finds after 100.000 BC

Greece in the Paleolithic Age Most important archaeological points: Theopetra (Thessaly) Frankthi Cave (Peloponnese) Characteristics: Residence in caves, under rocks or outdoors Living in groups of 10-30 persons, sometimes related Hunting in groups in deep forests or passages or collecting snails, herbs and fruit - Hunting  Knowledge of the immigrating customs of animals

Greece in the Paleolithic Age Characteristics: Tools from stone, bone or horn (even some utensils from wood or clay) Use of yellow or red ochre to paint the face or the body of the dead (paleolithic “gold”) Burial in graves with funeral gifts (tools, flowers, horns)  Belief in life after death - Ochre: e.g. from Thasos

Mesolithic Age (12.000 – 6.800 BC) First semi-permanent houses Living in light wooden frameworks covered with thatch or sods, which could be erected and dismantled quickly and easily Beginning of using boats for transportation and fishing First flint tools with handles and stone tools from micro-stones, set into toothed slots in bone or antler shafts, in order to create a variety of harpoons, arrows and fish hooks

Greece in the Mesolithic Age Stabilized geomorphologic and climatic conditions Most important archaeological points: Sidari (Corfu) Frankthi Cave (Peloponnese) Maroulas (Alonnesos) Gioura (Aegean Sea)

Greece in the Mesolithic Age Characteristics: Residence in outdoor points or in caves near the sea Living in groups of 10-30 persons, sometimes related Almost permanent installation Accommodation with stone- made foundations Graveyards next to the installation points - p. 1: cave with Mesolithic finds on Gioura (little island near Alonnesos island)

Greece in the Mesolithic Age Characteristics: Hunting in groups, collecting herbs and fruit AND systematic fishery with developed equipment Limited domestication of some wild plants and animals Long, organized naval trips in the open sea ( Tuna fishing OR transporting essential materials) - ps: fish-bones & hooks from the cave in Gioura

Greece in the Mesolithic Age Characteristics: Import of tougher materials, to make more effective tools and weapons Construction of blades (of normal and smaller size) Cremation of dead (in some cases) for the first time Construction of some kind of jewels as ornaments or even funeral gifts (according - probably - to the social position of the dead) - p. 1: little blades made of horn - p. 2: spoons made of shells