Upper Paleolithic Era

Beginning about 40,000 years ago... Humans were beginning to live longer People were living past 30, which meant the existence of grandparents (parents at this time were about 15 years old) Younger adults could hunt for food in large groups while grandparents (about 30 years old) would take care of the children This meant more chance of more knowledge being passed down generation to generation, so technology could progress more efficiently.

About 20,000 years ago... The Ice Age was winding down This, and over-hunting caused the large mammals to go extinct

So, what did the disappearance of large mammals cause? Less large mammals meant humans needed to become better hunters Humans began hunting in large groups They developed better tools for hunting (including the atlatl) Tools also became lighter and more specialized. Instead of choppers or hand axes, stone tools were finer, thinner, lighter and could also were being made sometimes with antler and other animal bone

Humans began living in a more organized way. In the Upper Paleolithic era, campsites with storage areas began to appear They were usually found in narrow valleys, where herds of animals may have traveled. These were probably used seasonally With larger groups of people living together, social groups became more complex, planting the seeds for civilization. Even evidence of trade. Flint, fossil shells, marine mollusks found far from their points of origin Similarities in art in spite of distances (Venus)

Seeds of Civilization More evidence of burials and grave goods Shows a possible development of religion, as people were buried with tools or jewelry Evidence from elaborate burials in Sunghir, Russia show that hierarchy in societies were developing, indicating more complex societies Placing scapula of mammoths on heads of the dead-- protection? Thousands of ivory beads found on man in Sunghir

Better tool making skills, and more permanent settlements led to (in part)… Art! We’re not sure what inspired people to create art, but better tools made it possible to make it. It’s possible that humans were using it to communicate (remember writing hasn’t been invented yet) There are 3 main theories: 1.) They wanted to decorate the caves with animals that were important to them. 2.) The art may have been magic or religious 3.) The paintings documented their hunting expeditions There is even a theory put forth by MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) that since much cave art was created in areas of caves with great acoustics that the pictures may have represented the sounds that humans made. In other words, the paintings may have been the first form of an alphabet! Many of the animals were painted as wounded or pregnant May have been wishes for the hunts or magic hoping for more animals to appear

Cave Art - Blombos Cave, South Africa This 70,000 year old site seems to have been an ancient paint factory!

Cave Art - Serra da Capivara, Brazil 25,000 years old??? If the paintings are that old, that means humans DID NOT COME TO THE AMERICAS 15,000 years ago over the Bering Strait

Cave Art: Chauvet Cave, France 32,000 years old May be the oldest cave paintings in the world

Rock Art: Kakadu Rock Paintings, Australia Paintings are as old as 20,000 years old (although the aborigines of Australia still paint in this area, carrying on their ANCIENT tradition) Famous for “X-Ray” paintings, where the ancient people painted the outside, as well as the internal organs and the bones of animals

Did the cave art have to do with music? The areas of the caves with paintings have good acoustics Sometimes musical instruments were found with them Earliest instruments were 45,000 years old!

Sculpture Emerged in the upper paleolithic, just as cave painting did

Venus Figures What did they represent? Fertility? Such similar figures over a wide area… Did early humans communicate over such distances? Venus of Kostenki About 21,000 years old Siberia Venus of Gargarino 21,000 years old Ukraine Venus of Willendorf About 23,000 years old Germany Black Venus of Dolni Vestonice About 27,000 years old Czech Republic Venus of Laussel 25,000 years old Austria Venus of Hohle Fels 35,000 years old Germany

Summing it Up... The Upper Paleolithic era: Began around 40,000 years ago Ended around 10,000 years ago Was characterized by - More sophisticated stone tools The development of cave painting and sculpture The appearance of musical instruments Longer life expectancy