The Old Stone Age (The Paleolithic Era) and and The New Stone Age (The Neolithic Era)

Scientists believe that human life began on the continent of Africa 3 Scientists believe that human life began on the continent of Africa 3.6 million years ago with “Lucy” the Hominid

However…. The oldest mummy of a man (Homo Erectus) ever found was in 1991…. ÖTZI He was said to have existed 5,300 years ago!!! Found in the Italian Alps in the Neolithic Age!

Theory of the Evolution of Man Neanderthal Cro-Magnon Modern Man

Cro-Magnon Man Cro-Magnon man -Early Homo sapiens (the species to which modern humans belong) that lived about 40,000 years ago.

The Old Stone Age (The Paleolithic Era)

The Old Stone Age or the Paleolithic Era, was a period of time that lasted until about 12,000 to 70,000 years ago.

How did man survive? Man survived by hunting animals and gathering roots, berries, leaves, and seeds.

Hunting Old Stone Age (Paleolithic Era) people eventually began to hunt in groups. Cave Art showing men hunting in groups These antlers may have been used as a disguise during the hunt.

Hunted Animals Mammoth Wild Boar Reindeer

Roots, Berries, and Other Plant Life Gathering... Roots, Berries, and Other Plant Life Scurvy Grass Crowberry Shabby Inkcaps Wild Cabbage Morel Goosebury

Old Stone Age (Paleolithic Era) Tools Man used stone, wood, and bone tools to survive during the Old Stone Age.

Bow found in Denmark Hand Axe Flint Blades used to sharpen tools Bone Harpoon

Food Processing Using a flint blade to skin an animal Using a flint blade to butcher a carcass

Cave Art

Lascaux Cave Video

There was another important development… Old Stone Age (Paleolithic Era) Development There was another important development – the discovery of fire There was another important development… THE DISCOVERY OF FIRE!!!

Many Stone Age people were Nomads, or people who had no settled home.

CAVES AND EARLY WIGWAM-LIKE STRUCTURES Old Stone Age (Paleolithic Era) Shelters CAVES AND EARLY WIGWAM-LIKE STRUCTURES Made of sticks, animal hide and furs, cattails, hay, and sometimes wooden logs to create heat.

The New Stone Age (The Neolithic Era)

The New Stone Age (The Neolithic Era) The New Stone Age or The Neolithic Era lasted until about 6,000 to 12,000 years ago.

During the Neolithic Era, people began to settle in one place. The New Stone Age (The Neolithic Era) During the Neolithic Era, people began to settle in one place.

New Stone Age (Neolithic Era) Settlement

Man began to change his diet and eat grains and small animals. How Did Otzi Eat? Man began to change his diet and eat grains and small animals.

The Development of Agriculture Agriculture is the raising of crops and animals. The development of agriculture began over a long period of time and in more than one place. People no longer needed to travel great distances to gather food.

People learned how to domesticate plants and animals. Early people learned to care for plants such as wheat, barley, peas, and lentils. The first farmers also domesticated wild goats, cattle, and sheep.

Ancient charred wheat grains are shown in the picture above. Man domesticated wild wheat.

Domesticated Corn Thousands of years ago, an ear of corn did not make much of a meal. (top) It took thousands of years of careful breeding for ears of corn to reach their present size. (bottom)

New Stone Age (Neolithic Era) Tools People still used stone, bone, and wooden tools, but some new tools were added by using copper and bronze.

Advanced Tools These early farming tools date back to around 8,000 years ago. The axe, bottom, was used for clearing; flint sickles, left, were used for harvesting cereal crops; a flat rock and rounded stone, center, were used for grinding flour; and perforated clay slabs, upper right, were probably used to ventilate bread ovens.