EARLY HUMANS

Things to Know BCE (Before Common Era) Pre-year 1 CE (Common Era). Year 1-2006. Hominids- Prehistoric humans Bipedal- two footed animal We will focus on primarily 5 hominids. Keep in mind that more than 5 types have been identified.

Australopithecus Dates: 4 million- 3 million years ago. Appearance: “Lucy” was 3 feet, 6 inches tall. Hands, feet and legs like humans, except for long toes and fingers like an ape. Hair, nose, skin pigment- up to interprertation. http://www.archaeologyinfo.com/australopithecusafarensis.htm wikipedia

Australopithecus Discovery: Mary Leakey discovered footprints at Laetoli in Tanzania, East Africa. Significant because of shape. 1974- Lucy found by Donald Johanson. Leg angle from pelvis- different: bi pedal. Why? Vegetation? High grass? 1992- Skull; 1/3 size of humans.

Australopithecus Daily Life All interpretation. Obtained food by using small branches or stones to kill prey. Ate berries, leaves, fruit, roots, eggs and insects, worms, lizards- easy to chew. Small nomadic groups. Rest of chart: None or unknown.

Homo habilis “Handy man” Dates: 1.5-2 million years ago. Discovered by the Leakeys at Olduvai Gorge in east Africa. Appearance: 4 ½ feet tall. Walked upright; rounded skull, small face and teeth. Brain half the size of modern human. http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/homs/stw53.jpg Archaeology.info

Homo habilis Shelter: Simple huts made from branches and stones. Dome shaped. Daily Life: Food- used tools to cut meat and smash bones for marrow. Ate plants. Organized hunts without weapons. Planned ahead.

Homo habilis Tools- Simple tools from stone (hand axe) Language- Primative form: gestures and sounds. All other categories: None or unknown.

Homo ergaster “Work man” 1975 fossil found in Kenya by Leakey team. First appeared 1.9 million years ago. This means they existed with Lucy. Less ape like. Long limbs, upright, slim waist. Almost 6 feet tall. http://anthro.palomar.edu/homo/homo_2.htm

Homo erectus “Upright man” 1,500,000-250,000 years ago in Africa, Asia, Europe. (1st to migrate out of Africa.) Appearance: Taller than habilis. Prominent single bow ridge above the eyes. Thick lower skull, angled in back. Protruding jaw. Strong. (wikipedia)

Homo erectus Discovered in 1890 by Dutch physician Eugene Dubois on the island of Java. Java Man, Peking Man and Turkana Boy are famous finds. Daily Life: Lived w/20-30 members. Made huts with fire hearths.

Homo erectus Food: Followed animals; group hunting to kill large animals. Tools: bolas for hunting, hand axes Fire: First to use (cook, hunt, protect, create tools and warmth) Terra Amata- each spring, followed herds of animals and feasted with other clans. Language- Grunts and simple words with gestures. Clothing: Draped animal skins.

Neanderthal “Wiseman” term for homo sapiens- found in Neander Valley in 1856. Eurasian. Appearance: Short and stocky with large muscles. Arthritis led to stooping figures. Good for cold weather. Lot of wear on teeth; their third hand. http://www.colinmayne.com/neanderthal.html

Neanderthal Daily Life: Shelter- More advanced: skins and bones to protect from weather, although most preferred caves. Men hunted, women stayed at home. Food- Organized group hunts to confuse prey. Holes in ground for refrigeration. Language- How advanced is debated. Tools- Different tools for different purposes (knives, spears,scrapers). They had large brains.

Neanderthals Fire- Made fire with sticks or stones. Rituals- Buried their dead, perhaps even with some formal ceremony. The Neanderthals worked together in a community, even cared for their sick-cared for broken bones. Clothing- Punched holes in hides and tied together. 1st to do this. http://www.realhistoryww.com/world_history/ancient/Homo_habilis_erectus_neanderthal.htm

Homo Sapiens Sapiens Term means “Doubly Wiseman”. 35,000-12,000 BCE. Originated in Africa and spread to Europe (Cro-Magnon), Asia and Australia and eventually to North and South America. A lot of this travel occurred during the ice age. Land bridges allowed the passage from one spot to another (Bering Strait). http://www.realhistoryww.com/world_history/ancient/cro_magnon_Homo_sapien.htm

Homo sapiens sapiens This hominid had a high rounded skull, large brains, small teeth and developed An ability to build advanced tools (attached blades to bones), quality structures (made of earth and stone) and fine clothing (sewed animal skins). This group also Learned to weapons such as spears and the bow and arrow. It is the Homo sapiens Sapiens who painted their caves with art. This early group of Homo sapiens sapiens Evolved into the human beings we are today.