EARLY HUMAN DEVELOPMENT A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION BY MR. SZETO

Aim: How did modern humans develop? Do Now: Read Mary Leakey: Digger into the Past and answer the questions.

Investigating About Prehistoric Peoples Prehistory dates back to the time before the invention of writing. Archaeologists, anthropologists and paleontologists are trained scientists to uncover the story of prehistoric peoples. This is done through: Excavating archaeological digs Studying and analyzing evidence such as bones and artifacts What challenges do archaeologists face in investigating about the past? What are artifacts? Ask students to provide examples. (Artifacts are human-made objects such as tools and jewelry) What information can bones and artifacts tell us about early humans? What do archaeologists, anthropologists and paleontologists do?

Mary Leakey Found Early Footprints In 1978, Mary Leakey and a team found prehistoric footprints that resembled those of modern humans. These footprints were made by australopithecines. Because they can walk upright, they are called hominids. What do these footprints tell us about human development? How do these creatures walk? (walked upright; foot similar to modern humans)

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Australopithecines 4 million to 1 million B.C. Found in southern and eastern Africa Brain size 500 cubic centimeters First humanlike creature to walk upright (hominids) How did the ability to walk upright speed up the human development process? (walking long distances; spot threatening animals; carry food and children) 4 million years ago 3 million years ago 2 million years ago 1 million years ago Present

“Lucy” in the Earth Anthropologist Donald Johanson discovered a complete skeleton of an adult female hominid, later named “Lucy”. Lucy had lived around 3.5 million years ago – oldest hominid found to that date.

Opposable Thumb Early hominids had already developed the opposable thumb. This means that the tip of the thumb can cross the palm of the hand. How did early hominids take advantage of opposable thumbs? (picking up small objects and making tools) Ask students to throw a handball or pick up a coin with just the index and middle fingers.

Paleolithic Age Paleolithic Age or Old Stone Age, lasted from about 2.5 million to 8000 B.C. Much of the Paleolithic Age occurred during the period in the earth’s history known as the Ice Age. The last Ice Age ended 10,000 years ago.

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Homo habilis 2.5 million to 1.5 million B.C. Found in East Africa Brain size 700 cubic centimeters First to make stone tools Why were these tools important? Explain their purposes. (tools cut meat and crack open bones) 4 million years ago 3 million years ago 2 million years ago 1 million years ago Present

Old Stone Tools Primitive knives and scarpers used during the Old Stone Age.

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Homo erectus 1.6 million to 30,000 B.C. Found in Africa, Asia, and Europe Brain size 1,000 cubic centimeters First to migrate and use fire and develop spoken language Why did homo erectus feel the need to migrate? Use fire? (warmth in cold climates; cooked food; frightened away attacking animals) Develop spoken languages? (Plan hunts and other tasks) 4 million years ago 3 million years ago 2 million years ago 1 million years ago Present

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Neanderthal 200,000 to 30,000 B.C. Found in Europe and Southwest Asia Brain size 1,500 cubic centimeters Powerfully built, first to have ritual burials What do these burials inform us about? (human soul; spiritual quality of life) 4 million years ago 3 million years ago 2 million years ago 1 million years ago Present

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Cro-Magnon 40,000 to 8,000 B.C. Found in Europe Brain size 1,400 cubic centimeters Remains identical to that of modern humans Created art 4 million years ago 3 million years ago 2 million years ago 1 million years ago Present

Summary/Application Which advance by a hominid group do you think was the most significant? Explain. What clues do bones and artifacts give about early peoples? What were the major achievements in human history during the Old Stone Age? How did Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons differ from earlier peoples? Why was the discovery of fire so important? Why will specific details about the physical appearance and the customs of early peoples never be fully known? How do recent findings keep revising knowledge of the prehistoric past? Explain which skill – tool making, the use of fire, or language – you think gave hominids the most control over their environment. Which advance by a hominid group do you think was the most significant? Explain. What clues do bones and artifacts give about early peoples? What were the major achievements in human history during the Old Stone Age? How did Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons differ from earlier peoples? Why was the discovery of fire so important? Why will specific details about the physical appearance and the customs of early peoples never be fully known? How do recent findings keep revising knowledge of the prehistoric past? Explain which skill – tool making, the use of fire, or language – you think gave hominids the most control over their environment.