1. Human Origins in Africa

2. Scientific Clues
prehistory -- before the invention of writing; 5,000 yrs ago
Archaeologists – study human history through artifacts and remains  excavate, study, analyze
Anthropologist – study human culture and behavior by studying artifacts
Paleontologists -- study fossils to understand Earth’s history (ecology, evolution, climate)

3. way of life  shared ways of dressing, hunting, foods
Culture
way of life  shared ways of dressing, hunting, foods
Common Practices –
- eat, clothing, sports, tools, technology, customs, work
Shared Understandings –
- language, symbols, religion, values, arts, politics
Social Organization –
- family, class, relationships, gov’t, economics
Culture is Learned -- Media, family, friends, government, religious institutions, school, workplace -- observation & direct teaching

4. humans and human-like beings that walk upright
Hominids
humans and human-like beings that walk upright
opposable thumb -- pick up things
can travel distances easily
can carry things

5. 5 classes of Hominids
Australopithecines – first humanlike beings to walk upright, south and east Africa, 4 million years ago
Homo Habilis -- Man of skill, stone tools
Homo Erectus -- Walks upright, first to use fire, more intelligent, developed technology, skillful hunters, spoken language. 1.6 million to 30,000 BC
Neanderthal (caveman)– found in Europe and SW Asia, religion, ritual burials, survived the Ice Age, appeared 200, ,000 BC
Cro-Magnon DNA testing, 40,000  to 8,000 BC, fully modern humans, created art

6. Lucy -- oldest hominid found to date - lived 3.5 millions yrs ago
The Discovery of Lucy
Lucy -- oldest hominid found to date
- lived 3.5 millions yrs ago
- found in Ethiopia in 1974