1. EARLY HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION BY MR. SZETO

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

3. 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?

4. 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)

5. 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

6. “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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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

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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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.