1. “Theories on prehistory and early man constantly change as new evidence comes to light.”
Louis Leaky, British Paleoanthropologist.
The Origins of Humans

3. Evolution does not claim that man came from Apes, just that they share a common ancestor.
Differentiation between humans and apes happened 6-8 million years ago.

4. Stages of Human Development
4,000,000 BCE – 1,000,000 BCE
1,500,000 BCE – 250,000 BCE
250,000 BCE – 30,000 BCE
30,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE
Paleolithic Age:
(Old Stone Age)
2,500,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE

5. Progression of Hominids
Australopithecines: 4 million – 1million B.C.
Homo habilis: 2 million to 1.5 million B.C.
Homo erectus: 1.6 million to 30,000 B.C.
Neanderthal: 200,000 to 30,000 B.C.
Cro-Magnon: 40,000 to 8000 B.C.
Australopithecines: Opposable thumb – first to walk upright
Homo habilis: small brain – first toolmaker/butcher
Homo erectus: larger brain – more intelligent – fire/spoken language/migration
Neanderthal: heavy slanted brows, muscles, thick bones – religious beliefs/shelters
Cro-Magnon: Similar to humans – difficult projects/language

6. The Paleolithic Age “Paleolithic”  Old Stone Age
2,500,000 – 10,000 BCE
Made Tools
Indicates
development of
the brain
hunting (men) & gathering (women)
Small bands humans. Extended family needed for protection!
NOMADIC (moving from place to place)
A group larger than 40 would have been too hard to feed!

7. Stage 1
4,000,000 – 1,000,000 BCE
Hominids  Any member of the family of two legged primates that includes all humans. Must have locking knee joints!
3.5 mil. Yrs ago
Australopithecines
apposable thumbs! 
Lucy was one!

8. Stage 1 HOMO HABILIS (“Man of skills”) Found in East Africa
Created stone tools

9. Stage 2 1,600,000 BCE – 30,000 BCE Homo Erectus
Newest evidence shows hominids may have been bipedal 7 million years ago!
Stage 2
1,600,000 BCE – 30,000 BCE
Homo Erectus
(“Upright Human Being”)
BIPEDALISM
Larger and more varied tools
 primitive technology
First Hominid to migrate and leave Africa for Europe and Asia
First to use fire!

10. Differing Theories of Human Migration
Are we all Africans “under the skin”?
The Multi-regionalist Theory The Out of Africa Theory

11. Stage 3 HOMO SAPIENS (“Wise Human Being”)
200,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE
HOMO SAPIENS
(“Wise Human Being”)
Neanderthals Cro-Magnons/ Early Modern Human
(200,000-30,000 BCE) (40,000-10,000 BCE)

12. Stage 3 NEANDERTHALS: Neander Valley, Germany (1856)
First humans to bury their dead.
Made clothes from animals skins.
Lived in Caves and tents.

13. Stage 3

14. By 30,000 BCE they had replaced Neanderthals, but WHY???
Stage 3
CRO-MAGNONs:
Home Sapiens Sapiens
(“Wise wise human”)
- Bloody warfare? Interbreeding? Cro-Magnon more successful hunter? Neanderthal failed to adapt to conditions?
By 30,000 BCE they had replaced Neanderthals, but WHY???

15. The Paleolithic Age Humans during this period found shelter in caves
Cave paintings were left behind.
From late Paleolithic.
S. France and N. Spain
Purpose??

17. The Last Ice Age
70,000 – 10,000 BCE
Sahara became a desert encouraging migration
Ice bridges

18. Took tens of thousands of years to reach Australia, islands in Pacific, etc.
Skills also had to change.

19. The Neolithic Age Neolithic = “New Stone Age” 10,000-4,000 BCE
Gradual shift from:
Nomadic lifestyle  settled stationary life
Hunting/Gathering  agricultural production and
domestication of animals.