1. Human Origins in Africa The Beginning

2. Scientists Search for Human Origins Archaeologists – specially trained scientists that try and discover the past. They Analyze bones and artifacts. Artifacts – Human-made objects. Anthropologists – study culture of the past. Culture – a people’s unique way of life. Paleontologists – study fossils.

3. Human Origins Cont… Hominids – refer to humans and other creatures that walked upright, such as the australopithecines. Foot prints discovered in East Africa. Walking upright enabled them to cover distances easier and carry food and children. Opposable thumbs made it easier to handle objects.

5. The Old Stone Age Begins Stone Age = invention of tools, language, and mastery over fire. Stone Age is broken down into two periods = Paleolithic Age (2.5 million – 8000 BC) and Neolithic Age (8000 BC – 3000 BC) Paleolithic Age = Ice Age

6. Hominid Development After the australopithecines, came the Homo habilis – used tools. Then came Homo erectus – used intelligence to develop technology. More adaptable species. Homo erectus - first to use fire and developed the beginnings of spoken language.

8. The Dawn of Modern Humans Homo sapiens = “wise men” (larger brains) Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons have traditionally been classified as early groups of Homo sapiens. Neanderthals – heavy slanted brows, well developed muscles, and thick bones. Cro-Magnons – almost identical to modern human. They used specialized tools and planned their hunts.