1. Warm-up You are an Archaeologist at a dig site in Ethiopia and you uncover this unique rock, what is your initial hypothesis? Write 3-4 sentences summarizing your thoughts.

2. Human Origins in Africa Pre-history

3. Purpose  The purpose of today’s lesson is to identify and understand the important aspects of the lives’ of early humans  Objectives –The students will gain an understanding of complex culture –The students will be able to identify major human evolutionary advancements –The students will determine early human migration routes based on evidence

4. Prehistory  The story of humankind begins about 5,500 years ago…  Prehistory: –The long period of time before people invented systems of writing

5. Culture. What is it?  Webster: the concepts, habits, skills, art, instruments, institutions, etc. of a given people in a given period; civilization  Culture is the way of life of a group of people

6. Culture  Religion, Region, Socioeconomic Status, Race Language, Gender, Art, Food, Symbols, Rituals, Beliefs, etc.  Each one of us are members of multiple cultures

7. Key Terms  Cultural Determinism- the culture in which you are raised determines your behaviors and actions  Cultural Relativism- your individual beliefs and activities should be understood through another persons cultural lens  Cultural Ethnocentrism- your culture is the best

8. Review  Make a list of 5-7 cultural traits and rank from most-least important.  Write 3-4 sentences explaining your order  Turn to a partner and each share your lists and reasoning's  Class discuss

9. Hominids  The first humanlike creatures can be traced back 4.4 million years  These are called hominids

10. Scientists  Anthropologists –Study human cultures  Paleontologists –Study fossils to determine characteristics  Archaeologists –Study human artifacts left behind (tools, pots, beads, etc.)

11. Dating Early Artifacts  Archaeologists and anthropologists have to determine when the fossils or artifacts originated  Stratigraphic layers  In situ  Radio-carbon dating: –Test for carbon decay

12. Prehistoric Finds  Oldest human ancestor –Fossils found in Ethiopia –Teeth, bones, skull –4.4 million years old –These creatures would have weighed about 65 pounds, and stood 4 feet tall

13. Prehistoric Finds  Lucy- Australopithecus afarensis –3.2 million year old skeleton –Found in 1974 in Africa –Donald Johanson

14. The First Hominids  Australopithecus- –“southern ape” –5.5-2 million years  Homo habilis –“person with ability” –2.5-1.5 million years –Believed first stone tools

15. The First Hominids  Homo erectus –“person who walks upright” –1.4-50,000 BCE  Homo sapien –“Person who thinks” –200,000-present –This is you!

16. Neanderthalensis (Neanderthals) 200,000-30,000 BCE Europe, Asia

17. Humans

18. Paleolithic Age  Old Stone Age  Began with Homo habilis making stone tools  Lasted until about 12,000 BCE  Crude stone tools –Oldowan Choppers  More refined tools –Acheulian bi-face

19. Early Stone Tools  Oldowan Acheulian

20. The Ice Ages  Four long periods of cold climate  During, only the middle latitudes of Earth were warm enough for human and animal life  Land bridges allowed for movement

21. Early Humans were Hunter- Gatherers  What does it mean to be a hunter-gatherer? –Mostly hunted for the majority of their food –Captured fish –Gathered nuts, berries, and other easy to find food to add to their diets  This lifestyle forced humans to move often in order to find food –Nomads –Constantly tracking herds of animals  Used animals for food, clothing, making homes and even tools from their bones

22. Cave Paintings  Cuevas de las Manos, Argentina –13,000-9,500 BCE  Lascaux, France –15,000-13,000 BCE –http://www.lascaux.culture.fr/?lng=en# /fr/02_00.xml  Tassili n’Ajer, Algeria –9,000 BCE –http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/179/video

23. So what’s the big deal?  More efficient tools  Easier to acquire food  Free time to develop complex culture –Cave paintings, religion, etc.

24. Review  Four groups  Each group assigned a topic and become experts on that topic  Teach your peers

25. Hominid Migration  Australopithecines –5.8-2 million –South and Central Africa  Homo Habilis –2.5-1.5 Million years –Africa  Homo erectus –1.4-50,000 BCE –Africa, Asia, Europe

26. Hominid Migration Part Deux  Homo Neanderthalensis –200,000-30,000 BCE –Europe, Asia  Homo Sapiens –200,000-present –YOU and Everywhere