the prehistory - paleolithic period

PREHISTORY

Long period of time: -First human being (5 millon years ago).-Writting (3500 B.C.).

Prehistory

STONE AGE METAL AGEPaleolithic

“knapped stone”Neolithic

“polished stone”Copper Age Bronze Age Iron Age

Started…. 5 million years 8.000 years 4.000 years 4.5000 years 3.000 years

• Hunting• Gathering• Nomads

• Farming• Rise livestock • Sedentary

• Metalworking• Trade• Social

divisions

Prehistory

Dificulties:-There few remains.-No written texts, only archeological remains (bones, tools, art…).

Archeologists-Search and study remains.-Work:

-In sites -With fossils or petrified organic rests.

Other scientists:paleontologits, anthropologits….

Prehistory studies

Planning and archeological dig of the site.

Prehistory studies

Discovering stratum or layers

Prehistory studies

Cleaning of the archeological remains.

Prehistory studies

Dating

Prehistory studies

Reconstruction of the remains and fossils.

Prehistory studies

Scientific work: getting DNA fossil and teeth proofs.

Prehistory studies

Recreation of primates and hominids.

Prehistory studies

The process of human evolution

Human evaloution: long and slow process of evolution since the first hominids 5 m.y. ago untill the present human beings.

The process of human evolution

The process of human evolution

MAIN CHANGES:

- Bipedalism (upright position)- Opposable thumb.- Increase in the size of the

skull and brain.- Larynx = language.- Reduction of the jaw and

teeth.

First tools: choppers and han axes.

Homo Neanderthalensis VS. Homo Sapiens- In Europe they lived together for a while- However, Homo Sapiens is still alive, and Neanderthalensis not. Why?

Human expansion

Remember! We use stone during a very looooong period of time!

The Paleolithic Period

•2,5 m.y. ago – 10.000 B.C.•Nomadic life:

• They moved searching food.

• Settlements around rivers and lakes.

• They lived outdoors (huts) or in caves.

Caves

Huts

– The tribe:• Formed by 20-40

people, divided in familiar clans.

• They protected between each others.

• The elders taught the youngers the tecniques.

• Tribes had relationships between each others.

Scavengers, hunting, fishing and gathering:

Women gathered fruits and hunted small animals.

Men hunted huge animals like mamuts.

– Tools:• Stone tools: spear heads, knifes, scrapers…• Bone and wood tools: arpoons, hooks, needles…

Arrows Hand axe Needles

Harpoons Perforator Scraper

Scraper Scraper Spear thrower

Fire• Homo Erectus discovered fire casually

(ray)• How to make fire:

– Rubbing a stick over a trunk.– Clashing two stones (flint = sílex)

• Uses: chase away depredators, to heat up, to cook….

Clothing:• Due to glaciations they

had to protect themselves from cold.

• They used skins’ animals.

• They saw with bone needles.

• They used tendons as threads.

• They used necklaces and coloured their bodies.

BeliefsThey worshipped spirits and natural forces (rays, rain, sun…)

-They made rituals:-To promote hunting and gathering.-To promote feritility.

They buried the dead people:-Homo Neanderthalensis did it first 80.000 years ago.-They bury the person with his funerary objects or personal objects (tools, ornaments, skins…)They made funerary rituals.