Early Human Life
The Stone AgeWhat is the Stone Age?
• Stone Age is Divided Into Three Ages:
• Paleolithic Age
• Mesolithic Age
• Neolithic Age
Age/Period Time Characteristics
Paleolithic Age
2.5 million-
8000 B.C
*Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons lived during this time period
*These early human lived as hunter and gatherers
*They used early stone tools with single sharp edges
*These early humans used cave art to depict life
Mesolithic Age
10,000-
6000 B.C
*These early humans developed needles and thread for making animal skin clothes
*Began to use controlled fires and developed language
*These early humans began to migrate from Africa to other parts of the world
Neolithic Age
8000-6000 B.C
*ONLY Homo Sapiens lived during this time age
*These early humans learned to polish stone tools and make pottery
*These early humans moved away from being hunters and gatherers to raising animals and growing their own crops (farming/agriculture)
Timeline of Human Origin
Human Timeline Video
Human Evolution?
Australopithecus “Southern Ape”
Homo Habilis “Handy Man”
Homo Erectus “Upright Man”
Homo Sapien “Wise Man”
~Neanderthals
Homo Sapien Sapien “Moderns”
~Cro-Magnon
Timeline Name Description
Picture
3 MYA Austalopithecus
“Southern Ape”
*”Lucy” fossil
*Human traits, stood on 2 feet; “ape” like hands
2 MYA Homo Habilis
“Handy Man”
*1st true human
*Stone tools; 1st tool maker
*Larger brain; taller
1.5 MYA Homo Erectus
“Upright Man”
*Made & controlled fire
*1st hunters
*Migrated from Africa and began to populate the world
500,000 YA Homo Sapien
“Wise Man”
~Neanderthals
*Neanderthals buried their dead
*Stone tipped spears, animal skin clothes
25,000 YA Homo Sapien Sapien
“Moderns”
*Cro Magnon
*Cave Paintings
*Bow & arrows; jewelry
*End of the last ice age
Hunter-Gatherer Societies