Precursors of Precursors of CivilizationCivilization

Lower to Upper PaleolithicLower to Upper Paleolithic

Introduction to the Introduction to the PeriodsPeriods

• Pre-toolmaking hominins: Pre-toolmaking hominins: AustralopithecinesAustralopithecines

• Lower Paleolithic: Choppers and HandaxesLower Paleolithic: Choppers and Handaxes• Middle Paleolithic: Flake Tool TechnologyMiddle Paleolithic: Flake Tool Technology• Upper Paleolithic: Specialized Tools, Rise of Upper Paleolithic: Specialized Tools, Rise of

the Artsthe Arts• Mesolithic: Rise of Settlements (Nittano, Mesolithic: Rise of Settlements (Nittano,

Japan)Japan)• Neolithic: Domestication of Plants and Neolithic: Domestication of Plants and

AnimalsAnimals

Lucy: a.k.a Lucy: a.k.a Australopithecus AfarensisAustralopithecus Afarensis

• No, no, not No, no, not that that Lucy!Lucy!• Jeeves, can’t you get Jeeves, can’t you get anythinganything right? right?

Australopithecus Afarensis Australopithecus Afarensis and Homo Sapiens and Homo Sapiens

• Notice the following: Notice the following: • Apelike features, such asApelike features, such as• Heavy brow ridgeHeavy brow ridge• Forward-projecting lower faceForward-projecting lower face• Long armsLong arms• Curved fingersCurved fingers• Humanlike features, likeHumanlike features, like• S-shaped vertebraeS-shaped vertebrae• Bowl-shaped pelvisBowl-shaped pelvis• Arched feetArched feet• Hands capable of Hands capable of

manipulationmanipulation

Homo habilis: The Homo habilis: The HandymanHandyman

• Notice its brow ridges Notice its brow ridges and its sloping foreheadand its sloping forehead

• But its face is somewhat But its face is somewhat flatterflatter

• And its teeth are smallAnd its teeth are small• Average cranial capacity Average cranial capacity

was 680 cubic was 680 cubic centimeterscentimeters

• Compare that with Compare that with Lucy’s kind: 440 cc. on Lucy’s kind: 440 cc. on averageaverage

• Chimps average 400 ccChimps average 400 cc

Homo habilisHomo habilis and the and the Oldowan TraditionOldowan Tradition

• The first known toolmaker The first known toolmaker (upper left)(upper left)

• His cranial capacity averaged His cranial capacity averaged 680 cubic centimeters, 680 cubic centimeters, compared to 440 of A. compared to 440 of A. afarensis’s skullafarensis’s skull

• Hands were better adapted; Hands were better adapted; fingers were not curvedfingers were not curved

• Choppers (lower left) involved Choppers (lower left) involved knapping a few flakes off the knapping a few flakes off the corecore

• Both cores and flakes were Both cores and flakes were used.used.

Homo erectusHomo erectus or or ergasterergaster

Note:Note:• Apelike but larger Apelike but larger

craniumcranium• Postcranial SkeletonPostcranial Skeleton• Vertebrae: S ShapedVertebrae: S Shaped• Ribcage: Not funnel Ribcage: Not funnel

shaped, now like shaped, now like oursours

• Pelvis: Bowl shapedPelvis: Bowl shaped• Angle of ThighboneAngle of Thighbone

Homo erectus, the Homo erectus, the Acheulean Handaxe, and Acheulean Handaxe, and

FireFire• Notice the following;Notice the following;• Homo erectus is fully bipedalHomo erectus is fully bipedal• Cranial capacity is 1000 cc on Cranial capacity is 1000 cc on

averageaverage• Has learned to control fire Has learned to control fire

(above left)(above left)• Signature tool: a well-designed Signature tool: a well-designed

handaxe, very symmetrical, handaxe, very symmetrical, with 25-75 retouches. with 25-75 retouches.

• Handaxe had multiple uses, Handaxe had multiple uses, from cutting to chopping to from cutting to chopping to piercing.piercing.

Homo heidelbergensisHomo heidelbergensis or or “Archaic” “Archaic” Homo sapiensHomo sapiens

• Left: Skull. Note heavy brow ridge, prognathismLeft: Skull. Note heavy brow ridge, prognathism• Right:: Artist’s conception of “Heidelberg Man”Right:: Artist’s conception of “Heidelberg Man”

Levallois Flake and Levallois Flake and Flaking TechniqueFlaking Technique

Manufacturing Levallois Manufacturing Levallois Cores and FlakesCores and Flakes

• Knapper drew outline of flake on stone Knapper drew outline of flake on stone modulemodule

• Strikes flake of desired shapeStrikes flake of desired shape• This required knowledge of the rock’s This required knowledge of the rock’s

pattern of fracturepattern of fracture• H. heidelbergensis prepared the rock H. heidelbergensis prepared the rock

beforehand to control how it would break beforehand to control how it would break when it was struck and so ensure that the when it was struck and so ensure that the right shape (e.g. cutting, perforation, right shape (e.g. cutting, perforation, piercing) was producedpiercing) was produced

Homo neanderthalensis Homo neanderthalensis or Neanderthalsor Neanderthals

• A controversial figureA controversial figure• Some say they were a lot Some say they were a lot

like us, and that we might like us, and that we might have his geneshave his genes

• Others would say that they Others would say that they were too different from us were too different from us to even be our ancestors. to even be our ancestors.

• Top: a preconceived Top: a preconceived notion of Neanderthal as notion of Neanderthal as “caveman”“caveman”

• Bottom: artists conception Bottom: artists conception of Neanderthal childof Neanderthal child

Humanlike Attributes of Humanlike Attributes of NeanderthalsNeanderthals

• In Shanidar, Iraq, the In Shanidar, Iraq, the Neanderthals show signs of Neanderthals show signs of compassion.compassion.

• One individual had a disability, One individual had a disability, yet lived to be 40 yearsyet lived to be 40 years

• They also seemed to have a They also seemed to have a conception of an afterlifeconception of an afterlife

• As shown by the actual burial As shown by the actual burial site at La Ferrassie, France, with site at La Ferrassie, France, with seven tombs including a man, a seven tombs including a man, a woman and several children’s woman and several children’s graves lying side by side (above).graves lying side by side (above).

• An artist’s conception of a burial An artist’s conception of a burial taking place in Shanidar (below)taking place in Shanidar (below)

Mousterian TraditionMousterian Tradition

• Positively identified with NeanderhalsPositively identified with Neanderhals• Le Moustier, France is a Neanderthal Le Moustier, France is a Neanderthal

sitesite• Belongs to Belongs to Middle PaleolithicMiddle Paleolithic• More sophisticated than Oldowan or More sophisticated than Oldowan or

Acheulean, both Acheulean, both Lower PaleolithicLower Paleolithic• François Bordes François Bordes categorizes the categorizes the

Mousterian into 63 typesMousterian into 63 types

Mousterian Tool Mousterian Tool AssemblageAssemblage

• Sample includes scrapers, points, and handaxesSample includes scrapers, points, and handaxes• Other types included notched objects (probably for spear Other types included notched objects (probably for spear

shafts), burins for engraving, and knivesshafts), burins for engraving, and knives

Chatelperronian: First of Chatelperronian: First of the Upper Paleolithicthe Upper Paleolithic

• Here are the later tools Here are the later tools made by Neanderthals, made by Neanderthals, the Chatelperronian the Chatelperronian

• Compare the Compare the Chatelperronian point Chatelperronian point with the scraper and with the scraper and burin from theburin from the

• Blades, characteristic of Blades, characteristic of the Upper Paleolithic, the Upper Paleolithic, are at least twice as are at least twice as long as they are wide, long as they are wide, and usually longerand usually longer

Upper Paleolithic: The Upper Paleolithic: The Great Leap Forward?Great Leap Forward?

• Probably begins about 50,000 BPProbably begins about 50,000 BP• Primary AttributesPrimary Attributes• Shift from flake tools to blades, and more Shift from flake tools to blades, and more

recent sites yield small and smaller blades--recent sites yield small and smaller blades--microbladesmicroblades

• Populations subsist on greater range of Populations subsist on greater range of animal and plant speciesanimal and plant species

• The sites themselves increase in sizeThe sites themselves increase in size• Increase of bone, antler, ivory, shell, and Increase of bone, antler, ivory, shell, and

other materials for toolsother materials for tools

Upper Paleolithic: Upper Paleolithic: Associated AttributesAssociated Attributes

• Associated AttributesAssociated Attributes• Greater use of “imported” goods: Greater use of “imported” goods: • Raw materials found that are obtainable Raw materials found that are obtainable

only at great distances from inhabited sites.only at great distances from inhabited sites.• This either suggests long distance travel or This either suggests long distance travel or

more likely trade.more likely trade.• More elaborate burials, with grave goods.More elaborate burials, with grave goods.• Appearance and elaborate use of symbols Appearance and elaborate use of symbols

and works of art.and works of art.

Upper Paleolithic: The Upper Paleolithic: The BladesBlades

• Blades begin roughly 40,000 Years BPBlades begin roughly 40,000 Years BP• Comparative efficiencyComparative efficiency• Levallois cores may produce 5 flakesLevallois cores may produce 5 flakes• Many more blades could be produced Many more blades could be produced

from same core--and with longer from same core--and with longer cutting edgecutting edge

• Unlike other traditions, blade Unlike other traditions, blade traditions are shorter livedtraditions are shorter lived

Upper Paleolithic Upper Paleolithic AssemblageAssemblage

• Upper Paleolithic Tools (left to right): biconical Upper Paleolithic Tools (left to right): biconical bone point, Perigordian flint blade, prismatic bone point, Perigordian flint blade, prismatic blade core, Soluterean Willow leaf point, double-blade core, Soluterean Willow leaf point, double-row barbed harpoon point (various sites in France)row barbed harpoon point (various sites in France)

The Solutrean PointsThe Solutrean Points

• Note the followingNote the following• There is an aesthetic as well as a practical side to these There is an aesthetic as well as a practical side to these

pointspoints• There is a conscious effort to shape them like a laurel There is a conscious effort to shape them like a laurel

leafleaf• There is variation in design. There is variation in design.

Magdalenian Tool TraditionMagdalenian Tool Tradition

• Notice that the harpoon heads (to the left) are Notice that the harpoon heads (to the left) are made of bone; ivory and wood also become made of bone; ivory and wood also become important materials in addition to stoneimportant materials in addition to stone

• Art is also coming into being, as evidenced by Art is also coming into being, as evidenced by this horse’ head carving to the right.this horse’ head carving to the right.

Upper Paleolithic Art: Cave Upper Paleolithic Art: Cave PaintingsPaintings

• This illustration from This illustration from Lascaux Cave, S. France, Lascaux Cave, S. France, shows how much fine shows how much fine detail goes into animals detail goes into animals (upper left)(upper left)

• Humans in contrast are Humans in contrast are drawn, if at all, as stick drawn, if at all, as stick figures, such as shown by figures, such as shown by this sketch at Lascaux this sketch at Lascaux (lower left)(lower left)

• The bird-like stick the man The bird-like stick the man is dropping could is dropping could represent a totem or represent a totem or symbol of a clansymbol of a clan

• All this, of course, is based All this, of course, is based on speculation and on speculation and inference from living inference from living cultures.cultures.

Upper Paleolithic Art: Portable Upper Paleolithic Art: Portable SculptureSculpture

• Figurines also figure prominently in Upper Figurines also figure prominently in Upper Paleolithic artPaleolithic art

• Top: Venus figure from Willendorf, Austria; this Top: Venus figure from Willendorf, Austria; this is the style of figurine most often representedis the style of figurine most often represented

• The lower figure is a frieze imitation of a The lower figure is a frieze imitation of a Paleolithic statuettePaleolithic statuette

• She is somewhat thinner than the “classic” She is somewhat thinner than the “classic” Venus Venus

• She is also holding a cone-shaped object, which She is also holding a cone-shaped object, which some archaeologists interpret as a cornucopiasome archaeologists interpret as a cornucopia

• There are several variations of the Venus motif; There are several variations of the Venus motif; some are even thinner than the lower figuresome are even thinner than the lower figure

• Patricia Rice, an archaeologist specializing in Patricia Rice, an archaeologist specializing in Paleolithic art, points out that the styles vary Paleolithic art, points out that the styles vary considerably. considerably.

Commonalities of the Commonalities of the PaleolithicPaleolithic

• The Paleolithic is the longest of all stone ages, The Paleolithic is the longest of all stone ages, covering roughly 2 million years.covering roughly 2 million years.

• Several hominin species lived side by sideSeveral hominin species lived side by side• The last non-modern form, the Neanderthal, died off The last non-modern form, the Neanderthal, died off

about 30,000 BCE (Before Common Era)about 30,000 BCE (Before Common Era)• They were all foragers, or hunters or gatherersThey were all foragers, or hunters or gatherers• The first signs of the arts—cave murals and portable The first signs of the arts—cave murals and portable

sculptures-- begins in the Upper Paleolithicsculptures-- begins in the Upper Paleolithic• Next, we will look briefly at the Mesolithic, which Next, we will look briefly at the Mesolithic, which

included the first settlementsincluded the first settlements• Then focus on the Neolithic: we will look at the Then focus on the Neolithic: we will look at the

Neolithic for both the Egyptians and the Neolithic for both the Egyptians and the Mesopotamians. Mesopotamians.