PrehistoryPrehistoryThe time before

the written word.

How do we How do we find our past?find our past?

How do we How do we find our past?find our past?

Methods of Dating

Stratigraphy,Tree Rings,Road Cuts

Dating

Radio-Carbon DatingRadio-Carbon Datingdetermines an object’s age by measuring the amount of C-14

AMS (Accelerator Mass Spectrometry) AMS (Accelerator Mass Spectrometry)

• Another name for Radio-Carbon Dating• Used for samples that are far tinier than that

needed for standard radiocarbon dating • In AMS dating, researchers use an

accelerator-based mass spectrometer to count all the C14 atoms, rather than just those atoms which are decaying.

Blood MoleculesBlood MoleculesMay survive Millions of years and yield DNA information

Thermo luminescence dating Thermo luminescence dating determines an object’s age by measuring the light given off by electrons trapped in the surrounding soil

Early HominidsEarly Hominids

Hominids:Hominids: Having Human Characteristics

The study of past societies through an analysis of the items people left behind them

ArchaeologyArchaeology

ArtifactsArtifacts tools, pottery, paintings, weapons, buildings & household items left behind by early people

Oldest Hominid Remains Found in…Oldest Hominid Remains Found in…

Olduvai GorgeEast Africa

AustralopithecusAustralopithecusDiscovered by Donald Johanson

3-4 million years old

Australopithecus

What Lucy Looked Like…What Lucy Looked Like…

AustralopithecusAustralopithecus First uprighthominid

““southern apes”southern apes”

Mary Leakey

Louis LeakeyPAGE 18

Their son Richard Leakey discovers an Australopithicus skull

Australopithicusfootprints

Leakey Legacy

“Theories on prehistory and early man constantly change as new evidence comes to light.”

-Richard Leakey

Newsweek July 22, 2002

A remnant or impression of an organism from a past geologic age that has been preserved in the earth’s crust

FossilsFossils

Homo erectusHomo erectus“upright human being”, a species that emerged around 1.5 million years ago; 2nd stage of early human development

Homo erectus, Homo erectus, cont.cont.

Learned to use fire Learned to use fire to keep warm in to keep warm in colder areascolder areas

Homo sapiensHomo sapiens “wise human being”a species that emerged around 250,000 years ago; 3rd stage in human development

Homo sapiens sapiensHomo sapiens sapiens “wise, wise human being”

a species that appeared in Africa between 150,000 & 200,000 years ago

Homo sapiens Homo sapiens sapienssapiens they were the first anatomically modern humans WE BELONG TO THIS

GROUP TODAY.

Who was Neaderthal?

from the Greek for “Old Stone” the early period of human history, from approximately 2.5 million to 10,000 B.C., humans used simple stone tools

Paleolithic AgePaleolithic Age

Lifestyle

Hunter-gathering

Drawbacks to Hunting & GatheringDrawbacks to Hunting & Gathering

1. Food sources dry up2. No storage3. Isolation4. Short lifespan

Major advancesMajor advances

•Mastery of fire•Language

Technology

Lascaux CaveLascaux Cave

Art

ROCK ART PROJECTROCK ART PROJECT•Rough Draft Project due in class Monday

•Quiz on Vocab Wed/Thu•Test on Chapter 1 Next Fri•Pass out Project Info

ROCK ART PROJECTROCK ART PROJECT• Assignment: Test Grade. You will

produce a cave drawing with symbols and icons. It will also include a basic sentence telling a person that might find this in the future who you are. You will also make your own alphabet. Write out the letters of our current English alphabet and then create a new symbol for each letter.

End of 1st Section of Notes

The Ice Age

Most recent: 100,000-8,000 BC

Section 2:Neolithic Neolithic Revolution Revolution & Rise of & Rise of CivilizationsCivilizations

New technology

Pottery

Improvedtools (metalworking)

New New TechnologyTechnology

Marked a new level of human control over their environment

Use of MetalsUse of Metals

Rise of Villages

High Point of Neolithic High Point of Neolithic AgeAge

•Catal Huyuk, located in modern-day Turkey, high point from 6700 to 5700 B.C.

•Mud brick houses

Earliest Earliest WritingWriting

Cuneiforms

Food surpluses made it possible for people to do things other than farming

•ArtisansArtisans – a skilled craftsperson who makes products such as weapons & jewelry

•scribesscribes

End of the Neolithic Age

•Copper, then Bronze tools led to the Bronze Age

•Between 4000 & 3000 B.C.

•The use of metals marked a new level of human control over the environment & its resources

End of the Neolithic Age

Bronze Sword

Neolithic AgeNeolithic Age•Development of Cities•Mastered the art of farming•More complex societies•Created armies & built walled cities

6 characteristics of 6 characteristics of CivilizationsCivilizations

•1. Cities•2. Government•3. Religion•4. Social structure•5. Art•6. Writing

THE END

Essay QuestionsEssay Questions

1. Describe some of the dramatic changes that took place during the Neolithic Revolution and the consequences.

Essay QuestionsEssay Questions

2. Explain how the roles of men and women changed from the Paleolithic Age to the Neolithic Age.