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