The First Humans

65 Million Years AgoDinosaurs died out app 65 million years ago.

The first human like hominids did not appear until around 3.5 million years ago.

3 Million Years Ago3 million years ago, our planet was teeming with life!

There were ~ deer~ giraffes~ hyenas ~ sheep~ goats ~ horses ~ elephants ~ beavers ~ birds and plants and fish.

Very Early HumansDuring this time higher primates, including apes and early man, first appeared.

Hands different, too. Ape hands were made for climbing and clinging. Man’s hands were jointed differently, which allowed them to make and use tools.

Differences between apes and man.

Early human-like hominids could stand upright. Apes could not.

Hominids

Humans and other creatures that walk upright

Very Early Humans

How do scientists know about an early man who lived 3.5 million years ago?

Lucy told them!

Lucy1974 - skeleton found in Africa.

The bones were those of a female, about 20 years old when she died.

Scientists named her Lucy.

She was about 4 feet tall and weighed about 50 pounds. Scientists suspect that she fell into a lake or river and drowned.

Fossils & Artifacts

Artifacts are remains of things that were made, not remains of living things.

Fossils are remains of living things (plants, animals, people), not things that were made.

Handy Man

The Stone Age refers to the materials used to make man-made tools and fire.

Paleolithic Age - 2.5 million-8000 BC (Old Stone Age)Most were hunters and gatherers

Neolithic Age – 8000 BC-3000 BC (pottery, crops, animals)

““Paleolithic”Paleolithic” --> --> “Old Stone” “Old Stone” AgeAge

““Paleolithic”Paleolithic” --> --> “Old Stone” “Old Stone” AgeAge

Hunting (Hunting (menmen) & gathering () & gathering (womenwomen) ) small bands of 20-30 humans small bands of 20-30 humans Hunting (Hunting (menmen) & gathering () & gathering (womenwomen) ) small bands of 20-30 humans small bands of 20-30 humans

NOMADICNOMADIC (moving from place to place) (moving from place to place) NOMADICNOMADIC (moving from place to place) (moving from place to place)

Made Made toolstools

Made Made toolstools

Found 4 milion to 1 million years Found 4 milion to 1 million years ago. South and East Africaago. South and East Africa

Found 4 milion to 1 million years Found 4 milion to 1 million years ago. South and East Africaago. South and East Africa

AustralopitheciAustralopithecinesnes

AustralopitheciAustralopithecinesnes

An opposable An opposable Thumb Thumb

An opposable An opposable Thumb Thumb

HOMO HABILISHOMO HABILIS- 2.5 million years - 2.5 million years agoago ( “Man of ( “Man of Skills” ) Skills” )

HOMO HABILISHOMO HABILIS- 2.5 million years - 2.5 million years agoago ( “Man of ( “Man of Skills” ) Skills” )

Homo Habilis was found in East Africa.Homo Habilis was found in East Africa.

They created stone tools.They created stone tools.

Homo Habilis was found in East Africa.Homo Habilis was found in East Africa.

They created stone tools.They created stone tools.

Handy ManThese early human-like hominids were smarter than Lucy’s people, but did not know how to make fire.

Homo Erectus – “Upright man”

1.6 million years ago to 30,000 BCFirst to make fire!

Upright ManSame size as modern humans.

Tool-making skills were improved. Weapons included stone axes and knives.

Free to move about in search of food.

Did not have to worry about freezing.

Made warm clothes from animal skins. Night, built a campfire

Homo Sapiens

Most scientists believe Homo erectus developed into Homo sapiens - Name for modern humans

Homo sapiens – much larger brain

Man Leaves HomeOne million years ago - Upright Man began to leave Africa. Began to populate the world.

Scientists found artifacts - helps us to understand how they lived, where they went, and how they got there.

The Ice Age was here! Traveled across giant walkways of frozen ice!

Neanderthals200,000 to 30,000 BC

1856 - Neanderthal skeleton found in GermanySuper powerful!Slanted brows, huge musclesDeveloped religious beliefsNot ancestors of modern humans

Cro-Magnon Man40,000 to 8,000 BC “Cro-Magnon man”. IDENTICAL to modern humans!

Cro-Magnon man lived in Europe.

Little struggle for survival

Worked together to provide food for their tribe.

Cave PaintingsCro-Magnon – drew paintings on cave walls.

Cave PaintingsAnimals drawn, filled in with natural colors. Stick figures for huntersStencils of hands.

Cave PaintingsWould go deep into the cave

Had to crawl through holding a spoon-like oil lamp to light his way, while carrying his paints.