Paleolithic
The Paleolithic is a prehistoric era distinguished by the development of stone tools. It covers virtually all of humanity's time on Earth, extending from 2.5 million years ago, with the introduction of stone tools by hominids such as Homo habilis, to the introduction of agriculture in around 10,000 BCE.
The term "Paleolithic", literally "Old Age of the Stone", was coined by archaeologist John Lubbock in 1865 and derives from the Greek "παλαιός", "paleos" ("old") and "λίθος", "lithos", ("stone"). The Paleolithic era ended with the Mesolithic, or in areas with an early neolithisation, the Epipaleolithic.
The Paleolithic is characterized by the utilization of knapped stone tools, although humans at the time also used wood and bone tools. Other organic commodities were synthesized as tools, including leather and vegetable fibers; however these have not been preserved to any great degree.
Chronology
Traditionally, the Paleolithic is divided into three periods, the Lower Paleolithic, Middle Paleolithic and the Upper Paleolithic; the three ages mark technological and cultural advances in different human communities.
- Paleolithic
- Lower Paleolithic
- Olduwan culture
- Acheulean culture
- Clactonian culture
- Middle Paleolithic
- Mousterian culture
- Aterian culture
- Upper Paleolithic
- Châtelperronian culture
- Aurignacian culture
- Gravettian culture
- Solutrean culture
- Magdalenian culture
- Lower Paleolithic
Human evolution
Human evolution is the part of biological evolution concerning the emergence of humans as a distinct species. It is the subject of a broad scientific inquiry that seeks to understand and describe how this change and development occurred. The study of human evolution encompasses many scientific disciplines, most notably physical anthropology, linguistics and genetics. The term "human", in the context of human evolution, refers to the genus Homo, but studies of human evolution usually include other hominids, such as the australopithecines.
Human genealogy
Timeline of human evolution
The timeline of human evolution outlines the major events in the development of humans species and the evolution of human's ancestors. This timeline does not explain the evolution of, for example, lions, dinosaurs or birds. It includes a more detailed explanation of other animals, species or genus, which are possible ancestors of Homo sapiens sapiens.
It begins with the time of the origin of life and presents a possible line of descendants that led to humans. This timeline is based on studies from paleontology, developmental biology, morphology and from anatomical and genetic data. The study of human evolution is a major component of anthropology.
Simplified human genealogy
The timeline below shows a simplified genealogy of Paleolithic humanity:[1]
Climate
- Currently agreed upon classifications as Paleolithic episodes
Age (before) |
America | Atlantic Europe | Maghreb | Mediterranean Europe | Central Europe |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
10,000 years | Flandrian interglacial | Flandriense | Mellahiense | Versiliense | Flandrian interglacial |
80,000 years | Wisconsin | Devensiense | Regresión | Regresión | Wisconsin glaciation |
140,000 years | Sangamoniense | Ipswichiense | Ouljiense | Tirreniense II y III | Eemian interglacial |
200,000 years | Illinois | Wolstoniense | Regresión | Regresión | Wolstonian glaciation |
450,000 years | Yarmouthiense | Hoxniense | Anfatiense | Tirreniense I | Hoxnian interglacial |
580,000 years | Kansas | Angliense | Regresión | Regresión | Kansan glaciation |
750,000 years | Aftoniense | Cromeriense | Maarifiense | Siciliense | Cromerian interglacial |
1,100,000 years | Nebraska | Beestoniense | Regresión | Regresión | Beestonian stage |
1,400,000 years | interglaciar | Ludhamiense | Messaudiense | Calabriense | Donau-Günz |
Way of life
The Old Stone Age or Paleolithic comprises more than a million years, and during this period major climatic and other changes occurred which affected the evolution of humans. Humans themselves evolved into their current morphological form during the later period of the Stone Age.
Paleolithic man appears to have ranged widely and was distributed thinly but uniformly. The Paleolithic remains which have been found are astonishingly uniform everywhere. Implements of the same type have been found in what is now Britain, France, and the banks of the Nile.[2]
The economy of a typical Paleolithic society was primitive, with humans living a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. They obtained food, firewood and materials for their tools, clothes or cabins.
Tools
During the interglacial period about 100,000 years ago, some small family groups of Homo neanderthalensis wandered over Europe, leaving nothing but their flint implements.[2]
In general, the methods of fabrication for tools did not change a great deal during the Paleolithic, despite the number of cultures that existed through the era.
Society
Neanderthals seemed acquainted with the use of fire, and as the last glacial era approached in Europe they began to seek shelter under rock ledges and in caves, and leaving their remains for later discovery. More primitive men or society vanished, as the rudest type of Paleolithic implements vanished. Among their prey were the large mammals, as they brought their large bones to caves to crack for the marrow. Animal skins were being used. They were right-handed (the left side of the brain was larger).[2]
Paleolithic humans were grouped in clans that ranged from 25 to 50 members; these clans were formed by several families.
Diet and nutrition
Paleolithic diets consisted primarily of animal flesh, fruits, and vegetables.
Notes and references
- ^ Human evolution. Archaelogy.info. Retrieved on 2007-04-09.
- ^ a b c Wells, H. G. (1920). The Outline of History. Garden City, New York: Garden City Publishing Co., Inc., 57-58, 107.
See also
• Ice age |
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