Early Humans

Much of history is studied through written records.
Prehistory: The time before writing was developed. * Prehistoric humans are studied through archaeology as well as biology.
Archaeology: The study of past societies by analyzing what the people left behind. * Archeologists study artifacts, which are objects made by humans. * Artifacts include tools, art, and buildings.
Anthropology: The study of human life and culture. * Prehistoric humans are studied through artifacts and human fossils.
Fossils are the remains of organisms preserved as rocklike structures.
Archaeologists and anthropologists both examine the remains of the past to understand ancient societies. * By analyzing the remains, scientists can determine what kind of systems and culture the people of the society had.

To figure out the origins of the first humans, scientists must date the fossils and artifacts.
A method of dating called radiocarbon dating measures the amount of radioactive carbon left in a living thing after it dies. * Radiocarbon dating can date objects up to around 50,000 years.
Thermo-luminescence measures light given off by electrons trapped in the soil surrounding the object. * This method can date objects up to around 200,000 years ago.
Biological analyses of organic remains give scientists information about human evolution and the animals prehistoric humans killed.

Hominids were human-like creatures that walked upright. * Hominids lived as early as 4 million years ago in Africa and evolved over time.
Olduvai Gorge: The location in East Africa where the oldest hominid at the time (1959) was discovered at 1.8 million years old.
Australopithecus: A type of hominid known to be the common ancestor for many types of early human life. * Means “southern ape".
The existence of the Australopithecus proved that hominids walked on two legs before creating tools.
The hominid Homo Habilis came after the Australopithecus and may have used stone tools. * Means “handy human”.
The hominid Homo Erectus had the arm and leg proportions that modern humans have. * Means “upright human”.
Homo Sapiens were more complex hominids. * Means “wise human”. * Neanderthals and Homo sapiens sapiens descended from them.
Homo sapiens sapiens: Hominids that have similar anatomy to modern humans and existed in Africa 150,000-200,000 years ago.
“out-of-Africa” theory: The theory that Homo sapiens sapiens replaced earlier hominids in Europe and Asia after spreading out to other parts of the world.
Neanderthals died out by 30,000 B.C. which may have been from conflicts with Homo sapiens sapiens.

## The Paleolithic Age * The Paleolithic Age is the early period of human history where humans used stone tools (2,500,000 to 10,000 B.C.).

Paleolithic people relied on hunting and gathering for food. * Diet included nuts, fruits, wild grains, buffalo, and fish.

Early humans used flint to create stone tools and later attached them to wooden handles. * Tools continued to advance which made hunting and everyday tasks easier.
Early humans followed animal migrations and the cycle of plant life. * This made them nomads, who were people who move from place to place to survive.

Early humans found shelter in caves and simple structures made from wooden poles and animal hides.

Homo erectus first learned to make fires, which were vital to living in colder climates as hominids migrated. * Early humans probably used friction to start fires.
Fire gave warmth, provided safety from wild animals, and allowed early humans to cook food.