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Chapter 13. Premodern Humans. The Pleistocene. The Pleistocene, often called the Ice Age, was marked by advances and retreats of massive continental glaciations. In Europe at least 15 major and 50 minor glacial advances. Hominids were impacted as the climate, flora, and animal life shifted.
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Chapter 13 Premodern Humans
The Pleistocene • The Pleistocene, often called the Ice Age, was marked by advances and retreats of massive continental glaciations. • In Europe at least 15 major and 50 minor glacial advances. • Hominids were impacted as the climate, flora, and animal life shifted. • Middle Pleistocene (780,000– 25,000 y.a.) • Upper Pleistocene (125,000–10,000 y.a.)
Changing Pleistocene Environments in Eurasia • Green areas show regions of likely hominid occupation. Blue areas are major glaciers. Arrows indicate likely migration routes.
Key Middle Pleistocene Premodern Human (H. heidelbergensis) Fossils from Africa
Key Middle Pleistocene Premodern Human (H. heidelbergensis) Fossils from Europe
Key Middle Pleistocene Premodern Human (H. heidelbergensis) Fossils from Europe
Key Middle Pleistocene Premodern Human (H. heidelbergensis) Fossils from Asia
Review of Middle Pleistocene Evolution (400,000-125,000 y.a.) • Homo erectus/sapiens mix in Africa, China, and Europe. • Fossils from each continent differ slightly. • Increase in brain size • Change in the shape of the skull.
Middle Pleistocene Tools • Levallois technique –archaic African & Europeans. • Acheulian tools- hand axes. • Different tool traditions coexist in some areas.
Culture of Neandertals • Cultural period-Middle Paleolithic, associated with the Mousterian industry. • Mousterian culture extended across Europe and North Africa.
Culture of Neandertals • Neandertals improved on previous prepared-core techniques by inventing a new variation. • Trimmed a flint nodule around the edges to form a disk-shaped core. • Each time they struck the edge, they produced a flake, continuing this way until the core became too small and was discarded. • They then trimmed the flakes into various forms, such as scrapers, points, and knives.
Settlements • Mousterian culture- open sites, caves, and rock shelters. • Windbreaks of poles and skin. • Fire used.
Subsistence • Remains of animal bones. • Close-proximity spears for hunting. • Trauma- like rodeo performers.
Symbolic Behavior • Capable of articulate speech. • Verbal language like Homo sapiens? • Artwork?
Burials • Neanderthals buried their dead. • Some included grave goods. • Flexed position. • Religious beliefs?
Cultural Contrasts: Neandertals and Upper Paleolithic Modern Humans
Cultural Contrasts: Neandertals and Upper Paleolithic Modern Humans
Cultural Contrasts: Neandertals and Upper Paleolithic Modern Humans
Cultural Contrasts: Neandertals and Upper Paleolithic Modern Humans
Three Major Evolutionary Transitions • Early Homo to H. erectus- only in Africa & rapidly. • From H. erectus to early H. sapiens. Not geographically limited, but occurred slowly and unevenly. • From Archaic H. sapiens to anatomically modern H. sapiens.
