Photo by Roy Peck

Senior University GeorgetownWinter 2013

Session 6

Creating Pathways for Ancient Peoples

Finally, into the Western Hemisphere where human history has been written

for the last 33,000 years.Today Rocky will take us to the Gault Site

From last weekD-Day plus one, June 7th

Seven slides view @ Vagabondgeology.com

Today, let’s look at China, a world power for 4,500 years

A geology field trip you should make:Normandy

Either a self conducted 4 person 7 day trip (see Sandi for details)

orA Senior University group trip

(est. cost $5000 pp plus air fare to Paris) (See Babs Cape if you might be interested)

The World’s Six Major Rivers in the Temperate Zone not affected by the continental glacier are the site for the world’s earliest civilizations

China

The topography of China and Asia

China:

Topography of ChinaCreated by Recent Erosion

Erosion is exposing the earth’s natural resources at or near the surface

Recall the geological ores that createdthe divisions of historic time

Geologic Division of Historic TimeGeologic Division of Historic Time

Iron, Coal, Petroleum, & Uranium Age 1950 to PresentIron, Coal, Petroleum, & Uranium Age 1950 to PresentIron, Coal, & Oil AgeIron, Coal, & Oil Age 1900 to 1950 AD 1900 to 1950 ADIron & Coal Age 2Iron & Coal Age 2 1830 to 1900 AD 1830 to 1900 AD

Iron & Coal Age 1 Iron & Coal Age 1 (Industrial Age)(Industrial Age) 1700 to 1830 AD 1700 to 1830 ADRenaissanceRenaissance 1450 to 1700 AD 1450 to 1700 ADMiddle AgesMiddle Ages 470 to 1450 AD 470 to 1450 AD

Iron Age 2 Rome to 470 ADIron Age 2 Rome to 470 AD 750 BCE750 BCE

Iron Age 1 GreeceIron Age 1 Greece 1400 to 750 BCE 1400 to 750 BCEBronze AgeBronze Age 3300 to 1400 BCE 3300 to 1400 BCE

Copper AgeCopper Age 3300 to 3000 BCE 3300 to 3000 BCEStone Age (end of Ice Age)10,000 to 3000 BCEStone Age (end of Ice Age)10,000 to 3000 BCE

Copper, tin, arsenic, & zinc

Iron &Coal

Iron, Coal,Oil & Uranium

What natural resources does China have?

Early Civilizations of ChinaShang 1700 – 1270 BC

Nearest Copper & Tin ShangDynasty

The early Chinese Shang Dynasty on the Yellow River had to import its copper and tin

But, China’s amazing iron and coal resources provided unprecedented opportunities to move into the Iron AgeLet’s look at China’s Iron and Coal resources

China: Geology & Iron and Coal

Now, China’s resources and those of all of Asia

China: Iron and Coal Resources of Asia

Beside it’s iron & coal, what else isunique about China’s geology?

Colors: Different rock types exposed at the surface by weathering and erosion.

Shield of mountains

FertileFlood plains

USGS Geological Map: China

The Silk Route

Drainage Area:Yangzi River

River Drainage Areas

Drainage Area:Yellow River

China’s Iron & Coal and Major RiversWhat’s China’s problem today?

They are running out of iron & coal!And they are trying to “buy” iron & coal

from third world countries

Will buying from third world countries work?

It didn’t for the international oil companies!

What can we learn from China’s history?

Conserve your natural resources; make them last as long as possible.

Are we making any effort to conserve our the resources that made us the most

powerful nation on earth?

No!!Not as long as we insist on living

our current lavish life style!

Keeping China and France in mind let’s now look at the Western Hemisphere

Now, recall how humans got from Siberia to Alaska:Sandi took us there last week

Location & Age of fossils of Homo sapiens

150,000 YBP

115,000 YBP

100,000 YBP120,000 YBP20,000 YBP

Note: China is the next to oldest age fossils found to date. Did humans move there

before going to France?

Humans arrive in Siberia about 100,000 years ago

How many times has the Beringia land bridge been exposed in the last 100,000 years?

The Beringia Land BridgeSiberia to Alaska

Another view

The current interpretation of two times when the

Beringia land bridge was exposed during

the last continental glacial period about 33 million years ago

& about 45 million years ago

Let’s look at our glacial graph for the last 65,000 years

Our glacial graph for the last 650,000 years

Humans arrive in Siberia

Now let’s focus on the last 200,000 years

Written human history

Humans arrive in Siberia

Three glacial times when the Beringia land bridge

connected Siberia to Alaska

Focus on the last 200,000 years

Conclusion: There are three times when humans could have settled in Alaska

and three times when they could have migrated south into North America during the interglacial times

We’ve gotten humans into the Western Hemisphere now it’s time to hear from Rocky on the Gault Site

It’s Graduation Time, Congratulations!

YOUR NAME

Now let’s recognize those who have contributed so much to this course

Now let’s recognize those who have contributed so much to this course

First, let’s see who was really responsible for the human progress from the Stone Age

up to the present.Was it the geologists of their time?

Stone Age Bronze Age

-3000 -2509 -2000 -1500 -1000 -500 1 500 1000 1500 2000

Iron Age Iron & coall Age Oil

Contributions of the geologists of that timeFlin

t & O

bsid

ian

Cop

per

& T

in

Iron

Iron

& C

oal

Oil

Contributions of the engineers (innovators) of that time

Spe

ar h

eads

Bow

& A

rrow

s

Dom

estic

ated

am

ials

Dom

estic

ated

see

ds

Sm

eltin

g or

es

Sm

eltin

g ir

on

Ste

el

Pro

duci

ng &

refin

ing

Conclusion: The engineer has taken human from the Stone Age to the Present

Now let’s recognize those who have contributed so much to this course

Coming next Fall at Senior University

Coming next Fall at Senior University

Travel with the vagabonds and the geologist to?

Maybe Normandy and Maryland and Pennsylvania

But

Thanks for the Memories!!

The Best is yet to Come!

That’s all Folks

Hope to see you next Fall