The Emergence of The Emergence of CivilizationCivilizationChasidy Miroff Chasidy Miroff

Powerpoint Lecture #2Powerpoint Lecture #2

Brookwood Middle SchoolBrookwood Middle School

What is prehistory?What is prehistory? Prehistory is the period of time Prehistory is the period of time

before writing was developed.before writing was developed. We study prehistory by looking We study prehistory by looking

at skeletons, artifacts, and at skeletons, artifacts, and culture.culture.

Scientists called Scientists called ARCHAEOLOGISTS study ARCHAEOLOGISTS study artifacts (tools, art, weapons, artifacts (tools, art, weapons, toys).toys).

Scientists called Scientists called ANTHROPOLOGISTS study ANTHROPOLOGISTS study skeletons.skeletons.

Educated GuessesEducated Guesses

Scientists work with limited evidence, as they Scientists work with limited evidence, as they try to discover human origins. try to discover human origins.

So, they must make educated guesses—their So, they must make educated guesses—their best guess about how the first human beings best guess about how the first human beings lived.lived.

Can we say for sure what early humans were Can we say for sure what early humans were like? No. However, scientists have tons of like? No. However, scientists have tons of experience studying the ways and customs of experience studying the ways and customs of early humans.early humans.

HominidsHominids

Hominids include humans as well as earlier Hominids include humans as well as earlier humanlike creatures. humanlike creatures.

By studying their remains, anthropologists By studying their remains, anthropologists can figure out what early hominids looked can figure out what early hominids looked like. like.

They can also determine how long the They can also determine how long the hominids lived.hominids lived.

LucyLucy

In 1974, a team led by Donald Johanson found In 1974, a team led by Donald Johanson found the remains of a female hominid.the remains of a female hominid.

This female hominid may have lived 3 million This female hominid may have lived 3 million years ago. years ago.

Johanson and his team named the skeleton Johanson and his team named the skeleton Lucy, after the Beatles song “Lucy in the Sky Lucy, after the Beatles song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.”with Diamonds.”

This song was playing on the radio at their This song was playing on the radio at their campsite the night they found her. They heard campsite the night they found her. They heard the song, and decided to name her Lucy.the song, and decided to name her Lucy.

Where did they find Where did they find Lucy?Lucy?

That’s right. They found her on the continent of Africa, in what wouldToday be the African country of Ethiopia.

Donald JohansonDonald Johanson

Lucy’s remainsLucy’s remains“I spent the morning of November 30 scanning the ground for fossils…At midday, under a murderous sun and in temperatures topping 100 degrees, we reluctantly headed back toward camp. Along the way I glanced over my right shoulder. Light glinted off a bone. I knelt down for a closer look. This time I knew at once I was looking at a hominid elbow…Everywhere we looked on the slope around us we saw more bones lying on the surface. Here was the hominid skeleton.” --Donald Johanson

Louis and Mary LeakeyLouis and Mary Leakey

A few years after the A few years after the discovery of Lucy, discovery of Lucy, Louis and Mary Louis and Mary Leakey were Leakey were searching in the searching in the African country of African country of Tanzania. Tanzania.

They searched at a They searched at a place called Olduvai place called Olduvai Gorge.Gorge.

Olduvai GorgeOlduvai Gorge

Mary’s DiscoveriesMary’s Discoveries

Mary Leakey found Mary Leakey found many skeletons at many skeletons at Olduvai Gorge.Olduvai Gorge.

One skeleton dated One skeleton dated back to 3.7 million back to 3.7 million years ago. years ago.

This skeleton This skeleton belonged to the belonged to the Australopithecus Australopithecus humans, like Lucy.humans, like Lucy.

Early HominidsEarly Hominids

Homo habilis “handy man,” found by Homo habilis “handy man,” found by Mary Leakey, first time a hominid has Mary Leakey, first time a hominid has evidence of using the opposable thumb.evidence of using the opposable thumb.

Homo erectus “upright man,” also found Homo erectus “upright man,” also found by the Leakeys, shows early humans by the Leakeys, shows early humans walking upright.walking upright.

Homo sapiens—modern humansHomo sapiens—modern humans

How do we trace our own How do we trace our own ancestry?ancestry?

The greatest history ever written, is the The greatest history ever written, is the one that’s written in our genes.one that’s written in our genes.

Dr. Spencer Wells, started “The Dr. Spencer Wells, started “The Genographic Project” to trace our Genographic Project” to trace our ancestry through our DNA.ancestry through our DNA.

We will continue our exploration of early We will continue our exploration of early humans, with a video lesson from Dr. humans, with a video lesson from Dr. Wells tomorrow.Wells tomorrow.