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General Prehistory

• Modern Era (Cenozoic): Began ~62 million years ago and continues today, encompassing the Tertiary and Quaternary geological periods.

Plate Tectonics (Tectonique des plaques)

• A theory explaining continental formation.
• Initially, Earth was one landmass (Pangaea) surrounded by a single ocean.
• Over geological time, it split into Laurasia and Gondwana.
• The continents we know today gradually formed during the Tertiary period, eventually separating into five continents.

Paleontology (Paleontologie)

• Combines "Paleo" (ancient), "onto" (living things), and "logie" (science).
• Studies fossilized animal and human remains.
• Animal Paleontology investigates animal bone remains and evolutionary stages.
• Helps understand past climates.

Taphonomy

• Greek word, derived from "Taphos" meaning "tomb."
• Studies the preservation and fossilization of organic remains, especially bones.
• Examines the laws of covering for human artifacts.

Quaternary Geological Period

• The latest geological period, lasting from ~2 million years ago to the present.
• Divided into the Pleistocene and Holocene epochs.
• Transition period (Pliocene) between the Tertiary and Quaternary periods.
• Characterized by human development, glacial periods in the Northern Hemisphere, and varying rainfall patterns in the Southern Hemisphere.

Alpine Glaciations

• A glacial period during the Pleistocene epoch.
• Significant for studying glacial periods and their sub-divisions.
• Early glacial research occurred in the Alpine region.

Taxonomy

• The science of describing, naming, and classifying living and extinct organisms.
• Uses Greek origins "taxis" (arrangement) and "nomos" (law).
• Is interconnected with other biological disciplines, like genetics, physiology, ecology and anatomy.

Primates (Matis)

• Mammals often living in trees.
• Latin root "Primas" meaning first.
• An order of placental mammals.
• Have separated thumb to facilitate tree climbing.
• Possess upright posture and developed jaws, particularly orbital/eye sockets.
• Well-developed binocular and color vision.

Relative Dating

• Determines the relative order of past events without specifying their absolute dates.
• Geological tools include rocks, sediments, fossils, and rock properties for placing geological strata.
• Before radiometric dating, it was the primary approach.

Australopithecus Genus

• Means "southern ape" in Greek (Australis - South and Pithecus - Ape).
• Refers to hominins with a smaller skull capacity
• Lived in Eastern and southern Africa during 7-4 million years ago.

Prehistory Period

• From human emergence to the invention of writing.
• Estimated from 2 million to ~3200 years ago.

Fieldwork in Prehistory

• Site discovery: Archaeological surveys using maps, aerial photos, and existing research.
• Prospecting: Locating remains.
• Excavation: Layering, grid system, collecting and sieving.
• Tools: Picks, shovels, trowels, transport carts, microscopes, magnifying glasses, cutting tools, cleaning brushes, paper, and pencils. Professionals include engineers, photographers, statisticians, writers, journalists and students.

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