Prehistoric Science and Technology

• Lesson focuses on the evidence of science and technology during prehistoric times

Science Achievements

• Categorized into two parts
• Discovery
• invention

Prehistory Challenges

• Much of human history is a mystery because writing only appeared approximately 5,000 years ago
• Archaeologists excavate sites, find traces of human activity and use various dating methods to analyze findings
• Anthropologists study culture by examining artifacts which reflect knowledge, art and customs

Hominids

• Early proto-humans known for sharpening objects with silicon rocks
• They mastered the use of their hands and fingers
• Hominid group includes all modern and extinct Great Apes
• Great Apes are modern humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans and their ancestors
• Hominin group includes modern humans, extinct human species, and human ancestors

Australopithecus afarensis

• Existed 3.85 to 2.95 million years ago
• Discovered in 1978 in Hadar, Ethiopia, and Laetoli, Tanzania
• Had both ape and human characteristics
• Ape-like face proportions, braincase about 1/3 the size of modern humans
• They had long, strong arms and fingers for climbing, small canine teeth, and stood upright
• Diet was mainly plant-based, including leaves, fruit, seeds, roots, nuts, insects, and small vertebrates like lizards.

Australopithecus africanus

• Existed 3.3 to 2.1 million years ago
• The Taung child fossil (1924) established early humans occurred in Africa
• Raymond Dart named the species, very similar to Au. Afarensis
• They had a rounder cranium, bigger brain, small teeth, long arms, a sloping face, and a pronounced jaw
• They walked bipedally but also could climb

Homo habilis

• Existed 2.4 to 1.4 million years ago
• Nicknamed "handyman" because of tool-carving ability
• Early genus Homo member with a slightly bigger braincase, and a smaller face and teeth relative to prior hominins
• Retained ape-like features like long arms and face and had a versatile flexible diet

Homo rudolfensis

• Existed 1.9 to 1.8 million years ago
• Discovered in Koobi Fora in the Lake Turkana basin, Kenya
• Had a braincase of 775 cubic centimeters
• Originally considered H. habilis, it differs with it's larger braincase, longer face, and larger molar and premolar teeth

Homo erectus

• Existed 1.89 million to 110,000 years ago
• Early African Homo erectus fossils, called Homo ergaster, are the earliest with modern human-like body proportions
• They had elongated legs and shorter arms, and ate meat and other protein, honey and tubers
• First evidence of hearths (campfires) occurred during Homo erectus's existence

Homo heidelbergensis

• Existed 700,000 to 200,000 years ago
• Early human species characterized by large browridge, larger braincase, flatter face
• They lived in colder climates and were the first known to control fire and use wooden spears, and routinely hunt large animals
• Broke new ground by building shelters made of wood and rock

Homo neanderthalensis

• Existed 400,000 to 40,000 years ago
• Closest extinct human relative who had: large middle face, angled cheek bones, and a large nose
• Shorter, stockier bodies for cold environments
• Brains were as large or larger than modern humans
• Made sophisticated tools, controlled fire, lived in shelters, made clothing, were hunters, ate plants, and created art

Homo sapiens

• Existed 300,000 years ago to present
• Originated in Africa
• Gathered and hunted food, and evolved survival behaviours

Hominid Migration

• Hominids migrated out of Africa through land bridges during cold cycles
• Homo erectus was the first to migrate, followed by Homo sapiens around 100,000 years ago
• Homo sapiens’ two migration groups
• Neanderthals: Explained and controlled their world, developed religious beliefs, performed rituals, and fashioned stone tools
• Cro-Magnons: Migrated from North Africa to Europe and Asia using tools, hunting, strategic planning and language

Discoveries of Early Humans

• Developed in order to gain more food and survival needs/practical reasons and curiosity

Three Age System

• Consists of Stone, Bronze, and Iron Ages

Stone Age

• Man was a food gatherer/hunter and lived in huts/caves
• Tools transitioned from all-purpose to more specialized

Stone Age Periods

• Paleolithic
• Mesolithic
• Neolithic

Paleolithic Period

• Also called "Old Stone Age"
• Ancient humans lived in huts/caves and were hunter-gatherers that used stone and bone tools/crude axes to hunt
• They cooked animals like mammoths and bison, controlled fire, ate berries and made art
• First tools were naturally broken sharp rocks used and discarded
• The oldowan toolkit is the most earliest known tool

Paleolithic Tool Traditions

• Pebble tool tradition
• Bifacial or Handaxe tool tradition
• Flake tool tradition
• Blade tool tradition

Middle Stone Age

• Prepared cores, retouched flake forms
• Advanced jewellery, sophisticated tools
• Evidence from cumulative culture

Lower Stone Age

• Oldowan cores and flakes
• Gracile Australopiths, Homo Erectus

Upper Stone Age

• Prismatic blades and geometric microliths
• African based and then spreading worldwide

Mesolithic Period

• Also called the Middle Stone Age
• Time of climatic instability and gradual warming with cold spells
• Megafauna went extinct and flora was redistributed due to climate change
• Microliths and harpoons used

Explore the scientific and technological achievements of prehistoric times, focusing on discoveries and inventions. Examine the challenges of studying prehistory due to the absence of written records, relying on archaeological and anthropological evidence. Learn about hominids, including Australopithecus afarensis.