Anth112: Introduction to Archaeology and Biological Anthropology - Topic 6 PDF

Summary

These lecture notes cover the Upper Paleolithic period, exploring topics such as hunting, tools, art, social structures, and subsistence strategies. The notes also discuss the significance of sites like Mezherich and famous caves like Lascaux and Altamira.

Full Transcript

ANTH112: Introduction to Archaeology and Biological Anthropology Instructor: Denise Huynh October 8 - RECORDED Topic 5 – Modern Humans (and comparison with Neanderthals) Topic 6 – The Upper Paleolithic Readings: Chapter 3 (71-93 chapter 4 (94 – only to page 110) Upcoming October...

ANTH112: Introduction to Archaeology and Biological Anthropology Instructor: Denise Huynh October 8 - RECORDED Topic 5 – Modern Humans (and comparison with Neanderthals) Topic 6 – The Upper Paleolithic Readings: Chapter 3 (71-93 chapter 4 (94 – only to page 110) Upcoming October 8 - ASSIGNMENT #1 DUE October 10 – class is in person October 15 – video for Assignment #2 – watch in class or online October 17 – In person class Homo sapiens Where did we come from? Fate of the Neanderthals Stone Tools of Anatomically Modern Humans Upper Paleolithic – Approx 45,000 – 11,000 years ago – Archaeological period that corresponds to the first occupation of Europe by modern humans – Hunter-Gatherer Societies – Middle to Upper Paleolithic Transition-marked by a dramatic change in material culture – Industries include microliths and greater emphasis on working of bone and antler – Long distance trade of raw materials Upper Paleolithic – Tendency towards higher population densities – More regular social gatherings – More stylistic variation in stone artifacts – Hunting herd animals – Central and western Europe were cold and dry – Great ice sheets – Steppe-grassland with occasional stands of trees – Rich variety of plant foods – Changing climate meant constant adaptations in diet Upper Paleolithic-Industries – Aurignacian – 43,000 – 33,000 cal BC – Microliths known as Dufour bladelets – split-based bone points – Central and Western Europe – Also evident of art, music – Gravettian – Starts 30,000 cal BC – Small hunting points – Found across much of Europe – Occupation of the rich “mammoth steppe”: a combination of plant and animal species conducive to hunter-gatherer expansion in the north. Upper Paleolithic-Industries – Solutrean – Approximately 25,000 cal BC – Bifacial points – Limited to France and Spain – Magdalenian – Starts about 20,000 cal BC – Bone tools and harpoons Upper Paleolithic-Industries – Tools made on blades – Endscrapers – Blades retouched at the end – Burin – used for engraving? – Long distance trade – Sophisticated points used as light projectiles – By the Gravettian-clear evidence of atlatl – Spear thrower – Hooked piece of bone, ivory or wood used to launch a light spear Indirect percussion Upper Paleolithic Burials – Largely absent until the Gravettian period – Some with rich ornamentation-social inequality? – Burials of young children with a wealth of objects indicates that some people were born with high status – Sungir’ 150km NE of Moscow – 28,000 years ago Upper Paleolithic Art – Hallmark of the Upper Paleolithic – Sharp contrast to the Middle Paleolithic – Mobiliary Art – Portable art objects – Earliest is Aurignacian levels of sites in Germany – Hohlenstein – Lion headed man – Depicts world as is and the world of imagination Upper Paleolithic Mobiliary Art – Gravettian – Venus figurines – Portable representation of the female body – Faces are not detailed – Feet are absent or broken off – Exaggeration of female characteristics, pregnancy? – Fertility goddesses? – From the female perspective? – Also bone flutes, carved atlatls Upper Paleolithic Art – Cave Art – Images of animals and abstract forms and, rarely, humans – Petroglyphs and pictographs – Chauvet Cave – Cave painting continues throughout the Upper Paleolithic – Lascaux and Altamira (famous caves) – Magdalenian period Upper Paleolithic Art-Cave Art –Meaning of the Cave Art? – Hunting Magic – Fertility Magic – initiation – Shamans and Trances – Information and communication – Identity Upper Paleolithic Art –Body Ornamentation –Pierced shells, pierced animal teeth, and bone beads were most likely work as necklaces or attached to clothing Upper Paleolithic-Social Complexity – Site Structure –Huts-inferred from distribution of artifacts –Mezherich, Ukraine – Large circular mass of mammoth bones –No more than a few structures on a site Upper Paleolithic-Social Complexity - Subsistence –Hunting – Seasonal? – Logistical collecting – Cooperative – Driving – Stampeding – Use of atlatl – Megafauna – Fishing – Use of nets Upper Paleolithic Generalizations – Trade – Tool traditions become more complex – New ways of construction (pressure flaking) – Use of atlatl – Burials more complex, status differences – Burst of artistic expressions – Increased social complexity

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