First Humans

First Humans

1. Who were Australopithecines?

   • Could walk upright
   • Could spot threatening animals
   • Developed opposable thumb
   • South and East Africa, 4-1 million BC
   • Discovered by Mary Leakey in Leatol in 1970
   • Evidence: Footprints in Lava (1978), Lucy (1974)

2. Who were Homo Habilis (Man of Skill)?

   • lava rock tools
   • Tools to cut meat and crack bones
   • In East Africa, 2.5-1.5 million BC
   • Evidence: Fossil in Olduvai (1960)

3. Who were Homo Erectus (Upright man)

   • Intelligent and adaptable
   • Developed technology for needs (sophisticated tools)
   • skillful hunters
   • First to migrate to India. China, Southwest Asia, Europe
   • First to use fire
   • Created first language
   • In Africa. Asia, Europe, 1.6-30,000 BC

4. Who were Homo Sapiens (Wise man)?

   • Neanderthals
     • Developed more muscles and thicker bones
     • Religious beliefs, performed rituals, funerals
     • Tools (Stone blades. Scrapers, skin of prey)
     • In Europe and Southwest Asia, 300,000-200,000 BC
     • Evidence: Fossils found in Neander Valley, Germany Disappeared mysteriously 30,000 years ago
   • Cro-Magnons
     • specialized tools
     • Fully modern humans (Strong, average 5’1”)
     • Studies animals
     • Planned hunts
     • Fast growing popluation
     • Advanced hunting and language
     • In Europe and Asia, 40,000 years ago