Aim: What makes us human?Do Now: What makes us human?

NY State Standards 2Common Core RS 1, 2, 7, WS 1, LSS 4

I Evolution vs. CreationismA) Charles Darwin wrote On the Origins of Species, published in 1859. His theory of evolution asserts that “all species of organisms arise and develop through the natural selection of small, inherited variations that increase the individual's ability to compete, survive, and reproduce.” (Webster)B) Based on archaeological and DNA evidence, scientists have concluded that modern Homo sapiens and living primates (chimpanzees, gorillas, etc.) both evolved from a common ancestor approximately 5 – 8 million years ago.C) Creationists believe the world was created by a supernatural power. Creationism is based on faith rather than science.D) The Intelligent Design movement accepts evolution but believes that the process was begun by a supernatural force. Advocates of Intelligent Design argue that it should be taught in public school science classes.

Is it possible to believe in both evolution and creationism? Should intelligent design be taught in public school science classes?

II What was the Paleolithic?

What was the Paleolithic Continued…A) The Paleolithic “Old Stone Age” lasted approximately from 2.5 million years ago to 8,000 BCE. During the Paleolithic, hominids (human-like ancestors) developed fire and stone tools.

What was the Paleolithic continued…B) Our earliest human

ancestors (hominids) had traits of both primates and humans. For most of the Paleolithic, more than one species of hominid existed at the same time!

C) Most of the earliest archaeological evidence found comes from the Great Rift Valley in Eastern Africa.

What was the Paleolithic continued…D) Hominids (as well as the first modern humans) survived by

living in caves or building simple shelters. They made stone tools, and hunted and gathered food. They were nomadic.

Modern day Bushmen live in the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa. Many still live a hunting and gathering lifestyle.

III Meet Our Relatives!A) The oldest hominid found (so far) is nicknamed Ardi, a 4.4 million year old female from Ethiopia! She was 110 lbs,

4ft tall.

Ardipithecus Ramidus

B) Lucy, named for a Beatles song, is 3.2 million years old. She is 3 ft. 6 inches tall and

walked on two legs. Discovered by Donald

Johansen.

Australopithecus afarensis

Donald Johansen and Lucy

When I realized, in 1978, that Lucy did represent a new

species of human ancestor, and that I had an opportunity to name this new species, I

realized this was a revolutionary step in

understanding human origins.- Donald Johansen

Meet Our Relatives! Continued…

These hominids footprints became preserved in volcanic ash 3.6 million years ago! It was found

by Mary Leaky in Tanzania.

C) Homo erectus lived between 1.8 and 1.3 million years ago. They were

the first hominids to make fire!

Homo erectus tautavelensis

How did the ability to make fire change human history?

Meet our Relatives! Continued…

D) Neanderthals lived between 130,000 and 35,000 years ago. They made tools that were similar to those of modern humans! However,

they disappeared and were replaced by Cro Magnons (us).

In 2010 scientists mapped the Neanderthal genome and discovered

that they interbred with modern humans! Neanderthal DNA make up 1-4% of the DNA in modern people

from Eurasia.

Homo neanderthalensis

Meet Our Relatives! Continued…

Neanderthal Tools

Meet Our Relatives! Continued…

This flute was found at a Neanderthal site in Slovenia. It is carved from a bear’s femur, and is dated between 43,000 and 82,000 years

old. This is the oldest musical instrument ever found.

Cro Magnon vs. Neanderthal Skull

E) 200,000 – 400,000 years ago, Cro Magnons (modern Homo sapiens) emerged in Eastern Africa. According to the Out of Africa theory, they migrated out of Africa into Europe and Asia. By 35,000 years ago, the

Cro Magnons had replaced the Neanderthals.

This is the reconstructed face of a Cro Magnon man who lived in Romania 35,000 years ago.

Meet our Relatives! Continued…

Cro Magnon Tools Develop

IV Achievements of Cro MagnonsA) Cro Magnons buried their dead.

This skeleton is 12,000 years old. It was found in a cave in Italy.

Achievements of Cro Magnons continued…B) They created art.

Venus of Willendorf24,000 – 22,000 years old

Found in Austria

Achievements of Cro Magnons continued…

The Lascaux Caves in southwestern France. (15,000 BCE)

Lascaux Caves Details

Women and Paleolithic Art

“Archaeologist Dean Snow of Penn State University analyzed hand stencils found in eight cave sites in France and Spain. By comparing the relative lengths of certain fingers, Snow determined that three-quarters of the handprints were female… Archaeologists have found hundreds of hand stencils on cave walls across the world. Because many of these early paintings also showcase game animals—bison, reindeer, horses, woolly mammoths—many researchers have proposed that they were made by male hunters, perhaps to chronicle their kills or as some kind of "hunting magic" to improve success of an upcoming hunt. The new study suggests otherwise. "In most hunter-gatherer societies, it's men that do the killing. But it's often the women who haul the meat back to camp, and women are as concerned with the productivity of the hunt as the men are," Snow said…” by Virginia Hughes National Geographic October 8, 2013

Lascaux Cave Detail

Paleolithic Mammoth Bone Dwelling, Ukraine

Achievements of Cro Magnons continued…

C) They survived.

Key Vocabulary