Ch. 3, Sec. 1 – The First People

Not an exact science!

• Theories are explanations of something for which there is evidence but not final proof.

• Fossils are remains or imprints of living beings that have been preserved in the earth’s crust.

• All of the information we have about our earliest ancestors, or relatives from long ago, are theories.

• Descendants are people born later.• Most are extinct, or no longer alive

The Dawn of Man• The oldest remains

of human ancestors come from East Africa

• The oldest remains of a human ancestor is called Ardi (4.4 million years old)

• Previously holder of this title was Lucy (3.2 million)

Australopithecus• Lived between

approximately 4.4 and 1.75 million years ago

• Remains found in East Africa

• Much shorter than modern humans

• Ate mostly fruit, vegetables, tubers

Homo habilis• Homo means “man,”

habilis means “handy” in Latin

• Oldest remains about 2.2 million years old

• Larger brain than Australopithecus

• Scientists found tools around these remains

• Scientists believe that they used simple language

Homo erectus• Erectus is Latin for

“upright.”• Oldest remains are

1.6 million years old• Remains found in

Africa AND Asia, suggesting that this ancestor migrated from East Africa

• Mastered fire• More developed

vocal box, so scientists think they could speak

Neanderthal Man• Remains found in

Germany’s Neander Valley in 1854

• Lived between 130,000 and 30,000 years ago

• Similar to homo erectus but had larger brains

• Neanderthals buried their dead with items, which suggests that they believed in an after life

Homo Sapien (Cro-Magnon)• Sapien means

“knowing” in Latin• Homo sapiens are

modern human beings

• Oldest remains are 40,000 years old

• Developed the first blades and needles

• First to make art