Sandra Ofomah
ANTH 3010 - 002: The Great Discoveries
Dr. Jeffery Frost
May 3rd 2015
COMPLEX COGNITIVE CONTROL REQIURED FOR LOWER PALEOLITHIC TOOL MAKING
The lower Paleolithic era also known as the Early Stone Age lasted from about 2.6million years ago - 200,000 years ago. The lower Paleolithic began when the first stone tool was manufactured 2.7million years ago called the “Oldowan tool” by the hominin Homo habilis (2.5 million years ago – 1.7 million years ago). This era also saw the rise of other hominin ancestors of human beings including Homo ergaster and Homo erectus (1.8 million years ago - 100,000 years ago) that showed the beginnings of recognizable human behaviors (Oldowan and Acheulean Stone Tools 2015). This group of hominins
…show more content…
The Acheulean “Hand axe” tool dates from 1.4 million years ago – 100,000 years ago and originated in Sub-Saharan Africa. This technology is characterized by its unique stone hand axe which are pear shaped, teardrop shaped, or rounded in outline, usually 12–20 cm long and flaked over at least part of the surface of each side (bifacial). There is considerable variation in size and quality of workmanship (Oldowan and Acheulean Stone Tools 2015). The Acheulean Hand axe is also known as a multipurpose tool, ranging from digging and cutting to hunting and butchering of …show more content…
The subjects’ skills were evaluated before and after they trained and practiced for the experiment. Also the subjects underwent MRI and DTI scans to monitor their brain activities during the course of the experiment. This experiment showed that in the production of Lower Paleolithic tool making, brain activity and functional connectivity in the dorsal prefrontal cortex is involved (stout et all, 2015) and also the observational understanding of Acheulean tool making involves increased demands for the recognition of abstract technological (stout et all,
1) Paleolithic Age is a period in history where humans were nomadic hunters and gatherers. An example of this period is when humans had created stone and other tools during the Paleolithic Age.
The Paleolithic Era (or Old Stone Age) is a period of prehistory from about 2.6 million years ago to around 10000 years ago . There are very few subjects that are more controversial than the origins of the human species. During the Ice Age, a race of people known as the Neanderthals inhabited the fringes of the European ice pack . Because their remains were discovered in Neanderthal in Germany, these people were known as Neanderthals. Neanderthals were slightly different then Homo sapiens. They were heavier, stronger, and hairier then the Homo sapiens .The Neanderthals lived a very simple life. They were hunter/gathers, and
The paleolithic civilizations the early period of human history from 2,500,00 through 10,000 B.C. Neolithic civilizations begun to
The Paleolithic Period is the earliest time period man has been alive, and the longest of the Stone Age's. It dates from 2,000,000 B.C to 10,000 BC The people of the Paleolithic Period lived simple lives, which consisted primarily of survival. Man's life was simply to hunt, eat, and survive, while the woman's job was to gather and watch over the children.
The Paleolithic is divided into three phases which are Lower, Middle, and Upper. The upper stone age began about 42,000-37,000 years ago and has continued up until the ice age ended. Their ways of forms of communication are much different of the way we communicate now. Their forms of communication is visual arts which consists of
The Paleolithic era began about 2.6 million years ago; this was considered the Old Age. The Neolithic era began about 10,000 BC where it was named the New Age. There were several differences that existed between the men who lived in these two ages. The Paleolithic man consisted of nomads who hunted and gathered their food to survive. Their hunting tools consisted of chipped and dull stones and wooden weapons. Their shelter consisted of huts and skin tents, and they were characterized as a tribal society. On the other hand, the Neolithic men were characterized by farmers who resided in permanent settlements, as opposed to wandering around. Their shelter was made up of bricks supported by timber, which seems to be a lot more durable
Although people often think of ancient peoples as similar in their primitive ways, scientists and researchers are constantly finding new evidence that shows remarkable distinctions among Paleolithic peoples. This new information adds to our knowledge of their various cultures and provides opportunities for modern people to appreciate the depth and achievements of their ancient ways of life. Two tribes, the San and the Chumash, are useful to study, as they demonstrate how two peoples that were contemporaries could form such differing ways of living and thinking.
civilization took course over thousands of years . There was a particularly interesting time when humans lived in what were referred to as ]pit dwellings]. During this time, humans were prone to eating only animals that were easily caught, with a general lack of complex grains or other vegetation in their diets. They used rudimentary tools, with sharp edges, for digging what would be their pit. These were typically 6=14 feet in diameter, and in later years were found to have elements of connection, forming make shift
The Paleolithic Period is the earliest time period man has been alive, and the longest of the Stone Age's. It dates from 2,000,000 B.C to 10,000 BC The people of the Paleolithic Period lived simple lives, which consisted primarily of survival. Man's life was simply to hunt, eat, and survive, while the woman’s job was to gather and watch over the children.
The Neolithic Age began around 10,000 BCE. and lasted until around 800 BCE. During the beginning of this age much of the past ways remained very similar. It may have even looked positive for
There are manifold stone tool industries, however there are two especially prevalent technocomplexes; the Oldowan and the Acheulean. Although perhaps not the most intricate instances of implement development, they are the oldest and describe their creators’ lifestyles; information that would otherwise be all but lost. The gradual evolution of these tools over millions of years portray a clear change in the users acclimatisation to new and varied environments, as well as their cultural adaptations. This essay will aim to analyse, through comparison, the varying behavioural adaptations of early Homonins, taking into account the factors of diet, ranging patterns, and the development of social behaviour.
In Mesolithic or the middle stone age, the tools that humans used are more of weapons like in Old Stone Age. Based on studies, during Mesolithic period humans discover that they can plant. So seeing a picture of tools back then explains that our generation may adapt the things of people in that period does. Tools in Mesolithic is an improvement of tools in Paleolithic.
The Paleolithic and Neolithic periods displayed major cultural differences in religion, lifestyles, government, and technology. “Culture is the way of life of a group of people. Culture includes common practices of a society, its shared understandings, and its social organizations are always changing” (McDougal, World History: Patterns of Interaction, 2004) The Paleolithic time period was full of inventions and was a time where new technology and lifestyles were blossoming through all cultures. Tools made out of pressure flaked stone and rock were created during this period to help with everyday tasks. The Paleolithic period was also the period where the creations of fires were discovered along with religion and languages. The Neolithic age, however, was more technologically improved, than the Paleolithic age. This was the start of the agricultural revolution and the start of civilizations and societies. These two periods were ever changing.
Homo habilis is thought to have mastered the Lower Paleolithic Olduwan tool set which used stone flakes. These stone flakes were more advanced than any tools previously used, and gave H. habilis the edge it needed to prosper in hostile environments previously too formidable for primates.
The origin of modern human behavior is a subject in anthropology that accumulates much debate. Cognition is the dominant factor in such behavior, therefore raises the question, “when did this separation of intelligent or modern thought from the primitive come to daily behavior for our genus?” There are two such answers that hold experts in the field captive in debate: the rapid “imagination revolution” in the European-centrailized Upper Paleolithic, and the steadiness of cognitive growth provided first in Africa during the Middle Paleolithic. Although each argument provides supportive evidence for their perspective claims, the more naturally convincing shows this creative revolution taking place much earlier than the Upper Paleolithic. This explanations human cognition developing with no brisk advantageous revolutionary response, and instead by gradual means. This metamorphosis follows the pattern of biological human evolution. My argument combats the “imagination revolution” claim to the origins of creativity using specific artifacts dated earlier than those of European restrictions. Furthermore, it is the lack of excavation in Africa and the conditions of the terrain itself that pose problematic preservation of artifacts, unlike in Europe, to exonerate this innovative exclusivity. These pieces of evidence in Africa exemplify a higher process of thinking, commonly those showing deliberate means of bead and rock art used for both personal functions of expression. If art