The Beginnings of Human History
The Beginnings of Human History Lecture seven But when does human history begin? ! ! Wolpoff and Alan Thorne: argue that humans evolved into their modern forms throughout Africa and Eurasia over the last million years They were a single species with regional variations (skin color, facial shape, etc.) But when does human history begin? ! Problem with argument is that it is difficult to see how so much variation in known fossils and the geographical distances between them can allow us to assume there was one species that experienced regional variations (skin color, facial shape, etc.) But when does human history begin? ! ! ! ! Second theory: modern humans (homo sapiens) appeared between 100,000 and 250,000 years ago in some part of Africa. Evidence for this theory is genetic. Our genetic material suggests we are a young species, possibly no more than 200,000 years old. Most of our genetic variety can be found in modern African populations - which suggests this is where we came from We may well have been subject to allopatric speciation Allopatric speciation Allopatric speciation Allopatric speciation But when does human history begin? ! Problem with this theory is that signs of distinctly human behaviours and probably language do not exist until 60,000 - 50,000 years ago 50,000 years ago ! ! ! ! New ecological adaptations New technologies including use of bone Evidence of greater economic and social organisation Indirect signs of symbolic activity such as art Engraved ochre piece recovered in late 2001 from Middle Stone Age layers at Blombos Cave, 290 kilometres (180 miles) east of Cape Town, possibly 70,000 years old. Mcbrearty and Brooks theory ! ! Argues that fully human behaviour is much older possibly dates to 250,000 years ago There was no sudden “revolution” resulting in modern homo sapiens but rather a slower process in which there was a “fitful expansion of knowledge.” ! Argues that all of the changes supporting the evidence for the rapid emergence of modern human in the upper Palaeolithic (beginning around 50,000 years ago) existed 250,000 years ago Upper Palaeolithic life, 50,000 - 10,000 years Marshall Sahlins ! ! ! Argued in 1972 that the stone age was “the original affluent society” Material wants were more easily satisfied than in industrial society Argument grounded in modern anthropological research Social Life ! ! ! Probably based on family groups Groups regularly met for social occasions ensuring their ongoing stability during which knowledge and people were exchanged Again our vision of the Palaeolithic is informed by modern anthropology Human impact on the biosphere Human impact ! ! ! Exploitation of large and vulnerable animal species Extinctions greatest in areas most newly colonized by modern humans Fire stick “farming” practiced
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