1. SHELTERS
1.1. Their shelters were constructed of animal skins, brush, wood, bones, stones and mud. However, in very cold climates, people made shelters from ice and snow.
1.1.1. Paleolithic Dwellings & Shelters
1.1.1.1. Shelves in caves are the oldest examples of paleolithic dwellings, followed by houses of woods, straw, and rock.
1.1.1.2. Early humans reside near rivers, lakes, streams, perhaps with low hilltops nearby, or anywhere they can be protected against predators and rivals.
1.1.1.3. 380,000 BCE: Temporary wood huts were constructed by humans.
1.1.2. Caves
1.1.2.1. Most popular example of paleolithic shelters.
1.1.2.2. Caves became a place for rituals and religious purposes during the latest part of the Paleolithic.
1.1.2.3. Rear portions of the caves were used as middens to deposit their garbage there.
1.1.3. Tents and huts
1.1.3.1. A house or a tent with a frame that is constructed of mammoth bones were discovered in Siberia.
1.1.3.2. Great tusks were used for the roof and the skulls and thigh bones were used to form the walls.
1.1.3.3. Three small stone hearths provided warmth for several families during winter.
2. TECHNOLOGIES/INVENTIONS
2.1. Stone tools & weapons
2.1.1. Stone, wood, and bone tools for survival.
2.1.2. Oldowan (2.5 MYA): Earliest known tools that consisted of simple stone flakes and cores used for cutting and scraping.
2.1.3. Acheulean tools (1.7 MYA): characterized by hand axes, used for butchering animals and cutting wood.
2.1.4. Wooden Spears (400,000 years ago): hunting large game
2.1.5. Levallois technique (300,000 years ago): allowed a more precise shaping of stone tools which included spear points and scrapers
2.1.6. Advancements in tool-making were crucial for hunting, protection, and daily survival.
2.2. Controlled fire
2.2.1. Flintstones were hit against pyrites or other friction methods wouldhave been used to light a fire.
2.2.2. Fire had many uses: keeping warm, hunting, clearing land, and cooking.
2.2.3. The ability to cook food improved digestion and nutrition, giving humans more energy for other activities.
2.3. Raft
2.3.1. Used for traveling across large bodies of water
2.4. Sewing
2.4.1. Allowed humans to craft clothing
2.4.2. Sewing tools: made out of ivory/bone
2.5. Bow and arrows
2.5.1. Improved accuracy and efficiency for hunting.
2.5.2. Early bows were made from thin, flexible wood, while arrows were made from flints and other stones.
2.6. Braided rope
2.6.1. A group of fibres/strands.
2.7. Oil lamps
2.7.1. Made from stones or seashell crucibles that were filled with animal fat.
2.8. Slings
2.8.1. A weapon used to throw blunt objects such as stones or lead to the opponents at the battlefield.
2.9. Alcoholic drinks
2.9.1. An accidental invention
2.9.2. Fermented mixture water and fruit in sunlight
2.10. Clay pots
2.10.1. Used for cooking and storing food.
3. LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION
3.1. Humans share ideas, pass down knowledge, and teach younger generations.
3.2. Cave Paintings
3.3. Spoken Language
4. Social life
4.1. - Society: Nomadic Hunter-gatherer economy/lifestyle - Equity existed between men and women as they worked together to get/find food. - Human population density due to low body fat and infanticide. Also, women often engage in high/intense endurance exercises, resulting in infants' late weaning. - Paleolithic humans prefer to enjoy an abundance of leisure time This is where the development of spoken language and cave paintings started.
4.1.1. Burial of dead
4.1.1.1. During the Middle Paleolithic age, the dead were disposed and buried by the living members of groups.
4.1.1.2. Shanidar Cave in Iraq - 60,000 years old has been discovered
5. Neanderthals
5.1. Neanderthals: discovered in Germany, were skille
5.1.1. Cro-Magnons
5.1.1.1. Cro-Magnons: found in France, were advanced toolmakers who developed the spear thrower and axe.
5.1.1.2. Also known for creating jewelry, music, and cave paintings, which served both religious and historical purposes.
6. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
6.1. - Old Stone Age - Earliest period of human history (2.5. MYA) - Scientists believe that the first humans originated in Africa, and favorable climate conditions allowed them to migrate across the globe. - Early humans lived in small nomadic groups and survived primarily through hunting and gathering. - Fossil Mammals (Cave bears, Unicorns, Cyclops): usually recognized as mythical beasts like dragons.
7. CLOTHING
7.1. - Primarily developed from animal hides and furs. - This protection became crucial during the Ice Ages, where clothing would have been essential for survival in colder environments. - Evidences: came from tools (bone needles for sewing hides together) traces of ochre, a natural pigment, have been found on some tools, suggesting early humans may have also decorated their clothing. - Early clothing was likely simple, functional, and often layered to provide insulation, with variations depending on the environment and available materials. - Artifacts like the Venus figurines, which sometimes feature details that resemble belts or garments, suggest that clothing may have also served symbolic or social functions beyond basic survival.
8. WAY OF LIVING
8.1. How it started
8.1.1. Through the neolithic period or known as New Stone Age it is recognized as the start of their stabilized or settled people's lifestyle.
8.1.2. Instead of relying just on hunting and gathering, people learnt to domesticate animals and grow vegetables.
8.1.3. In Hongshan culture (ca. 3800–2700 BCE) the most significant crafting in Chinese culture is Jade carving originated by the neolithic people.
8.1.4. Jade pieces hold a mystery value for chinese, it portray an important social or ritual value.
8.1.5. Chinese civilization first appeared around the Yellow River located in the north, while the Yangzi River could be seen in the south and started to circulate all over China.
8.2. Hunting
8.2.1. Involves pig and dog domestication & grow vegetable, goat, sheep herding
8.2.2. Group hunts
8.2.3. Uses more refined stone tools
8.3. Food
8.3.1. Millet and rice
8.3.2. Wheat, barley, squash, and corn
8.3.3. Cattles, pigs, and chickens
8.3.4. Plants and cereal grains
8.3.5. Peas, Flax, and Lentils
8.4. Labor
8.4.1. Farming and domestication of animals
8.5. Livelihood
8.5.1. Archaeological, and anthropological methods and performed carbon dating to learn when and where humans lived.
8.5.2. Partnerships between men and women from different communities helped form alliances and closer ties
8.5.3. Couples raised children to adulthood since food and resources were abundant
8.6. The Unique Arts of China
8.6.1. In the Neolithic period (ca. 5000–1700 BCE), Art of China has expanded in numerous ways like fine gray and black pottery
8.6.2. Chinese cultures are very well known for decorative and unique designs in art especially in the times during Shang dynasty (ca. 1600–1050 BCE)
8.6.3. In Liangzhu (ca. 3300–2250 BCE) people in the southeast coast started innovating the jade structures such as disks (bi) and tubes (cong) in large numbers
8.6.4. The Delicate & Precious Jade in China: ( “A speck on a jade stone won't obscure its radiance.”)
8.6.4.1. The beauty of Jade is highly valued in chinese considering that they visualize it as a luxury.
8.6.4.2. Neolithic people's beliefs involve afterlife and development of social classes.
8.6.4.3. Usually only privileged or wealthy people that are in higher class get the opportunity to be buried with Jades or other precious pieces.
9. TOOLS AND WEAPON
9.1. More refined
9.2. Features smooth edges and surfaces that were sturdier and sharper than those from the Paleolithic and Mesolithic ages.
9.3. Process involves a combination of two techniques.
9.3.1. Knapping
9.3.1.1. Refers to the process of breaking off large chunks using hard and whole stone to form the basic shape of the tool.
9.3.2. Flaking
9.3.2.1. This process is done after knapping where a softer hammer is used to remove smaller flakes of stone to refine the surfaces and edges to achieve the desired shape and texture.
9.4. Axes
9.4.1. Essential for the spread of agriculture and the establishment of permanent settlements.
9.4.2. Clearing lands and fashioning materials for building structures
9.4.3. Weapon for hunting and survival.
9.5. Scrapers
9.5.1. Made through knapping.
9.5.2. Used for butchering animals and rendering hides.
9.6. Blades
9.6.1. Finer than scrapers
9.6.2. Used for hunting and butchering animals, and tilling.
9.6.3. Used for Cutting up fruits and vegetables.
9.6.4. Skills and care are necessary in using the tool.
9.7. Arrowheads and Spearheads
9.7.1. More challenging to create than blades due to its shape and thinness.
9.7.2. Attached to shafts using threads or sinew, and notches.
9.8. Leaf-shaped Flint
9.8.1. One of the most important materials to early humans.
9.8.2. It gets dulled easily, but can be resharpened.
9.9. Adzes
9.9.1. Used for hollowing logs quickly
9.9.2. Helps build on land, developing more tools, and preparing land cultivation.
9.9.3. Aided the future of transportation.
9.10. Hammers
9.10.1. One of the most influential Neolithic technologies
9.10.2. Made the creation of new tools, constructions of homes, and settlements easier.