6th Grade UBD - Unit 2 - Rise of Human

Rise of Human
 Preview
 Analyzing Artifacts- Archaeologists use technology to study

artifacts. Their discoveries may result in new evidence that

modifies old theories about ancient humans.
 Hominins- The lifespan of the hominins extends from 5.8 million

years ago to the present. Hominins include a significant number of

distinct species.
 Habitat and Environment- Hominins survived changes in their

environment by being adaptable. This allowed them to endure for

millions of years.
 Reach Into Your Background

 What kind of clues are left

behind at a crime scene?

What can we learn from
those clues? What can we
learn from clues left by
people who have died
thousands of years ago?
(5 minutes)
Partner Activity
 Work with a
neighbor and
compare your
answer with theirs.
What things are
the same and what
things are
different? (3
minutes)
Key Ideas- Analyzing Artifacts

 Early archaeologists often collected only the most

valuable artifacts. They did not always keep good

records or take good care of the site.
 Today, archaeologists follow strict rules to preserve

both artifacts and sites.

 Archaeologists study the technology and culture of
ancient civilizations.
 Archaeologists as Detectives

Archaeologists are social scientists who

study how people lived in an earlier

time.
They examine the remains of what

those people made and used.

They are like detectives. They

investigate the clues left behind and

piece together the story of how ancient

peoples lived.
 Key Term

Archaeologists-
Social scientists
who study how
people lived in an
earlier time.
Anthropologists
Video- Anthropologists
 The Study of Artifacts

 Many archaeologists today

work for universities or
museums.
 Often archaeologists travel
to the location where
ancient people lived to
search for artifacts—remains
and objects.
 The Study of Artifacts

 What archaeologists find

provides them with information
about what early life was like.
 Archaeologists must carefully
record and analyze the artifacts
they find.
 They then share this information
with others.
 Key Term

Artifact- An
object made by
human beings;
often refers to a
primitive tool or
other relic from
an earlier period.
A Developing Science

 Today, archaeology is a
science, but it did not start out
this way.
 In the early 1900s,
archaeologists were explorers.
 Often, they focused on finding
valuable items that could be
sold.
 A Developing Science

Early archaeologists did not

always take the greatest of care

with smaller, fragile artifacts that

they believed to be less valuable.

Many artifacts were destroyed

By the 1960s, archaeology had

become a more exact science.

 Key Term

Dig Site- A place

where an
archaeological dig
is going on.
 Tools of the Craft

 Archaeologists often search for

years before they find a site to dig.
 They look for elements that would
help the creation of a civilization.
 They search in places close to

water and with good soil quality.

 Sites of large cities or societies

are likely to contain more

artifacts.
 Tools of the Craft

 Fossils and other artifacts help to

explain who lived in certain areas
and when they lived there.
 Old tools reveal information about
the technological abilities of a
people.
 Sculpture, art, and pottery provide
clues about ancient cultures and
the people’s beliefs.
Neanderthal Tools
Video- Neanderthal Tools
 Key Term

Fossil- The
remains (or an
impression) of a
plant or animal
that existed in the
past geological
age.
 Key Term

Culture- The
attitudes and
behavior that are
characteristic of a
particular social
group or
organization.
 Careful Study

 Present-day archaeology has

worldwide rules for digging.
 Shovels and picks are used
only for a small portion of the
work.
 Much more is done with
much smaller instruments to
avoid destroying anything.
Research and Teamwork

 The found objects are also studied

extensively.
 Laboratory analysis is performed
to see how old the material is.
 Often scientists from other fields
examine the artifacts, too. Their
knowledge contributes
information that the archaeologist
might not have.
Conclusion

 Archaeologists use artifacts to

learn about ancient people and
cultures.
 They draw conclusions from their
research about the daily lives of
ancient humans. They are
particularly interested in the
technology and culture of ancient
civilizations.
Key Ideas- Hominins

 Each subsequent hominin increased in height and brain

size.
 Over time, hominins began walking on two feet instead of

climbing.
 Exploring hominins helps us understand more about

modern humans. The discovery of Homo erectus solidified

the theory that Africa is the birthplace of humanity.
Technology

 Looking at technology can tell us

about the lifestyles of people. For
example, consider the discovery
of spears used by early humans.
 These might suggest that the
civilization was centered on
hunting, or that the people faced
threats from other people or wild
animals.
 Technology

Later civilizations developed

farming tools like plows.

The discovery of these tools

is a sign that people grew

crops.
They were settled down in

one location, not constantly

moving in search of food.
 Hominin Prehistory and Hominins

 In 1992, archaeologists found

a molar tooth in Ethiopia.

 This tooth was unlike any

remain that had been seen

before.
 Archaeologists believed that

they had found a new kind of

hominin.
 Key Term

Hominin- Are
humans and their
early ancestors.
Hominin Prehistory and Hominins

 The ancient skeleton was

thought to be more than five
million years old.
 Archaeologists called the
species Ardipithecus, and
nicknamed the skeleton “Ardi.”
 Archaeologists concluded that
Ardi was about 4 feet tall and
weighed 110 pounds.
Hominin Prehistory and Hominins

 Archaeologists also determined

that she was she walked on two
feet.
 She also climbed trees and
could grasp with her feet.
 She did not walk on her
knuckles like an ape, nor did she
climb as easily as a chimpanzee.
Species of Hominins

 There are many species of

hominins.
 Modern humans are the only
ones that survive today.
 However, all hominins are
part of the hominid family,
which also includes gorillas
and chimpanzees.
Key Ideas- Hominin Habitats

Hominins had to cope with intense weather shifts that lasted

for years. These conditions affected where they lived.

Larger brain size in later hominins allowed them to process

information and adapt to the changing environments.

Later hominins learned to make tools, find shelter, and

control fire. These developments helped them to survive

harsh environments and move to new locations.
 Hominin Habitats

 Scientists can determine the

climate, environment, and

habitats of hominins millions of

years ago.
 Hominins were very adaptable.
 They endured for several million

years during unpredictable

environmental change.
 Hominin Habitats

 The unpredictable weather played

a large role in where early hominins

chose to settle.
 Hominins lived by sources of food

and water.
 If the environment changed,

hominins had to move. Otherwise,

they might die. They avoided

places with few resources..

 Location of Earliest Hominins

 Much evidence of the earliest

hominins has been found in
Africa.
 Africa provided wooded
areas and grassland where
animals grazed.
 Plants, fruits, insects, and
small animals were plentiful.
 Adapting to New Environments
 The ability to adapt was necessary for

survival.
 Caves protected them from the

elements. Their shelters also provided

a place to store food.

 Eventually, hominins learned to use

fire. These developments enabled

some to move to regions in Asia and

Europe where they would not have

survived before.
 Independent Activity

 What has been the

“muddiest” point so far in

this lesson? That is, what

topic remains the least clear

to you? (4 minutes)
Partner Activity
 Work with a
neighbor and
compare your
muddiest point with
theirs. Compare
what things are the
same and what
things are different?
(3 minutes)