PREHISTORY

We call Prehistory the period between the origin of the human being and the invention of writing, about 6,000 years ago.
This period is divided into three stages: the Palaeolithic Age, the Neolithic Age and the Metal Age.

* The Palaeolithic Age: extends from the appearance of our first ancestor to about 10,000 years ago. Human beings used tools of stone and lived on hunting and gathering.
* The Neolithic Age began about 10,000 years ago, when human groups started to live in villages and practise agriculture and cattle raising.

* The Metal Age began about 7,000 years ago, when human beings learnt to use metals to make objects.

The present human being is the result of a long evolutionary process known as Hominisation .(The evolutionary process leading to the development of human characteristics that distinguish hominids from other primates.)

* Australopithecus were the first ancestors of the human being and appeared about five million years ago. They were very similar to chimpazees. They first appered in Africa.

* Homo habilis appeared two million years ago. They already made tools of stone and lived on hunting and gathering.

* Homo erectus appeared a million and a half years ago. They were very similar to Homo habilis, but they had a greater technological development. For example, this species discovered fire. Their remains have been found in Asia, Europe and Africa.

* Homo sapiens appeared about 100,000 years ago. There are two subtypes: Neanderthal man, similar to us but more sturdy, and Homo sapiens sapiens, the species we belong to. Their remains have been found in Autralia and America .

Characteristics of the human species:
Human beings have in common some characteristics:

* Great cerebral development, that's why they can make constant inventions.
* The biped walk, so their hands are free to work.
* The opposable thumb, that lets us make manual labours.
* The development of language.

PICTURES

Bison in the cave of Altamira

Men hunting in Castellón

Palaelolithic tools

Venus of Willendorf

Dolmen in Antequera

Naveta

Talayot

Taula

Stonehenge

Vista aérea de Stonehenge

VOCABULARY

Hominization: The evolutionary process leading to the development of human characteristics that distinguish hominids from other primates.

Prehistory: History of humankind in the period before recorded history.

Palaelolithic: Of or relating to the cultural period of the Stone Age until the beginning of the Mesolithic Age.

Neolithic: Of or relating to the cultural period of the Stone Age, characterized by the development of agricultural and making of polished stone implements.

Rupestrian: Made of, or written on rock.

Cavern: A long cave.

Predator: One that victimizes, plundres, or destroys, especially for one's own gain.

Biface: Generic term for any stone tool that has been flaked on both faces of the stone.

Booster: A device for increasing power or effectiveness.

Sedentary: Remaining or living in one area, not migratory.

Nomad: A member of a group of people who have no fixed home and move according to seasons from place to place in search of food and water.