Humanity 100,000 Years Ago - Life In The Paleolithic
Stefan Milo・13 minutes read
Multiple human species, including Homo sapiens, Neanderthals, Denisovans, Homo erectus, Homo floresiensis, and Homo luzonensis, existed 100,000 years ago, each with unique characteristics and living in different regions. These species exhibited diverse tool-making techniques, diets, and behaviors, with evidence of symbolic acts and caring burials, highlighting the complexity and humanity of our paleolithic ancestors.
Insights
- Multiple distinct human species coexisted 100,000 years ago, including Homo sapiens, Neanderthals, Denisovans, Homo erectus, Homo floresiensis, and Homo luzonensis, each with unique geographical distributions and potential interactions.
- Archaeological findings reveal a complex Paleolithic landscape with diverse tool-making techniques, evidence of symbolic behaviors like handprints, bone markings, and possible jewelry-making, as well as contrasting burial practices among different human species, shedding light on the rich cultural and behavioral tapestry of our ancient ancestors.
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Recent questions
Where did Homo sapiens originate?
Africa and the Middle East
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Summary
00:00
"Six Ancient Human Species and Their Tools"
- 100,000 years ago, six distinct human species existed, including Homo sapiens, Neanderthals, Denisovans, Homo erectus, Homo floresiensis, and Homo luzonensis.
- Homo sapiens were found in Africa and the Middle East, with preserved footprints in the Nefud desert in Saudi Arabia.
- Neanderthals lived further north in Eurasia, with examples found in Teshik Tash cave in Uzbekistan and Denisova cave in Russia.
- Denisovans, closer relatives of Neanderthals, were found in Denisova cave and Baishiya karst cave in Tibet, with interbreeding with Homo sapiens in Southeast Asia.
- Homo erectus lived on the island of Java, possibly descending from a population of Homo erectus that got stuck on Flores and experienced island dwarfism.
- Homo floresiensis, known as the hobbits, lived on Flores and descended from Homo erectus, possibly interacting with Homo sapiens.
- Homo luzonensis was found on the island of Luzon, with limited information due to recent discovery, possibly related to Denisovans.
- New hominin groups, Homo longi, were discovered in Israel and China, adding to the debate on human diversity during the Paleolithic period.
- Neanderthals and Denisovans used the Levallois technique for creating stone tools, while specialized bone tools and glues were developed by different human species.
- Broad spectrum economies emerged, with varied diets including meat, nuts, mushrooms, and starchy vegetables, showcasing adaptability and resource utilization.
15:40
Ancient Ochre Toolkit and Symbolic Rituals
- Ochre, a simple toolkit found in Blombos Cave 100,000 years ago, consisted of a shell, ochre, a grinding stone, and spongy bones possibly used for their fat content as a binding agent.
- Ochre became a key material for prehistoric handprints, with the earliest dated handprint from 40,000 years ago, while Denisovans left symbolic bone markings in Henan, China, and Neanderthals in Krapina, Croatia, potentially made jewelry from eagle talons and a toe bone.
- Neanderthals in Krapina also engaged in possible symbolic acts like peeling flesh from skulls, hinting at secondary burial rituals, contrasting with the caring burial of a young woman and child in Qafzeh, Israel, around 115,000 years ago, showcasing the humanity of our paleolithic ancestors.
