Prehistory is the time before written records, from around 3 million years ago to the development of writing systems. During this period, early humans and hominids first appeared and stood upright on two feet, distinguishing them from apes. These early humans lived in clans and survived by hunting and gathering food, moving areas once supplies ran out. The evolution of hominids led to species like Homo habilis, Homo erectus, Neanderthals, and eventually modern Homo sapiens, who began migrating out of Africa around 100,000 years ago. The Lascaux Caves in France contain Paleolithic cave paintings from around 17,000 to 30,000 years ago, depicting animals these

1. Warm Up
You were just
stranded on a
deserted island.
What would be
five items that
you would bring?
Why?

2. Prehistory is the time before written records were
kept. Since people didn’t write down their history we
have to do our best to figure out what happened.

3. 3 Million Years Ago…Early Humans
It was during this time that the higher
primates, including apes and early man, first
appeared.
• There was a difference between apes and
man. Early human-like hominids could stand
upright. Apes could not.
•Hominids are humans and
other creatures that walk
upright on two feet.

4. Paleolithic= Old Stone Age. This
era was called the stone age
because early man used stone to
make his tools and weapons.
These clans got their food by hunting and
gathering. Once the food supply ran out
they would move to a different area.

5. Paleolithic= Old Stone Age. This
era was called the stone age
because early man used stone to
make his tools and weapons.
These clans got their food by Hunting
and Gathering
Once the food supply ran out they would move
to a different area.

6. The Theoretical Evolution of
Hominids, Man/Woman

7. Term Description
Homo sapien
Homo habilis
Homo erectus
Neanderthal
Australopithecus

8. Do we have ape-like ancestors?

9. Homo habilis – handy man

10. Homo erectus –
stood upright
(What was the word
we learned to
describe people who
walk on two feet?)

11. Neanderthal
Have you seen
him before?

12. Cro-Magnon –
more
intelligent than
previous
hominids

13. Homo sapiens – man as we know
them today

14. Modern Human Beings
Appeared in Africa between 150,000-200,000 years ago
Began to migrate outside of Africa 100,000 years ago.
By 10,000 B.C. Homo Sapiens could be found throughout the world due to migration.
During the last ice
age between
100,000 B.C. and
8000 B.C. the
water level in the
oceans dropped
revealing a land
bridge connecting
Asia and North
America
Homo-sapiens

15. Great Migration

16. Paleolithic Picassos?
A Journey in Prehistoric Art of the
Lascaux Caves

17. DISCOVERY!
The
Lascaux
Caves

18. Where are the caves? How ere they
discovered and when?

19. The Artists!
Lived about
17,000 to
30,000 years
ago during the
Stone Age and
Ice Age

20. How DID they create the images?
• Using bone, sticks,
brushes made with
animal hair,
hand/fingers and
sharpened rock
• Paints came form the
earth- crushed and
mixed together
• Dark caves were lit with
torches

21. What did the artists paint?
• Why did they
paint and carve on
the walls?
• Do you think they
lived in the caves?
• What evidence of
human life do we
see in the caves?

22. Let’s visit the
Lascaux Caves!