Chapter 20 - Cultural Evolution Flashcards
Define culture
Culture is the range of learned behaviour patterns acquired by a species/population.
Summarise cultural evolution
The cultural evolution of a population be seen seen in the gradual improvement of tools, better methods of obtaining food, increased sophistication of language and other changes that have resulted in a complex culture.
Define home base.
A home base is a camp site to which prehistoric hunters brought back food for other members of their group. It is a specific place where they live or operate from.
Describe the diet of the Early Homo culture
- Started to consume meat for energy
- Males hunted for food, females gathered vegetation
- Brought food back to home base for all members to share
- Relied mainly on plant food
- The main source of meat was from hunting and scavenging the remains of prey killed by carnivores.
Describe the interdependence of the Early Homo culture
The exchanged of food within a group would have increased the demand for a type of communication
How can bone indentations work as evidence of the way early homo hunted?
- A number of bones show cut marks by stone tools or teeth at early Homo fossil sites
- New technology with high magnification can be used to distinguish the markings on the bones.
- Human teeth left a broad, smooth groove on the bone
- Stone tools left smaller, parallel grooves on the bone
Describe the diet of the Homo erectus culture
- Heavily involved fruits, vegetables and nuts that had been gathered
- Meat was starting to be consumed more
- Shared food with families and friends
Describe the use of fire by the Homo erectus
- First hominin to effectively use fire
- Used to keep away predators, provide warmth, heard prey and cook food.
What were some benefits of using fire?
- Gave warmth
- Scare away predators
- Provide Light
- Herd prey
- Cook food (improved the flavour and destroyed bacteria)
What type of tools did Australopithecines use?
Oldowan tools or pebble tools
- Found in Olduvai, Africa
- Tools included choppers, scrapers, flakes and chisels
What type of tools did Homo erectus use?
Acheulian tools
- Found in St Acheul, France
- Use as hand axes
- Flaked all around the edges until it formed a tear drop shape
What type of tools did Homo Neanderthalensis use?
Mousterian tools
- Found in Le Moustier, France
- Stone flakes that could be used to form various cutting, scraping, gouging and piercing tools
Describe the three different tools the Cro-Magnum people used.
- Aurignacian tools
- Found in Aurignac, France
- Blade tools with roughly parallel edges - Solutrean tools
- Found in Solutré, France
- Delicate points
- Served very little practical purpose - Magdalenian
- Found in Madelein, France
- Dominantly bone and antler tools
What were the two types of art the cro-magnum people created?
- Mural art
- attached to permanent surfaces - Portable art
- art that could be carried (carved figures)
What is the Neolithic revolution?
The Neolithic revolution is the domestication of plants and animals and the construction of villages. It is the agricultural revolution.
