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African Origins of Humanity. Alkebu-lan on the move By Dexter Chaney II. Humanity started in Africa.
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African Origins of Humanity Alkebu-lan on the move By Dexter Chaney II
Humanity started in Africa • "So far the evidence that we have in the world points to Africa as the Cradle of Humankind." George Abungu, Director-General of the National Museums of Kenya.Most of the available scientific evidence suggests Africa was the continent in which human life began
Humanity started in Africa It is in Africa that the oldest fossils of the early ancestors of humankind have been found, and it is the only continent that shows evidence of humans through the key stages of evolution.Scientific techniques, ranging from fossil identification, radiocarbon dating and analysis of DNA - the human genetic blueprint passed down from one generation to the next - all support the notion that Africa, and in particular the eastern and southern regions, is the cradle of humankind.
Origins of the Human Race Researchers believe that members of the human family - hominids - and African apes once had a common ancestor, perhaps as recently as 5 to 10 million years ago. At some stage the hominids split off from the apes and began to develop one of the first and perhaps most important human characteristics - the ability to walk upright.The earliest ancestors of humankind are known as Australopithecines - commonly known as 'ape men'.
Origins of the Human Race AUSTRALOPITHECUSThe first example of Australopithecus was found in 1925 in a limestone cave near Taung, in South Africa, by the anthropologist Raymond Dart. He found the skull of a six year old creature with an ape-like appearance but human characteristics. Australopithecines were small, with long arms, prominent skulls and small brains and retained the ability to climb trees.Since 1925 there have been numerous finds of Australopithecus fossils in East and Southern Africa, mainly based around the Great Rift Valley - a fracture in the earth's surfaces that runs 3,500 kilometres from the Red Sea to Mozambique. The non-acidic nature of the Rift Valley soil and sediment has made it the ideal environment for the preservation of specimens.
Origins of the Human Race HOMO HABILISBy around 2.5 million years ago a more recent ancestor - Homo habilis or 'man, the toolmaker' appears to have evolved. It is not clear whether Homo habilis developed directly from Australopithecus, but if so, it is likely to have been from one of the gracile, rather than robust species.Homo habilis was an individual whose larger brain size enabled it to manufacture simple stone tools, usually pebbles which were split and then chipped to give a cutting edge.Such technology is most clearly on display in the excavations at Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania - one of Africa's most extraordinary geological sites. The gorge cuts through five colourful volcanic layers, each representing a different period in time, ranging from two million to 500 thousand years ago
Homo sapiens: Out of Africa • By the time the most advanced species of modern man, Homo sapiens, had evolved, about 120,000 years ago, there is evidence of rapid population growth around the globe. So how did Homo sapiens spread?While it is generally accepted that the forerunner to Homo sapiens - Homo erectus - left Africa about 1.5 million years ago to populate other parts of the world, there are two main theories about the spread of Homo sapiens.
Origins of the Human Race HOMO ERECTUSWith this species, which evolved around 1.5 million years ago, we encounter an ancestor who looked a good deal like a modern human. Homo erectus was taller than Homo habilis, more robust and had a larger brain. They developed tool-making further, producing a characteristic hand axe known as the 'Acheulian'.Fossils of Australopithecus and Homo habilis have been found only in Africa, but examples of Homo erectus have been found in the Far East and China while the hand axe has been found in Asia and Europe.The widely held belief is that these other parts of the world were populated by Homo erectus who left Africa.
LAUNCHED IN AFRICA • "There is no question that Africans contributed towards the development of human beings as we know them today. They were the first to use their physical capabilities to enlarge their brains.They were able to develop the technology of stone tools…they were the first ones to move out of trees and walk upright…and they were the first ones to explore….crossing the seas and going out to Asia and Europe….and to me this is the greatest achievement that humanity has ever done."George Abungu, of the National Museums of Kenya
From Hunting to Farming One of the more immediate ancestors of modern humans, Homo erectus, lived between 500 thousand and 1.5 million years ago and it is with this species that we see the first signs of organized hunting activity based around communities. They tended to live near water sources - along the banks of rivers or lakes.On the basis of evidence found at one of Africa's most important geological sites, Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania, we know they constructed small structures made out of tree branches as shelter.
Skills and Tools • We know from archaeological data that by about the fifth century after the birth of Christ the skills and technology required for iron working had spread throughout much of central, eastern and southern Africa.It is not known exactly how this transmission of knowledge and expertise took place, but it is believed to be linked to a mass movement of people across the continent, known as the 'Bantu migration.' This episode in Africa's past has often been ignored but its implications for the future development of the continent is crucial.
People on the Move • Armed with iron smelting technology the Bantu of west and central Africa dispersed across the continent, changing its linguistic and cultural landscape. A number of theories have been put forward to explain this migration.NEED TO MOVE"When people move they move for a reason. They move because the population has expanded. They move because the resources which support the population in the settlements have become more or less inadequate. They move because there are changes to the climate and they move for the sake of finding better areas in which to live."Professor Leonard Ngcongco, University of Botswana.
TEKS USED IN THIS LESSON • §113.7. Social Studies, Grade 5. • (23) Culture. The student understands the contributions of people of various racial, ethnic, and religious groups to the United States. The student is expected to: • (A) identify the similarities and differences within and among selected racial, ethnic, and religious groups in the United States; • (B) describe customs, celebrations, and traditions of selected racial, ethnic, and religious groups in the United States; and • (C) summarize the contributions of people of selected racial, ethnic, and religious groups to our national identity.
RESOURCES • http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Ta_Seti/lst • http://www.marcusgarvey.com/aoc.htm
