The Stone Age lasted about a. 3 million years b. 30,000 years c. 3000 years
The earliest tools were likely built by a. humans b. Neanderthals c. Australopithecus
The Stone Age ended when a. humans learned how to control fire b. the Neanderthals went extinct c. humans learned how to forge metal
Discussion/essay questions
Our relatives, the Neanderthals and Denisovans, died out tens of thousands of years ago. What do you think the world would look like if they had survived longer? Do you think we would be able to coexist? Why or why not?
Transcript
The Stone Age was a prehistoric era when humans and human-like species began to build and use stone tools. It lasted about 3 million years. Archaeologists divide the Stone Age into three periods: the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic. The earliest tools were sharp flakes and hammerstones, which may have been built by the human ancestor Australopithecus at the beginning of the Paleolithic era. Early humans and their relatives, the Neanderthals and Denisovans, used tools made of stone, bones, and antlers to cut meat and make clothing. They even carved sculptures out of stone. By the Neolithic period, humans had developed axes. They used these to build more permanent shelters, which evolved into farms and villages. Beginning around 3000 BC, humans learned how to forge metal, ending the Stone Age and starting the Bronze Age.
Neanderthals aren’t the only related species that existed at the same time as early humans. In 2008, fossils of another human-like species were found in Russia. This species is now called the Denisovans. Do you think it’s possible that there are even more species that coexisted with humans?
Transcript
The Neanderthals were a relative of humans that lived in Eurasia until their extinction around 28,000 years ago. The first Neanderthal fossil was found in Belgium in 1829, but scientists did not know what it was. They only learned that the fossil came from a species similar to humans in 1856. Neanderthals were an intelligent species – possibly as intelligent as humans. It’s hard to know if they used language, but many scientists believe it’s likely. Today, most people have some Neanderthal DNA, especially people who originate from Europe or Asia. This is because many early humans migrated from Africa to Europe around 40,000 years ago. When they got there, they interbred with the Neanderthals. In fact, some scientists believe that the Neanderthals only went extinct because they were absorbed into the human population.
Three monkeys sat in a coconut tree Discussing things as they’re said to be. Said one to the others: “Now listen you two, There’s a certain rumour that can’t be true That man descended from our noble race – Why, the very idea is a disgrace!
“No monkey ever deserted his wife, Starved her babies and ruined her life; And you’ve never known a mother monk Leave her babies with others to bunk, Or pass them on from one to another ‘Til they scarcely know who is their mother.
“And another thing you’ll never see – A monk build a fence round a coconut tree, Forbidding all other monks to taste And letting the coconuts go to waste. Why! if I built a fence round a coconut tree Starvation would force you to steal from me.
“Here’s another thing a monk won’t do: Go out at night and get in a stew, Or use a gun or club or knife To take some other monkey’s life. Yes, man descended, the ornery cuss, But brother he didn’t descend from us!”
Author unknown Voiced by Josef Essberger
rumour (noun): a story or report that could be untrue man (noun): human beings; the human race descend 1 (verb): come from something that happened before; (you are descended from your parents and grandparents) noble (adjective): of excellent quality race (noun): a major division of living creatures disgrace (noun): something regarded as shameful and unacceptable desert (verb): abandon starve (verb): cause (somebody) to die from having no food ruin (verb): cause great damage to monk (noun): [informal] – short for monkey bunk (verb): sleep in a bunk or bed forbid (verb): not allow; refuse to allow starvation (noun): death or suffering caused by having no food get in a stew (idiom): get into a difficult situation that causes great worry descend 2 (verb): go down; decline or deteriorate in quality; degenerate ornery (adjective): bad-tempered; difficult to deal with cuss (noun): an annoying or unpleasant person
