Primitive people. The oldest person: growth, appearance, basic skills and occupations

According to scientific data, primitive people appeared about 4 million years ago. For many millennia they evolved, that is, they were perfected not only in terms of the development of primitive society, but also externally. Historical anthropology divides primitive people into several species, which successively replaced each other. What are the anatomical features of each species of primitive people, and at what time did they exist? About all this read further.

Primitive people - who are they?

The most ancient people lived in Africa more than 2 million years ago. This is confirmed by numerous archaeological findings. However, it is for certain known that for the first time human-like creatures confidently moving on the hind limbs (namely this sign is the most important in determining the primitive man) appeared much earlier - 4 million years ago. Such a characterization of ancient people, as a straightforwardness, was first revealed in creatures to which scientists gave the name "Australopithecus."

As a result of centuries of evolution, they were replaced by a more perfect Homo habls, also known as a "skillful man." He was replaced by anthropoid creatures, whose representatives were called Homo erectus, which in Latin means "right-bred person". And only after almost one and a half million years there was a more perfect kind of the primitive man, which most of all resembled the modern reasonable population of the Earth - Homo sapiens or "the person reasonable". As can be seen from all of the above, primitive people slowly, but at the same time very effectively developed, mastering new opportunities. Let us consider in more detail what all these human ancestors were, what their activity consisted in and how they looked.

Australopithecus: external features and lifestyle

Historical anthropology refers Australopithecus to the very first monkeys moving on the hind limbs. The birth of this kind of primitive people began in the territory of East Africa more than 4 million years ago. For almost 2 million years, these creatures spread across the continent. The oldest man, whose height averaged 135 cm, had a weight of not more than 55 kg. Unlike monkeys, australopithecines had a more pronounced sexual dimorphism, but the canine structure in males and females was almost the same. The cranial box of this species was relatively small and had a volume of not more than 600 cm ³ . The main activity of Australopithecus was practically the same as that of modern monkeys, and was reduced to the production of food and protection from natural enemies.

Man skilled: features of anatomy and lifestyle

Homo habilis (translated from Latin as "a man of skill") as a separate independent species of anthropoid appeared 2 million years ago on the African continent. This ancient man, whose growth often reached 160 cm, had a brain more developed than that of Australopithecus - about 700 cm ³ . Teeth and fingers of the upper limbs in Homo habilis had almost complete resemblance to human, but the large superciliary arches and jaws made it look like a monkey. In addition to gathering, a skilled man was engaged in hunting with the use of stone blocks, and for cutting carcasses he could use the processed tracing paper. This suggests that Homo habilis is the first humanoid being with work skills.

Homo erectus: appearance

The anatomical characteristic of ancient people, known as Homo erectus, is a pronounced increase in the volume of the skull, which allowed scientists to assert that their brains are comparable in size to the brains of modern humans. The superciliary arches and jaws of the skilful man remained massive, but were not as pronounced as those of their predecessors. The constitution was almost the same as that of modern man. Judging by the archaeological finds, Homo erectus led a sedentary life and was able to obtain fire. Representatives of this species lived in fairly large groups in caves. The main occupation of a man was skillful gathering (mostly women and children), hunting and fishing, making clothes. Homo erectus was one of the first to become aware of the need to create food reserves.

Neanderthal: a description of the appearance and lifestyle

Neanderthals appeared much later than their predecessors - about 250 thousand years ago. What was this ancient man? Its growth reached 170 cm, and the skull volume - 1200 cm ³ . In addition to Africa and Asia, these human ancestors settled in Europe. The maximum number of Neanderthals in one group reached 100 people. Unlike their predecessors, they had rudimentary forms of speech, which allowed fellow tribesmen to exchange information and interact more closely with each other. The main occupation of this ancestor of man was hunting. Success in the production of food they provided a variety of tools: spears, pointed long fragments of stones, which were used as knives, and traps dug in the ground with the help of stakes. Obtained materials (skins, leather) Neanderthals used to make clothes and shoes.

Cro-Magnon: the final stage of the evolution of the primitive man

Cro-Magnon or Homo sapiens is the oldest man known to science, whose growth reached 170-190 cm. The external similarity of this species of primitive people with monkeys was almost imperceptible, as the superciliary arches diminished and the lower jaw no longer protruded . Tools Cro-Magnon made not only from stone, but also from wood and bone. In addition to hunting, these human ancestors engaged in farming and the initial forms of livestock (tamed wild animals).

The level of thinking in Cro-Magnon was significantly higher than its predecessors. This allowed them to create cohesive social groups. In place of the herd principle of existence came the clan system and the creation of rudiments of socio-economic laws.