Tools and Weapons
As we know, modern man (Homo Sapiens) originated in Africa about 200,000 years ago. From there, they spread into Europe and Asia, living by hunting and gathering in much the same way as various earlier species of hominids had. Sometime around 50,000 BCE they began to fabricate implements of a clearly more sophisticated nature, such as tools for drilling, cutting, spear points, etc. This marks the beginning of what we call the Upper Paleolithic Era.
Other Key Information
As we know, modern man (Homo Sapiens) originated in Africa about 200,000 years ago. From there, they spread into Europe and Asia, living by hunting and gathering in much the same way as various earlier species of hominids had. Sometime around 50,000 BCE they began to fabricate implements of a clearly more sophisticated nature, such as tools for drilling, cutting, spear points, etc. This marks the beginning of what we call the Upper Paleolithic Era.
Other Key Information
- Artifacts dating from the Lower and Middle Paleolithic remain disputed as objects of artistic expression.
- There is some evidence that a preference for aesthetic emerged in the Middle Paleolithic due to the symmetry inherent to discovered artifacts.
- The Venus of Tan-Tan is an alleged artifact found in Morocco that is believed by some archaeologists to be the earliest representation of the human form.
- The Venus of Berekhat Ram is believed by some to be a representation of a female human figure dating from the early Middle Paleolithic, however, the claim is highly debated.
- A carved elephant bone from Bilzingsleben has been interpreted as an early example of art making.