PSYCH 119T Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Archaic Humans, Anatomically Modern Human, Homo Sapiens
Document Summary
Homo sapiens emerged ~200,000 years ago in africa. Appeared b/w 100,000 and 60,000 years ago in south africa. Evidence: 134,000 - 100,000 years ago in skhul cave in israel (3 burials) Sophisticated tools and early signs of symbolic thinking appeared in africa about. This is before the appearance of homo sapiens. Therefore, it is possible that homo sapiens appeared before 200,000 years ago. Signs gradually started increasing around 160,000 years ago. Any symbolic behavior was sporadic and patchy. Early human groups were small and dispersed in africa. Climatic and geographical conditions prevented interactions and interbreeding. African genomes have much more diversity than genomes of those in europe and. Severe droughts in africa led to migration to southern africa. Early visual art ~90,000 years ago in south africa. Much older art suggests earlier presence on symbolic thought. Ex: from morocco, 400,000 years old of quartz -- humanoid figure that really just looks like a lumpy rock.
