The Old Stone Age

For most of mankind's history we have been hunters, tracking down animals , and gatherers , collecting fruits, nuts and roots to eat. This long history of hunting and gathering lasted until about ten thousand years ago and is called the Old Stone Age or Paleolithic Period.

Our earliest ancestors lived in east Africa about 2 million years ago and are known as Homo Habilis (Handy Man) . They were different from the animals around them because they could break stones and sticks to make simple tools . They had huge jaws and a brain of about 800 ccs, half the size of ours.

About half a million years ago Homo Erectus (Upright Man) appeared. He was able to hunt in groups , talk and make plans. He left Africa and walked to the cold regions of Asia and Europe, looking for game . He wore animal skins and learnt to make fire. His tools became more sophisticated. His brain grew to 1200ccs and his jaw receded as he ate cooked meat.

50,000 years ago Homo Sapiens (Thinking Man) populated Europe. There were two branches : Neanderthal Man and Homo Sapiens Sapiens . Neanderthal Man disappeared to leave us, Homo Sapiens Sapiens as the only people to occupy the earth. Our brains have a capacity of about 1,5 litres.

Elaborate burial places, statues of a goddess of fertility (Venus goddesses ) and beautiful cave drawings from about 30,000 years ago are evidence of the religious beliefs of early Homo Sapiens Sapiens.