The Palaeolithic

The Paleolithic period. Basic ideas.

1. The Paleolithic

2. When did Palaeolithic develop ? Approximately 4.4 million years ago until 10,000 BC

3. Way of life The Paleolithic people were nomadic ( they moved from place to place following the animals they hunted ).

4. They were hunter- gatherers : they didn’t produce their own food . They took it directly from Nature They hunted ... deer mammoth horses They gathered ... fruits nuts vegetables

5. They ate the meat of the animals , and also used their bones for making tools . The skin was used for clothing , and for making tents .

6. They also fished Paleolithic harpoons made of animal bone

7. Where did they live ? Paleolithic people lived near rivers , lakes or by the sea. In Summer, they lived in tents In Winter, they lived in natural caves

8. What type of tools did they use? We make tools out of stone . We use a technique called carving ( we strike two stones several times) biface arrowheads knives

9. Also , we make tools from bones needles for sewing harpoons hooks for fishing

10. Since Homo Erectus , fire was used ! Fire was important for heat , light , frightening predators and to cook . Also , fire favoured social relations between the members of the group

11. The Paleolithic society Paleolithic people lived in tribes ( small groups of around 20 to 30 people ). A leader commanded the group Also , the shaman had great importance (he said he could have contact with the forces of Nature )

12. Beliefs and spiritual life It is difficult to know what primitive people believed in. We think that they : - believed in the forces of Nature ( the Sun , the Moon, the thunder ...). - believed in the spirits of the dead , because their bodies were buried in specific positions and with specific objects . - followed rituals to gain the favour of Nature and the spirits .

13. Art in the Paleolithic Remember : Homo Sapiens is the only species who can produce art.

14. Cave painting Cave painting appeared around 40,000 years ago. Artists painted on the cave walls , and on the ceilings . They represented : Hands Animals Hunting scenes

15. We think they painted animals for educational or magical purposes They particularly liked to paint horses , bison , deer and mammoths . They basically used red, orange and black . They used brushes made from the fur of the animals , or vegetables.

16. In Spain , the most important cave is in Cantabria: Altamira

17. Other important caves are Lascaux (France) and several caves in the Mediterranean coast of Spain

18. Portable art These were objects made of stone , bone , wood or ivory . They were sometimes decorated with engravings

19. The Venus were women thought to be goddesses of fertility