🍖World Prehistory Unit 5 – Upper Paleolithic: Human Dispersal & Innovation

Key Events and Timeline

• Upper Paleolithic period began around 50,000 years ago and lasted until the end of the last Ice Age, around 12,000 years ago
• Emergence of anatomically modern humans (Homo sapiens) in Africa around 300,000 years ago
  • Gradual spread of modern humans out of Africa and across the globe
• Arrival of modern humans in Europe around 45,000 years ago, coinciding with the disappearance of Neanderthals
• Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) occurred around 26,500-19,000 years ago, characterized by colder temperatures and lower sea levels
• Oldest known figurative cave paintings date back to around 35,000 years ago (Chauvet Cave, France)
• Invention of the atlatl (spear-thrower) around 30,000 years ago, improving hunting efficiency
• Oldest known musical instruments (bone flutes) discovered in Germany, dating to approximately 40,000 years ago

Environmental Context

• Earth experienced significant climate fluctuations during the Upper Paleolithic, with alternating glacial and interglacial periods
• Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) resulted in the expansion of ice sheets and a decrease in global sea levels
  • Exposure of land bridges (Bering Land Bridge) facilitated human migration between continents
• Colder temperatures during glacial periods led to the expansion of grasslands and tundra environments
• Warmer interglacial periods saw the growth of forests and increased biodiversity
• Megafauna, such as woolly mammoths, woolly rhinos, and giant deer, roamed the landscapes
  • Many megafaunal species went extinct by the end of the Upper Paleolithic, possibly due to a combination of climate change and human hunting pressure
• Sea level rise following the LGM submerged coastal settlements, limiting archaeological evidence

Human Migration Patterns

• Modern humans (Homo sapiens) originated in Africa and gradually spread across the globe during the Upper Paleolithic
• Out of Africa migration began around 70,000-60,000 years ago, with humans reaching the Near East, Asia, and Australia
  • Possible coastal migration route along the Indian Ocean
• Arrival of modern humans in Europe around 45,000 years ago, leading to the eventual disappearance of Neanderthals
• Humans crossed the Bering Land Bridge from Siberia to the Americas during the LGM, around 20,000-15,000 years ago
  • Rapid dispersal throughout the Americas following initial migration
• Expansion into previously uninhabited regions (Arctic, Siberia, Australia) as humans adapted to diverse environments
• Development of watercraft technology allowed for the colonization of islands (Japan, Philippines) and distant landmasses (Australia)

Technological Innovations

• Upper Paleolithic marked by significant advancements in stone tool technology, including the production of blades, burins, and projectile points
  • Increased standardization and efficiency in tool production
• Invention of the atlatl (spear-thrower) around 30,000 years ago, extending the range and power of spears
  • Improved hunting efficiency and success rates
• Development of specialized tools for working bone, antler, and ivory, such as awls, needles, and harpoons
• Emergence of composite tools, combining multiple materials (wood, stone, bone) for enhanced functionality
• Evidence of early pyrotechnology, including hearths, lamps, and heat-treated materials
• Invention of the eyed needle around 40,000 years ago, enabling the production of tailored clothing
  • Allowed for better adaptation to colder climates
• Earliest known ceramics appeared in East Asia around 20,000 years ago, used for cooking and storage

Art and Symbolic Expression

• Explosion of artistic expression during the Upper Paleolithic, including cave paintings, portable art, and personal ornaments
• Oldest known figurative cave paintings date back to around 35,000 years ago (Chauvet Cave, France)
  • Depictions of animals, human figures, and abstract symbols
• Portable art objects, such as Venus figurines and engraved bone or antler pieces, became widespread
  • Venus figurines often depict exaggerated female features, possibly linked to fertility or religious beliefs
• Personal ornaments, including beads, pendants, and perforated shells, suggest the development of individual and group identities
• Appearance of musical instruments, such as bone flutes, indicates the presence of complex auditory culture
• Abstract and geometric designs, such as dots, lines, and handprints, may have held symbolic or communicative significance
• Pigments, such as ochre, were used for body decoration, art, and possibly ritual purposes

Social and Cultural Developments

• Emergence of complex social structures and networks during the Upper Paleolithic
• Evidence of long-distance trade and exchange of raw materials (shells, flint, obsidian) and finished goods
  • Suggests the development of social relationships and alliances between groups
• Appearance of specialized tool kits and regional variations in material culture
  • May indicate the presence of distinct cultural identities and traditions
• Burials with grave goods, such as jewelry, tools, and animal remains, hint at the development of funerary practices and belief systems
• Possible evidence of shamanism and ritual behavior, as suggested by the presence of human-animal hybrid figures in art
• Increased population density and sedentism in some regions, particularly during the later Upper Paleolithic
  • May have facilitated the exchange of ideas, technologies, and cultural practices

Notable Archaeological Sites

• Chauvet Cave (France): Contains some of the oldest known figurative cave paintings, dating to around 35,000 years ago
  • Depicts a wide range of animals, including extinct species like woolly rhinos and cave lions
• Lascaux Cave (France): Famous for its well-preserved and extensive cave art, dating to around 17,000 years ago
  • Features over 600 paintings, primarily of large animals such as horses, cattle, and deer
• Dolní Věstonice (Czech Republic): Site of a large Upper Paleolithic settlement, dating to around 29,000-25,000 years ago
  • Yielded evidence of advanced pyrotechnology, including kilns and fired clay figurines
• Kostenki (Russia): Complex of Upper Paleolithic sites along the Don River, with occupations spanning from 45,000 to 12,000 years ago
  • Provides insights into the adaptations and innovations of humans in the periglacial environment
• Blombos Cave (South Africa): Coastal cave site with evidence of early symbolic behavior, dating to around 75,000 years ago
  • Yielded engraved ochre pieces and perforated shell beads, among the oldest known examples of artistic expression

Debates and Controversies

• Timing and routes of human dispersal out of Africa and into different continents
  • Multiple proposed migration waves and pathways, with ongoing debates about the chronology and extent of gene flow between populations
• Relationship between the arrival of modern humans and the disappearance of Neanderthals in Europe
  • Theories range from direct competition and conflict to assimilation and interbreeding
• Cognitive and behavioral modernity: whether the Upper Paleolithic represents a sudden "revolution" or a gradual accumulation of modern human traits
  • Debate centers on the interpretation of symbolic artifacts and the timing of their appearance in different regions
• Role of climate change and human activity in the extinction of megafaunal species
  • Disagreement about the relative importance of hunting pressure, habitat loss, and other factors
• Interpretations of Upper Paleolithic art and its potential meanings or functions
  • Various hypotheses propose shamanic, educational, communicative, or purely aesthetic purposes
• Extent and nature of Neanderthal-modern human interactions and gene flow
  • Genetic evidence suggests interbreeding, but the social and cultural implications remain unclear