By:
Kayla, Karisa, Justen, and
Mathew
Introduction
Modern Humans are fascinating
people from a past time. They
learned how to make fire, clothes,
tools, and homes. They would have
ceremonies and they would paint.
Some people never think of our past
as important, but it is very
interesting.
Appearance
Modern humans looked like regular people, except they
were very hairy. They had exaggerated eyebrows and
were bonier than we. They did not wear a lot of clothes.
The average weight for a man was 144 pounds and the
height was 5 feet 9 inches. Women were 119 pounds
and were 5 feet 3 inches. (1)
WHEN AND WHERE THEY LIVED
Modern humans lived 20,000 B.C to
10,000 B.C. Modern humans lived in Asia
and Europe, modern humans in Asia and
Europe looked the same. They lived before
the Ice Age ended and also after. After the
Ice Age, earth’s climate became warmer.
(2)
Homes
Modern humans lived in tents-like
structures and huts made out of cow
hide, mud, straw, and bones. Men built
all of the homes and later, farms. Men
also used bricks for later structures,
and these bricks were made from mud
and straw. Roofs were made with mud
and straw. The base of the hut was
made with stones and straw. They used
woven mats made out of animal guts
for the floor. (3)
Modern humans ate food from their
farms. They herded sheep. They ate
wheat, and barley. They grew olives
and corn, and they raised cows and
drank their milk. Before modern
humans began growing their own
food, the woman collected berries,
and nuts. (4)
Hunting
Modern humans hunted woolly
mammoths, bears, and deer.
Occasionally, they hunted sheep.
Modern Humans thought hunting was
very important because that was one
of their only activities to do, but
eventually, they began raising their
own animals for food, so hunting
became less important. (5)
A Day in the Life
Tools
Tools were very important to Modern
Humans. They made all tools by
hand. They made axes with sharp
rocks and wood and a piece of cow
hide to hold it together. (7)
Fire
Modern Humans could use
fire. They made it with flint and
tinder (rock and sticks) by
rubbing the two together to make
a spark. Fire was used for light,
heat, cooking, and more. (8)
Ceremonies
Modern Humans celebrated many
different occasions. When someone
died, Modern Humans made jewelry.
They sang and danced to mourn over
the dead. After they buried the dead,
they would paint on cave walls in
memory of them. (9)
Language
Modern humans communicated in a
way of writing, but not writing
letters. They communicated on the
walls of caves. They also had a
spoken language. (10)
Clothing
Modern humans used animal guts
and fur as clothing for both boys and
girls. They also used grass because it
was strong and thick and better
suited than fur to warmer weather.
Additionally, they had sharp
arrowheads to poke holes and bone
needles to thread clothes together.
They did not wear many clothes,
though. (11)
Cave Paintings
Modern Humans were early artists
and painted scenes on caves. They
painted on rocks, roofs, and cave
walls. They also made sculptures
using bones and clay. To make paint
they crushed colored rocks, and
chalk to make white paint. (12)
Interesting Facts
• Did you know that Modern Humans
made all their tools by hand.
• They used cave paintings to mourn
over people.
• Modern Humans had language early
on.
• Modern Humans are related to us
because we are both Homo Sapiens.
Questions
1. What is one tool Modern Humans
used, and how did they make it?
2. Where did Modern Humans live?
Name two places.
3. How did Modern Humans make fire?
Answers
1. One example of tools is axes with
stone and leather.
2. Europe and Asia are two places they
lived.
3. Sticks and stones were used to
create fire.
Conclusion
Modern Humans were very like we
are today. They used language and
had ceremonies just like us. Modern
Humans struggled to live. They lived
to hunt and were excellent at it, and
eventually, they became farmers.
They ate regular food and were
shorter than we are.
Endnotes
[1] California Vistas Ancient Civilizations, Macmillan McGraw-Hill, NY,
2007, p. 84.
[2] Facchini, Fiorenzo, “A Day with Homo Sapiens,” Twenty-First
Century Books, Connecticut, 2003, pp. 1 - 49.
[3] Ibid.
[4] MacMillan McGraw-Hill, p. 95.
“Homo Sapien Sapiens.” Homo Sapien Sapiens.
http://www.earlyhumans.mrdonn.org/.
[4]Ibid.
[5]Ibid.
[6] MacMillan McGraw-Hill, p. 95.
[7] Ibid.
[8] Kearns, Marsha, “Homo Habilis,” Early Humans, Creative
Teaching Press , CA, 1993, pp. 8 – 10.
[9] Ibid.
[10]Ibid.
[11] MacMillan McGraw-Hill, p. 91.
[12] Ibid, p.126.
Bibliography
California Visits Ancient Civilizations.
Macmillan/MacGraw Hill: New York, NY,
2007.
“Homo Sapien Sapiens.” Homo Sapiens.
http://www.earlyhumans.mrdonn.org/.
Kearns, Marsha.“Homo Sapiens.” Early
Humans. Creative Teaching Press: CA,
1993.
“Otzi the Iceman.” Early Human Class
Presentation by Lonnie Johnson on
October 28, 2010.