Lecture 13 The Upper Paleolithic cultural explosion and modern human variation. The Upper Paleolithic Cultural explosion because things start changing rapidly Upper Paleolithic lasted from 43-11 TYA Most work based on W Europe sites Last Ice Age time of well-defined cultures & culture change- stylistic variations Much data from cave sites- very well preserved Upper Paleolithic Tools Blade tools- Indirect Percussion Well-made projectile points- Pressure Flaking Bone and antler tools New tool types More specialized tools Needles & Awls Burins (engraving tools) End scrapers Harpoons Spearthrowers More formalized shapes Stylistic differences Clear multi-part tools The different cultures: Earliest glimmerings ~ 100 TYA in S & E Africa, 50 TYA in N Africa and Mid-east Aurignacian- 43 TYA in E Europe, 35 TYA in W Europe Chatelperronian- 36-34 TYA Gravettian- 27-21 TYA Solutrian- 21-16 TYA Magdalanian- 16-11 TYA Behavior patterns Broadened subsistence base More fish and birds Big-game hunting Small game as well Settlements- much more permanent sites & structures Longer periods of occupation- denser sites Well-constructed hearths Mammoth-bone huts in Russia Sites further north as well, out onto open steppe Grave goods Clear association with tools, animal bones and decorations Much more often, more artifacts Longer movements of raw materials Sites in Pyrenees contain shells from both Med and Atlantic coasts Better stones moves further distances Specialization in hunting Going after herds rather than individual animals- especially reindeer Seasonal specilizations Specialized hunting tools; large spear points, harpoons Art and decoration- the first clear symbolism Decorated tools Bone and antler tools Animal figures, geometric shapes Personal adornment- beads and pendants Sculpture Venus Figurines 28-10 TYA; Through-out Europe Often w/ exaggerated female features and no face Stone (as in Willendorf, Germ.) and clay (Dolni Vestonice, Czech.) Meaning Fertility- ritual & magic Mother Goddess- social identity Animal figurines Engravings and bas-relief Cave sites in W Europe Mostly animals Cave paintings Confined to France and Spain in Europe; scattered in rest of world Dates are somewhat conjectural; ~30-10 TYA Herd animals predominate; carnivores occasional, fish, birds, reptiles, humans rare Range from monochrome outlines to multicolored perspective drawings All are quite well done; some are exceptional Can be found deep in caves Other paintings include handprints, geometric shapes Meaning Hunting Magic & Trophyism Sanctuaries Social Identity Markers Modern Human Variation The concept of “race” Humans as a polytypic species- but race not a true biological concept Race mostly based on skin, hair and eye color, facial and cranial form Often things like intelligence, behavior grouped as well Then ranked with Europeans on top and Africans on the bottom But these are NOT just biologically determined Variations not discrete but gradual; no unique features to any race Usually have adaptive functions As much variation within races as between races- phenotypic or genotypic Causes of human variation Responses to environmental stress Behavioral/Cultural Acclimatization Developmental Genetic Sexual Selection Solar Energy Skin color- base color and tanning, clothing Skin cancer & Burns Vitamin D Temperature Sweat production Allen’s and Bergman’s Rules Clothing Humidity Nose shape Sweating and clothing Altitude Hypoxia Lung capacity Diet Lactose intolerance Salt and hypertension