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Skeleton of Australopithecus
Afarnesis (Lucy or Dinkinesh)
▪ The development of the human brain was the
main feature of the next stage of human
evolution.
▪ The genus Homo believed to have emerged
2-2.5 million years B.P.
1. Homo Habilis:- the first genus homo,
the name derived from Latin terms
“Homo” (human being) and Habilis
(skillful use of hands).
✓ Had a short body and long ape-like
arms like the australopithecines. But
they were distinguished from earlier
hominids by their big brain (about 630
cubic centimeters) and small teeth.
✓ A partial skull of habilis discovered in
Lower Omo dated 1.9 million years
B.P.
2. Homo Erectus:- walking upright, dated 1.6
million years B.P.
✓ Homo erectus was discovered at Melka
Kunture, Konso Gardula and Gadeb, with
900-1100cc brain size.
✓ It has seems originated in Africa and then
spread out to the rest of the world.
✓ Invented fire and started burial practice.
3. Homo Sapiens:- knowledgeable human being.
✓ Archaic Homo Sapiens:- dated 400,000 years
B.P discovered in Bodo Middle Awash with
brain size 1300-1400cc.
✓ Homo Sapiens Sapiens:- fossils dated 100,000 years B.P were discovered at
Pork Epic near Dire Dawa and Kibish in Lower Omo.
✓ In 1997, Homo Sapiens idaltu (Afar, elder) found in Middle Awash lived about
160,000 years B.P.
✓ In 2004 the fossil discovered in Kibish re-dated to 195,000 years B.P the oldest
date in the world for modern homo sapiens.
▪ Cultural evolution is related to technological changes that brought socio-economic
transformation on human life.
✓ It can be conventionally grouped in to Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age.
✓ Stone tools had been the first technologies to be developed by human being.
✓ Based on their features, ways and period of production, stone tools can be
grouped into:
✓ Mode I (Oldowan) named after Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania. These stone tools
are characterized by crude and mono-facial styles, and were produced by direct
percussions.
✓ Many of the Omotic groups have also been famous in metallurgy, weaving and
other crafts.
✓ Islam was introduced into Somali territories in the 8th century A. D. through
Benadir coasts of Moqadishu, Brava and Merca.
▪ The mosques, Islamic learning and pilgrimage centers have been the depositories
of cultures, traditions and literature of local Muslims.