CULTURAL BEGINNINGS

Culture is defined as ‘’that complex whole which

encompasses beliefs, practices, values, attitudes, law,
norms, artifacts, symbols, knowledge and everything that
a persons learns and shares as a member of society.
To understand culture, you nee to know the following:

1.Biological capacity of humans for culture

2.Place of humans in the animal kingdom
3.How humans came to develop early forms of culture
BIOLOGICAL CAPACITY FOR CULTURE

Our speaking capacity

Our thinking capacity

Our gripping capacity Our walking/ standing capacity

Our thinking capacity 4 kg BRAIN
1.
• the primary component of
20g
humans that allowed for 4
culture is the developed
brain. It has the necessary
parts for facilitating
pertinent skills such as

50
0g
speaking, touching,
feeling, seeing and
smelling.
Our thinking capacity e ta l lobe
he pari touch
T s for ilities
e al l o w
nta l lob on t a s te ab
fro iti and
The for cogn es
u nc tion r abiliti
f moto
a nd

h e occ ipital
T
ws for
lobe allo ls.
il
visual sk

l
por a
h e tem s for
T al low ills.
e
lob ring sk
hea

BRAIN
 Our speaking capacity
• As the brain is the
primary source of
humans capacity to
comprehend sound and
provides meaning to it,
the vocal tract acts as the
mechanism by which
sounds are produced and
reproduced to transmit
ideas and values.
Our gripping capacity
The capacity to
directly oppose a
thumb with the other
finger. It is an
exclusive trait of
humans. It allowed us
to have a finer grip.
Thus, we have the
capability to create
materials with
precision.
 Our gripping capacity
Two types of Grip

1. Power Grip enabled

humans to wrap the thumb
and fingers on an object.
2. Precision Grip enabled
humans to hold and pick
objects steadily using their
fingers.
Our walking/ standing capacity
Primates have two forms of locomotion:
BIPEDALISM is the capacity to walk and
stand on two feet.
QUADROPEDALISM uses all four limbs.

Although apes are semi-bipedal,

humans are the only fully bipedal primates.
Being bipedal, humans gained more
capacity to move while carrying objects
with their free hands.
The Mousterian Industry
This industry was developed by homo neanderthalensis
(Neanderthals) in Europe and West Asia between 300,000 and
30,000 years ago. The tools from this industry combined
Acheulian and Levalloisian technique, which involve the use of
primate core tool and extraction of a flake tool that has
sharpened edges.
By the end of the Paleolithic period, they did not just
create tools but also started creating art other symbolic
materials.
 This industry was named after a site in France CALLED homo neanderthalensis
Le Moustier, uncovered in 1860
 Evidence of this industry dating back 100,000 years was also
found in Northern Africa and West Asia.
The Aurignacian Industry
The Hohle Fels bone flute
The term Aurignacian was derived from
Aurignac, an area in France where the
evidence for this industry was found. Users of
this industry used raw materials such as flint,
animal bones, and antlers.
Cave painting of bison
It made this industry a cultural milestone for
the modern human in Europe is their
development of self-awareness. This
development was projected through cave
paintings and the fabrication of accessories
such as figurines, bracelets, and beads.
The Venus of Hohle Fels
The Magdalenian Industry
barbed harpoons
The Magdalenians lived some 11,000 to 17,000 years ago,
at a time when reindeer, wild horses, and bison formed
large herds; the people appear to have lived a semi settled
life surrounded by abundant food.
This industry, which is proto-culture used by the early
human, was defined by several revolutionary
advancements in technology such as the creation of
microliths, from flint, bone, antler, and ivory.
The early humans during this period were engrossed in
creating figurines, personal adornments, and others forms
of mobileary art.
The industry was named after the La Madeleine site in
Dordogne, France.
 Processes of Cultural
and Sociopolitical Evolution
 End of Paleolithic Period
Earth was getting warmer as the Ice
Age was already at its last stage.
The sea level was rising again as
the polar caps were melting.
Land surface decrease as some
parts were submerged in water.
The warm climate allowed for
blossoming of new plants and the
extinction of others. The same
phenomenon was seen among
animals.