The Mesolithic, Neolithic and
Onward…
Remember the Upper Paleolithic?
When it ended…human
development did NOT end!
Upper Paleolithic Ends…Mesolithic Begins
• The Ice Age ends…lakes emerge…forests grow… deer
flourish..new tools created, like arrowheads to hunt deer in
forests
And Then…The Transition to
Agriculture
Hot spots of agriculture origins
Features of an Agricultural Society
Sedentary Village Life…Skara Brae, Britain
Domesticated Plants and Animals
Features of Agriculture…
Differences in Social Status
Cemeteries
Craft Specialization
Food Storage…Pottery
So, why is the move into
farming so SLOW?
There are few benefits of
farming…and a number of cons
Population increase since the
origin of agriculture
New selective factors?
Malnutrition Results in Cribra
Orbitalia/Anemia
Lesions on the Tibia Show
Poorer Healther Overall
Cross-section of
bone with lesion
Swollen bone on bottom has lesion
Reduced Height in
Agricultural Groups
Increased Violence