Page 118 - Encyclopedia Of World History Vol III

human evolution—overview 937

languages that improved the transmission of informa- These arts derived their social potency from supernat-
tion, and probably driven for the first time by popula- ural beliefs nearly as old as Homo sapiens sapiens them-
tion pressures, they added to their cumulative heritage at selves. Yet another manifestation of abstract thinking,
an accelerated rate. Our Upper Paleolithic ancestors human spirituality and religious responses to the world
thus stood on the brink of making their culture—learned soon permeated every facet of daily existence. Homo sapi-
systems of behavior based on their symboling capacities ens sapiens discovered a means of comprehending per-
—a complete way of life. Their intensified creativity ceived phenomena in terms of ubiquitous spirits, all
peaked at the height of the last ice age 18,000 years ago, instrumental in determining what happened in the world
and lost momentum roughly 11,000 years ago. In cross- through activities almost everyone could understand.
ing this Upper Paleolithic watershed, humans funda- Through a holistic formulation of mythic concepts that
mentally transformed their social structures, making embodied the actions of these spirits, they elaborated on
their gathering and hunting adaptations far more elab- what little they knew about the world from direct expe-
orate, diverse, and specialized than ever before. No later rience with visions that inserted humankind into a single,
than 15,000 years ago, clusters of bands in regions with all-encompassing order of existence.
unusual population densities were organizing them- Like the spectacular burst of innovations in art and
selves into larger tribal units that could number up to religion, radical advances in Upper Paleolithic toolmak-
eight hundred people. ing beginning roughly 35,000 years ago reflected the
As networks of interaction became more extensive, newly enhanced symbolizing capacity of modern humans.
the growing need for a formal expression of beliefs that Suddenly craftsmen were devising a wide range of more
could help them preserve values, heighten social coher- specialized, durable, and efficient implements. Along
ence, and overcome tension and uncertainty in their lives with at least 130 identifiable devices, the tailored cloth-
surely contributed to the relatively swift development of ing, control of fire, and insulated shelters that anatomi-
human aesthetic sensibilities. Artistic creativity rapidly cally modern humans developed helped them expand
assumed an incredible variety of forms. Rock engravings throughout Earth’s habitable regions during the Upper
date back more than 35,000 years, while large quanti- Paleolithic.
ties of sophisticated ornaments made of carved wood,
bone, antler, ivory, shells, and stone date back at least Peopling of the Planet
that far.These ornaments include personal objects such Waves of migrations out of Africa, where populations
as necklaces, pendants, and bracelets as well as tools were heaviest, began modestly around 100,000 years
and weapons used for ceremonial or decorative pur- ago, exploded 40,000 years later, and by the start of the
poses. Archaeologists have unearthed artifacts more Holocene epoch 10,000 years ago gave to humankind
than 30,000 years old with patterned markings that a virtually global range. Pushed forward by frequent
may be lunar calendars and systems of mathematical band splitting, Homo sapiens sapiens soon traversed the
notation. They have discovered remarkably beautiful open grasslands of a Sahara region somewhat cooler
cave paintings in France and Spain, sculpted figurines and wetter than it is today and moved into the Near
nearly as ancient, and the remains of musical instru- Eastern corridor. A progressively arid climate then
ments as varied as bone flutes, whistles, rattles, and drove excess populations into the steppe lands and tun-
drums. In addition Upper Paleolithic peoples apparently dra of southern Europe and western Asia. Anatomically
expressed themselves through the rhythmic flow of modern humans appeared in East Asia 70,000 years
poetry, dance, and song, although experts have little ago at the very latest, reaching the heart of what is
empirical evidence verifying such activities. today China perhaps 30,000 years ago, not too long