A TIMELINE FOR THE PLANET click for Home Page
THE
AGE OF MODERN HUMANS
Life of Universe life of Planet age of Mammals age of hominids
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Birth To put things in perspective -- age of
hominids is in orange (very nearly zero on this scale)---------------↓ of
planet 4 (kMy) 3
2
1 now
|__________|____________________|____________________|____________________|___________________| age of hominids is in orange, age of modern humans is in red -------------------------------↓ 4 (My) 3
2
1
now |__________|____________________|____________________|____________________|_______________|___| |
|||
Years ago |
Events |
Climate |
‘Epoch’ |
300,000 |
first huts more |
|
|
200,000? |
(dates uncertain) modern humans and Neanderthals appear more |
rapid |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
smaller |
|
|
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|
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|
(modern humans still
living the primitive lifestyle |
cycles, |
|
|
of their forebears) |
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|
|
(ditto, the Neanderthals) |
|
|
|
|
getting |
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|
(neither
makes much impact) |
|
|
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|
gradually |
|
150,000 |
First evidence of long-distance trade |
|
|
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|
colder |
|
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|
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|
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&
more |
|
130,000 |
dogs domesticated? (DNA
evidence)
|
|
|
|
|
extreme |
|
120,000 |
use of pigments
widespread |
|
|
|
|
Inter- |
Pleistocene |
|
|
glacial |
Period |
|
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|
(1.6My – 10ky) |
100,000 |
first evidence of accounting (scribed
stone pieces) |
|
|
|
|
rapid |
|
90,000 |
modern humans reach Eurasia,
evidence of mining |
|
|
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|
smaller |
|
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|
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|
75,000 |
clothing invented,
earliest beads |
cycles, |
|
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|
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|
|
|
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|
60,000 |
|
getting |
|
|
|
|
|
50,000 |
(or 40k) modern humans change gear,
& reach Europe more. |
gradually |
|
|
|
|
|
40,000 |
(@ same time) dawn of ‘advanced’
culture in Europe (both us and |
colder |
|
|
Neanderthals) |
|
|
30,000 |
cave paintings in Europe
more.
Neanderthals
die out |
& more |
|
|
weaving invented more |
|
|
20,000 |
Glacial
Maximum |
extreme |
|
|
|
|
|
10,000 |
huge rise in sea-level, the Flood, agriculture, boats |
warm & |
Post ice-age |
|
first major civilisation
(Egypt) |
|
era |
0 |
steam harnessed Industrial
revolution |
variable |
|
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© C B Pease, January 08