Upper paleolithic climatic conditions essay

Exam 1

Essay 1:

The Ice Age, or Pleistocene age, as indicated by Professor Smiley’s (Lecture 1 pg. 2), started two million years back, and lasted until only 10, 000 years ago. The Ice Age was an icy cold period, yet the ice sheets were withdrawing four times during the period. Additionally, ” there were four real cold periods, in the course over the last two million years” (Smiley Lecture 1 pg. 2). The Notwithstanding, scientist still do not generally realize what were the causes of this frigid period, however it was realized that the sun drives our atmosphere.
Around 18, 000 years back the advancement of the glacial reached its peak and got known as the Last Glacial Maximum. Around that time about 30% of Earth’s surface was trapped under the ice (Smiley Lecture 1 pg. 4). Typically in southern France and Spain the temperatures were the highest reaching up to 60 degrees (Smiley Lecture 1 pg. 5). At the end of the Pleistocene throughout the Magdalenian, glacial masses were withdrawing, and big were dying along with forests replacing grasslands (Smiley Global Warming pg. 6).

Upper Paleolithic Cultures:

Five periods can be counted throughout the Upper Paleolithic, including the Chattelperronian, Aurignacian, Gravettian, Solutrean, and Magdalenian, from most old to the most recent one. Be that as it may, we will be concentrating on four most significant periods: the Aurignacian, Gravettian, Solutrean, and Magdalenian in light of the more noteworthy technological achievements that was reached compared the Chattelperronian, which was 40, 000 to 28, 000 BP, as indicated in Professor Smiley’s virtual lecture (Smiley Unit 1 Virtual).
The Aurignacian kept up from 34, 000 to 30, 000 BP, with Aurignacian people being thought of as the cutting edge people that existed in normal climate conditions (Smiley Unit 2 Lecture pg. 2). As per virtual lecture, tools with blades were basic and crude materials were more effectively utilized, with razor sharp blades and hafted bone points being the trademark instruments of the Aurignacian; bone point was a significant innovative development (Smiley Unit 1 Virtual). Like the majority of the Upper Paleolithic people groups, Aurignacian people were seekers and had to live and hunt different animals, which can be seen in their cave paintings that depict ” carnivores and other dangerous creatures” (Smiley Unit 1 Lec. 5 pg. 1). On the other hand, they were likewise known for ivory carvings, as per Professor Smiley’s unit 1 lecture 4 (pg. 3).
Next, the Gravettian period went on from something like 30, 000 to 22, 000 BP in France. Even though in some parts of Eastern Europe the Gravettian lasted till 12, 000 BP in (Smiley Unit 1 Lec. 4 pg. 8). This period turned out to be the ” coldest time of the Upper Paleolithic” (Smiley Unit 2 pg. 4). Throughout the Gravettian, Cro-Magnons, or modern human beings, existed all through Europe and Asia (Smiley Unit 2 pg. 4). Venus figurines were basic throughout the Gravettian, particularly in Czech Republic at the site Dolni Vestonice (Smiley Unit 2 pg. 7). As per Olga Soffer, “‘Venus’ figurines [were] female pictures in clay, stone, ivory, and bone made crosswise over Europe between exactly 28, 000 and 20, 000 years prior” (Soffer pg. 1). The well known site Dolni Vestonice was not just famous for the mammoth bones, tools, and craft that was uncovered, as per Price and Feinman, it was likely to have settlers year round (p. 129). One of the features of the Gravettian were vast outdoor settlements that scattered all through Eastern Europe (Smiley Unit 1 Virtual).
The Solutrean period went on from 22, 000 to 18, 000 BP and one of the distinctive features of it were the flaked tools, like those discovered in America (Smiley Unit 2 pg. 2). The Solutrean society was living only in France, as indicated by Professor Smiley’s lecture (Unit 2 pg. 4). A different way of flaking utilized by the Solutrean allowed to make leaf-formed razor sharp blades, like the Clovis point (Smiley Unit 1 Virtual).
At long last, the Magdalenian period kept up from 18, 000 to 11, 000 BP (Smiley Unit 1 Lec 4 pg. 8), and it is defined particularly due to cavern symbolization. As per Price and Feinman, “ large portion of the artistic creations at Lascaux date to around 17, 000 years back, throughout the Magdalenian period” (p. 132). Price and Feinman likewise assert that almost eighty percent of ancient craftsmanship is most likely to originate from the Magdalenian (p. 137).

Technological Advances:

Technological achievements is the best known feature of the Upper Paleolithic societies. Price and Feinman indicate that a portion of the development in society incorporates, the extensive use of stone blades; the widespread manufacture of a variety of objects from bone, antler, ivory, and wood; the invention of new equipment, such as the spearthrower and the bow and arrow; the domestication of the dog; and the appearance of art and decoration” (p. 123). Stone sharpened pieces were getting more basic on the grounds as they were used for the production of blades, projectile points, burins, and different equipment (Price and Feinman p. 125). Likewise, as indicated by de Beaune and White, lights got imperative to make night activities possible, while also helping to light the cave art (p. 108). At last, humans started to utilize needles for garments sewing, and made different embellishments to enhance their appearance (Price and Feinman p. 126).

Artistic Achievements:

Throughout the Upper Paleolithic a mixture of fine arts were founded by the Upper Paleolithic people. Individuals started painting caves, engravings, carvings, and different types of decorative arts. That people have left a number of beautiful caves, and Lascaux and Chauvet both placed in France are among those. This sort of symbolization is known as wall painting craft or parietal craftsmanship (Price and Feinman p. 131). Be that as it may, versatile symbolization was likewise normal prior on. For instance, throughout the Gravettian, Venus figurines were abundant, to an addition of other ivory carvings or figurines.

Conclusion:

The Upper Paleolithic people groups existed for many years throughout the Pleistocene, as well as Ice Age. Humans of those eras were getting more technologically innovative through by improving their stone tools to make stone blades, flaked tools, bows and shafts, and spear throwers. Be that as it may, they were likewise famous for their creative accomplishments painted caves artworks and Venus figurines.