1001 Space Earth Nature History Human World Prehistoric People Human Body: Systems Human Body: Organs Religions and Festivals Architecture and Buildings Sports and Pastimes Russia and the Middle East Asia Africa Europe North America South America Australasia Polar Regions Science and Technology

Choose a Page:What is prehistory?Who was the ‘Handy Man’?Who was 'Lucy'?Are humans descended from apes?What did prehistoric people eat?Who were the first human-like crea...When was the Stone Age?*Who were the first modern humans?*When did humans first use fire?Did people really live in caves?Who was 'Piltdown Man'?When were the first works of art made?Where were the 'Neanderthals' found?Have human brains got bigger? Who were the first modern humans? We call modern humans like ourselves Homo sapiens, meaning 'wise' or 'thinking man'. There were once two subspecies: Homo sapiens neanderthalensis, which evolved about 250,000 years ago and died out about 30,000 years ago, and their cousins, Homo sapiens sapiens, which evolved a little later. Remains of this later group were discovered in 1868 at a site called Cro-Magnon in France. The Cro-Magnon people developed farming, kept animals, and made cave paintings. As well as being skilful hunters, Cro-Magnon's sewed skins for clothes and made bone fishhooks.   Previous: Back Book: 1001 Section: Human World Chapter: Prehistoric People