Behavior

Behavioral Evidence

Explore the evidence of early human behavior—from ancient footprints to stone tools and the earliest symbols and art – along with similarities and differences in the behavior of other primate species

Primate Behavior Humans are part of the biological group known as primates. We sure are an unusual species of primate, though!	Footprints Explore what scientists can learn from studying footprints left by early humans.
Stone Tools Stone tools provide evidence about the technologies, dexterity, particular kinds of mental skills, and innovations that were within the grasp of early human toolmakers.	Getting Food Explore the evidence for some of the ways that early humans were able to get food.
Carrying & Storing Early humans may have made bags from skin long ago. About 20,000 years ago, modern humans began making pottery.	Hearths & Shelters Over time, early humans began to gather at hearths and shelters to eat and socialize.
Burial Our ancestors often buried the dead together with beads and other symbolic objects.	Recording Information These objects have marks that may have been used to count or store information. From simple beginnings like these came our ability to store enormous amounts of information.
Making Clothing Awls and perforators were used to pierce holes in clothing. Later, humans used bone and ivory needles to sew warm, closely fitted garments.	Art & Music By 40,000 years ago, humans were creating musical instruments and two- and three-dimensional images of the world around them.