Human Ancestors Were Homemakers

Live Science ^ | Dec 17, 2009 | Clara Moskowitz

[decimon]

In a stone-age version of "Iron Chef," early humans were dividing their living spaces into kitchens and work areas much earlier than previously thought, a new study found.

So rather than cooking and eating in the same area where they snoozed, early humans demarcated such living quarters.

Archaeologists discovered evidence of this coordinated living at a hominid site at Gesher Benot Ya'aqov, Israel from about 800,000 years ago. Scientists aren't sure exactly who lived there, but it predates the appearance of modern humans, so it was likely a human ancestor such as Homo erectus.

Yet this advanced organizational skill was thought to be a marker of modern human intelligence. Before now, the only concrete proof for divided living spaces dated back to only 100,000 years ago.

"Seeing this at such an early site was surprising," said archaeozoologist Rivka Rabinovich of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. "This means there was some ability or some need or requirement of organization."

[null and void]

But when did they start worrying about window treatments?

With the first homo Homo?

[Monkey Face]

Ah. So now I can sing, “Locked in the Stable With The Sheep?” Kool.

[Dusty Road]

[The impulse is deep within us, even absent logical considerations.]

We are survivors!

[colorado tanker]

I suspect this was a luxury dwelling or a leader’s house. There are still places in the Third World today where one family lives in one room.

[TigersEye]

Before now, the only concrete proof for divided living spaces dated back to only 100,000 years ago.

Ants build a bunch of chambers for different uses in their burrows.

[bert]

My buddies and I lived in ours nearly the whole summer when I was 14. His mother knew I liked her biscuits and she would leave one on the porch for me to pick up on the way home.

[Erasmus]

Why am I getting a picture of Bob, the Happy Caveman here?

[paulycy]

No fire in bed. How long did that take to figure out?

Somehow there is a Mel Brooks skit in there.

"Now you tell me, wise guy!"

[SunkenCiv]

Scientists aren't sure exactly who lived there, but it predates the appearance of modern humans, so it was likely a human ancestor such as Homo erectus.

Maybe, or they lived in something like the longhouses of various people around the world. :') 800,000 year old postholes were found in a dig in China, and tools of that age were found on Flores Island -- same age as this find. Pretty cool.

[marsh2]

prairie (sod house) pioneers used part of the house as a barn. Kept everyone warm and safe at night.