Ancient Mayan civilization for Kids

Radiocarbon dating allows us to date living things accurately up to about 50, 000 years. Other elements beside carbon are used to date fossils up to 2.2 billion years old. The evidence shows modern humans (Homo sapiens) evolved in Africa about 200, 000 years ago.

Intelligent Ancestors

About 2.5 million years ago, our ancestors learned to use stone tools—our first real sign of intelligence, compared to other animals. The use of stone tools began what is called the Paleolithic Age [PAY-lee-o-lith-ic] or Stone Age of human history. The Stone Age lasted for most of the last 2.5 million years as you can see below. The Stone Age ended when humans learned to take metal from rock (ore) and make metal tools. This began the Bronze Age. This occurred between 8, 000 and 5, 000 years ago (between 6000 BCE and 3000 BCE).

Our ancestors learned to control fire very early in some areas, but the evidence in most parts of the world shows hominids could control fire about 300, 000 years ago. Fire allowed people...

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