por What is primitive technology?
Primitive technology is the set of artifacts produced by man from the year 250,000 BC, when the Stone Age began. These primitive artifacts were mainly made of stone, wood, animal bones, and natural fibers.
The most significant archaeological finds of this type of tools come from Asia, Africa and Europe. The first individuals responsible for the development of primitive technology were nomads who moved in herds from one place to another to find food and shelter.
These nomads were hunters who used the sharp edges of the stone to cut their food and produce other items such as clothing and tents.
In about 100,000 BC, the ancestors of the modern human race developed oval axes, knives, scrapers, and various types of stone implements indicating that the hand ax had become an instrument that allowed the development of other implements.
This ability to develop the instruments that made up primitive technology was a fundamental factor in differentiating humans from other species.
The primitive technological development is considered fundamental for the evolution of the human race until today. It is important to recognize that the artifacts and items that early man invented laid the foundation for life as we know it today.
primitive technology tools
Some of these elements and technological artifacts developed by primitive man are listed below:
axes
Axes are the oldest artifacts made by humans. There is evidence that the first hominids made axes more than 250,000 years ago. In fact, with the manufacture of this element, what we know today as the stone age begins.
The ax became the essential element for technological development, since it allowed other elements to be manufactured, such as clothing and stores.
Fire
The control of fire played a fundamental step in the evolution of primitive technology. Our ancestors struck stone against pyrites with the aim of producing sparks that, when falling on dry plant material, produced fire.
Originally, the fire came from natural sources, from where it was taken and carefully stored. The development of the technique to light a fire allowed the hominids to free themselves from the obligation to protect the fire.
On the other hand, the fire brought with it other benefits such as the emanation of light and heat, the possibility of cooking food and pieces modeled in clay, such as containers and containers.
Fire is considered the greatest technological legacy left by primitive man, since thanks to it it became possible to modify the way human beings ate.
vessels
With the discovery and mastery of fire, it became possible to cook materials such as clay to give them greater resistance.
In this way, the clay was used to make vessels and containers ideal for cooking food, storing cereals, infusing herbs and fermenting substances.
mineral pigments
Although primitive technology focused much of its attention on the development of practical tools, it also focused on the creation of other items for decorative or ceremonial use.
This is how the first men were responsible for the manufacture of pigments from the pulverization of minerals. These pigments were used to apply to skin, clay vessels, clothing, baskets, and other artifacts.
Thanks to the search for pigments, the first men discovered certain minerals such as malachite and azurite.
Metallurgy
Due to the search for minerals and pigments, the first men also discovered copper. This metal was found in the form of powder and when hit the men realized that, instead of being destroyed, it turned into a sheet.
Thanks to these properties of copper, new techniques for the manufacture of jewelry would soon be developed.
The first peoples also developed techniques for forging copper. Discovering that if it was repeatedly exposed to fire, it acquired greater resistance and better physical properties.
This process of exposing the metal to fire and to eliminate its stresses is known as annealing and its application dates back to the year 3,000 BC.
For this period there is also evidence of the use of tin-copper alloys to produce bronze, a more malleable metal than pure copper and with the ability to give sharper edges to produce artifacts such as swords and sickles.
Another important element about the technological development of primitive civilizations is related to the way copper was collected.
This was taken from the island of Crete using ships capable of reaching this point. Knossos, on the island of Crete, was a highly valued point during the bronze age, since there was one of the most important copper mines for men.
Wheel
The invention of the wheel is a bit newer than we thought. The use of this element dates from the year 5,000 BC as an element used by man to modernize the processes related to the cultivation of the land.
In this way, it was possible for man to stop being a nomad and settle in one place permanently, thus being able to work the land, without being forced to move to gather food.
The wheel would also go on to be used in cargo vehicles. Use that it holds up to the present.
Writing
Although it does not consist of an artifact itself, sociology qualifies writing as one of the most important inventions of primitive civilizations.
Writing is one of the elements that allowed primitive communities to obtain the status of civilizations.
Calendar
Following the same line of writing, the invention of the calendar is also considered one of the most important in the history of mankind.
The calendar made it possible to measure time, record historical events, and mark the months and seasons of the year. The Sumerians (5,000 BC) are credited with inventing the calendar as we know it today (12 months of 28, 30 and 31 days each).
Brick
The Sumerians are also credited with inventing the modular construction system known as the brick. In this way, the building and construction of homes and places of religious worship became possible in a more versatile way.
Bricks, for their part, could be made of stone or by mixing substances of vegetable and animal origin.
References
Angelini, N., & Bongioanni, M. (2004). Obtained from Primitive Technology: oni.escuelas.edu.ar
Carvajal, L. (July 16, 2013). Lizardo Carvajal. Obtained from Primitive Technology: lizardo-carvajal.com
Hodges, H.W. (1964). Artifacts: An Introduction to Primitive Technology. A. Praeger.
Suarez, L. (March 28, 2010). Retrieved from TECHNOLOGY IN THE PRIMITIVE AGE: pvluissuarez.blogspot.com.br
Fantastic Theme, S. (2017). Fantastic Theme, SA. Obtained from Primitive technology: tecnologiacronologica.blogspot.com.br