Cro-Magnons
Prehistoric modern humans
Cro-Magnons are early modern humans who lived in Europe roughly 40,000 to 10,000 years ago, named after a rock shelter in southwestern France where their remains were first discovered.
The term is somewhat dated in scientific circles, where "early modern humans" or "anatomically modern humans" is now preferred.
Cro-Magnons were physically indistinguishable from present-day humans and are known for sophisticated cave paintings and carved tools.
The singular Cro-Magnon works as both noun and adjective: Cro-Magnon art, a Cro-Magnon skull.
Prehistoric art on stone
- LascauxPaleolithic painted cavern
- AltamiraSpanish cave with paintings
- ochreIron-rich earth pigment
- pigmentColor-imparting material
art · symbolism · ritual · ornament · jewelry · bead · shell · bone flute
Scientific name for humans
- fossilPreserved ancient organism
- skullHead's bone casing
- skeletonInternal supportive framework
- remainsContinues in place
specimen · excavation · stratigraphy · dating · morphology · anatomy · cranium · mandible
Extended global freeze
- PleistoceneAncient glacial geological period
- EuropeSmallest inhabited continent
- glacierSlow-moving ice mass
- tundraFrigid treeless biome
steppe · mammoth · reindeer · bison · hunting · gathering · shelter · rock shelter
Western European republic
- 1868Four-digit date
- rock shelterOverhanging cliff refuge
- excavationAct of unearthing
- railwayTrack system for trains
construction · fossil · skeleton · skull · specimen · museum · anthropology · classification
cave painting
Prehistoric art on stone
pigment · art · symbolism · ritual · ornament · jewelry · bead · shell · bone flute · music
Homo sapiens
Scientific name for humans
remains · specimen · excavation · stratigraphy · dating · morphology · anatomy · cranium · mandible · femur
Ice Age
Extended global freeze
- PleistoceneAncient glacial geological period
- EuropeSmallest inhabited continent
- glacierSlow-moving ice mass
tundra · steppe · mammoth · reindeer · bison · hunting · gathering · shelter · rock shelter · campsite
France
Western European republic
- 1868Four-digit date
- rock shelterOverhanging cliff refuge
- excavationAct of unearthing
railway · construction · fossil · skeleton · skull · specimen · museum · anthropology · classification · naming
- prehistoric humanscaveman, cave dwellers, cave dweller, Neanderthal, Neanderthals
Cro-MagnonsHomo erectus
Extinct bipedal human ancestor
Australopithecus · modern humans · early hominids · proto-humans