ANTHROP 1AA3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Neanderthal Genome Project, Oldowan, Homo Habilis
8 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Earliest Humans
Paleoanthropology: they study of fossil humans
- Subfield of biological anthropology
- Looking at hominins
When and Where did the First Humans Appear?
- Hominid – humans and their direct ancestors
- Multidisciplinary
o Physical sciences; biological sciences
What are fossils?
- Organic matter is replaced by minerals from surrounding soil – petrification
Earliest Fossils found?
- Mostly Africa
- Rising star expedition
- Oldest hominid come from Ethiopia – Ardipithecus ramidus (4.5 mya)
o Evolved in woodlands
o Show early signs of bipedalism
What does a hominid look like?
- Small front teeth and large molars
- Bipedal and associated anatomical adaptations
o Increased in manual dexterity
Australopithecus Afarensis (~4-3 mya)
- Lucy
o S shaped spine
o 3 ft tall
Laetoli footprints- found in Tanzania (1978)
Major features of Bipedalism
- Position of foramen magnun forward in the skull
- Hominid spine has two distinct curves
o Lumbar, thoracic
o S- shaped
- Shape of the pelvis – broad and low
- Length of lower limbs (elongated)
- Structure of femur and knee
o Angled inwards, to keep leg directly under body
- Shape and structure of the foot (arch)
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Why did bipedalism develop?
- Tool use?
- No – earliest tools date 2-3 mya
- Efficient scavenging?
- Long distance travel?
o Humans are more efficient at walking and running
- Predator avoidance?
o Less likely since bipedalism evolved in woodlands not svanah
Why bipedalism?
- Man as hunter
- 2-parent family and sexual division of labour
- Food sharing and carrying
- Carrying offspring
- Enhanced heat loss
o Sweat glands allowed it to be active in the hottest temperatures of the day, while other predators
tried to stay cool
- Communication
The Australopithecines (~4-2 mya)
- Genus- Australopithecus
- Many different species recognized
o A.anamensis
o A.afarensis
o A.africanus
o A.garhi
- Found exclusively in East and South Africa
- Features
o Bipedal
o Relatively small brains
o Large teeth (esp molars)
o Mosaic evolution – different features developing at different rates in different species
▪ A characteristic of hominid evolution
- Diverse species in East and South Africa
o Robust and Gracile
Paranthropus boisei (2.5 -1 mya)
- Brain size 510cc
- Features on skull adapted for chewing tough foods, deep jaws and large molars
o Had anchor points for chewing muscles
- Became extinct ~1 mya
Earliest Evidence for Homo?
- ~2.5 -1.5 mya
- Rel. larger brain; 20% larger than Australopithecus
- Evidence of stone tools
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Hominid humans and their direct ancestors. Organic matter is replaced by minerals from surrounding soil petrification. Oldest hominid come from ethiopia ardipithecus ramidus (4. 5 mya: evolved in woodlands, show early signs of bipedalism. Bipedal and associated anatomical adaptations: increased in manual dexterity. Lucy: s shaped spine, 3 ft tall. Position of foramen magnun forward in the skull. Hominid spine has two distinct curves: lumbar, thoracic, s- shaped. Shape of the pelvis broad and low. Structure of femur and knee: angled inwards, to keep leg directly under body. Shape and structure of the foot (arch) No earliest tools date 2-3 mya. Long distance travel: humans are more efficient at walking and running. Predator avoidance: less likely since bipedalism evolved in woodlands not svanah. 2-parent family and sexual division of labour. Enhanced heat loss: sweat glands allowed it to be active in the hottest temperatures of the day, while other predators tried to stay cool.
