ANTHROP 1AA3 Lecture Notes - Foramen Magnum, Homo Erectus, Zhoukoudian
16 Sep 2013
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Document Summary
Paleoanthropology the study of fossil humans. They work together to figure out where we came from. Fossils: organic material is replaced by minerals from surrounding soil. Early hominids did not have big brains. Differentiated hominids from other primates by the presence of bipedalism. Was also reduction in face, jaw and anterior teeth. If bipedal, hole is more towards the center. Formation of foramen magnum (hole in head) Distribution of weight shifts when go from walking on all fours to two legs. Structure of femur and tibia (the way top of leg rests on bottom part of leg is different for bipedalism) Big toe is in line with rest of foot not like a thumb (like in apes) Arch in foot helps weight distribution and balance. Bipedalism idea 1: freed up hands so we could use tools (wrong) Bipedalism idea 2: easier to transport food and offspring (wrong) Bipedalism idea 3: able to transport food back to mate.
