ARCH 1030 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Foramen Magnum, Paranthropus, Bipedalism
25 Feb 2017
School
Department
Course
Professor
Archaeology 1030
February 5th, 2013
First Bipeds
• Anatomy of Bipedalism
o Skull
▪ Foramen magnum
o Vertebrae and Pelvis
o Pelvis and Femur
▪ Hip and Thigh
• Models for Emergence of Bipedalism
o Carrying
▪ Allowed for better food searching and collection
▪ Aid in childcare, carrying children with them
▪ Perhaps defense: throwing rocks
o Vigilance
▪ Ability to survey for food sources and potential danger
▪ This model suggests upright posture, not necessarily upright locomotion
o Heat Dissipation
▪ Vertical orientation as an adaptation to dissipate heat
• African savannah temperature ranges from 20-30 degrees C
o Energy Efficiency
▪ Bipedalism inefficient for running but very efficient for walking
o Foraging/Harvesting
▪ Greater reach for food in bushes and trees
o Display
▪ Makes an individual appear larger
▪ Attracts mates
• Family Hominidae
o Ardipithecus
o Australiopithecus
▪ Paranthropus
• The robust Australopithecines
o Homo
• Ardipithecus Kadabba (5.2 – 5.8 million years ago)
o Toe bone indicates habitual bipedalism?
• Ardipithecus Ramidus (4.4 million years ago)
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