ANT-2000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Australopithecus Afarensis, Prognathism, Laetoli
Document Summary
Derived traits in the human direction which suggests that she is an ancestor of humans or she is a descendant curved finger bones funnel shape of thorax resembles modern apes. Prognathism of lower face intermediate size canines project very slightly (teeth are bigger than in modern humans) Major sites are hadar (ethiopia) and laetoli (tanzania) The oldest and most complete fossil child. Discovered in 2000, it took six years to extract from sandstone. Expected to be about 3. 31-3. 35 million years old. Mosaic environment (forest, woodland, seasonally flooded grassland, flood plain) Gorilla-like shoulder blade suggests climbing and suspension. 1978 mary leakey team soft surface (ashfall) made footprints less clear footprints: big toe position, deep heel, longitudinal arch, deep lateral border.
