Bones Of Contention Lab Questions
Analysis Questions for Part A:
1. What is the difference between cranial and post-cranialfossils?
2. Based on the available evidence, what creature do you thinkwas the earliest biped?
3. What is the earliest sign of large leg bone? Next afterthat?
4. In addition to femur orientation, which features proveduseful in helping you narrow your group(s)?
5. Are there any fossil records in your groups of cranial andpost-cranial bipeds that might be the same species? Why?
Analysis Questions for Part B:
6. Describe what/how cranial features can tell us about ahominin�s diet.
7. Why is diet significant? What can it tell us about aspecies?
8. Looking over the groups you created, what are the differencesin cranial capacity between groups with hard diets vs. those with aless robust chewing complex/features related to a softer diet? (Youmay need to show the column for �Cranial Capacity�.) Describe thisrelationship.
9. Compare the dates of the groups you created based on diet�particularly those with a hard diet and the earlier species with asoft diet. Do you notice any overlap in when they lived? What doesthis tell you about the possible relationship between thesespecies?
Analysis Questions for Part C:
10. What role do cresting and post-orbital constriction have indetermining brain size?
11. According to this database, what is the earliest species touse tools? What makes this fossil similar or different from otherslike it?
12. Who were the earliest users of symmetrical tools? What elsedo you notice about species that used symmetrical tools?
13. Why is cranial capacity a deceptive indicator ofevolutionary advancement?
14. Provide an explanation for the rapid growth in brain size inthe most recent human ancestors.
15. Taking it Further: Though the purpose of the nasal margin isunclear, it is a clear species differentiator. Examine fossilsaccording to Nasal Margin and describe how that characteristichelps differentiate species.
16.
Mystery ID
Date
Descriptive name or species classification
Key evidence
1
6-7 mya
2
2.9-3.3 mya
3
3 mya
4
2.5 mya
5
1.8 mya
6
1.7 mya
7
1.51-1.56 mya
8
220,000-580,000 ya
9
150,000-250,000 ya
10
40,000 ya
Bones Of Contention Lab Questions
Analysis Questions for Part A:
1. What is the difference between cranial and post-cranialfossils?
2. Based on the available evidence, what creature do you thinkwas the earliest biped?
3. What is the earliest sign of large leg bone? Next afterthat?
4. In addition to femur orientation, which features proveduseful in helping you narrow your group(s)?
5. Are there any fossil records in your groups of cranial andpost-cranial bipeds that might be the same species? Why?
Analysis Questions for Part B:
6. Describe what/how cranial features can tell us about ahominin�s diet.
7. Why is diet significant? What can it tell us about aspecies?
8. Looking over the groups you created, what are the differencesin cranial capacity between groups with hard diets vs. those with aless robust chewing complex/features related to a softer diet? (Youmay need to show the column for �Cranial Capacity�.) Describe thisrelationship.
9. Compare the dates of the groups you created based on diet�particularly those with a hard diet and the earlier species with asoft diet. Do you notice any overlap in when they lived? What doesthis tell you about the possible relationship between thesespecies?
Analysis Questions for Part C:
10. What role do cresting and post-orbital constriction have indetermining brain size?
11. According to this database, what is the earliest species touse tools? What makes this fossil similar or different from otherslike it?
12. Who were the earliest users of symmetrical tools? What elsedo you notice about species that used symmetrical tools?
13. Why is cranial capacity a deceptive indicator ofevolutionary advancement?
14. Provide an explanation for the rapid growth in brain size inthe most recent human ancestors.
15. Taking it Further: Though the purpose of the nasal margin isunclear, it is a clear species differentiator. Examine fossilsaccording to Nasal Margin and describe how that characteristichelps differentiate species.
16.
Mystery ID | Date | Descriptive name or species classification | Key evidence |
1 | 6-7 mya | ||
2 | 2.9-3.3 mya | ||
3 | 3 mya | ||
4 | 2.5 mya | ||
5 | 1.8 mya | ||
6 | 1.7 mya | ||
7 | 1.51-1.56 mya | ||
8 | 220,000-580,000 ya | ||
9 | 150,000-250,000 ya | ||
10 | 40,000 ya |
