19. Human ancestors Flashcards
why was upright locomotion first developed?
to travel between gaps in forest across open ground
5-6mill years ago temperatures fell and forests decreased in size, increasing open grassland
- natural selection favoured apes better at bipedal walking with more erect stance
Advantages of bipedalism?
- increased range of vision to detect prey and predators at a greater distance
- increased size to deter predators
- hands free for carrying food and later for tool use
- higher reach when picking fruit from trees
- improved cooling of the body as it has less sun exposure and there is more wind to cool the body in high temps
What was Australopithecus Afarensis’ name and date of living?
Lucy
2.5-4 million years ago
What was Australopithecus Afarensis diet and environment like?
herbivorous diet of nuts, fruits and seed
tough food
East Africa, most likely woodland environment
Height of Australopithecus Afarensis:
1.1 metres
Skull of Australopithecus afarensis
400cm3 brain capacity, apelike features, low forehead, sagittal crest
Skull more rounded at the back
Dentition/prognathism of Australopithecus afarensis
Prognathic jaw, small canines and diastema, large molars, thick enamel, no chin
parabolic shaped teeth
body of Australopithecus afarensis
pelvis is short and broad carrying angle for hip and knee joint fully bipedal large iliac-crest - not adapted to running S-shaped vertebral column enlarged big toe curved toes and fingers for grasping roust and strong muscles foramen magnum halfway between ape and man foot has non-opposable big toe sexual dimorphism
tools of australopithecus afarensis
no tool making, possibly use of unmodified stick and stones as weapons
culture of australopithecus afarensis
no language, small family groups with a home base
name and date of Australopithecus africanus
Mrs Ples or Taung Child
2-3 million years ago, not direct ancestor of man
What was Australopithecus africanus diet and environment like?
omnivorous, scavanger of meat
southern/east africa and open savannah
Height of Australopithecus africanus:
1.2m
Skull of Australopithecus africanus
450cm3, smooth rounded cranium with reduced brow ridges
Dentition/prognathism of Australopithecus africanus
large prognathic jaw, large molars, rare diastema
Large canines but smaller than afarensis
body of Australopithecus africanus
pelvis is short and broad angles at hip and knee joints fully bipedal long arms foramen magnum not quite central
tools of australopithecus africanus
no tool making
culture of australopithecus africanus
females tended to settle further from region of birth than males
distinct family groups
name and date of Paranthropus robustus
“nutcracker man” not direct ancestor of man
1-2.1mill years ago
diet and environment of Paranthropus robustus
Omnivorous (insects, roots, tubers, fruit, leaves, scavanged meat)
Southern and east africa, open Savannah and grassland
height of Paranthropus robustus
1.5 m
skull of Paranthropus robustus
530cm3 heavy brow ridges, flat forehead, broad face
large zygomatic arch
dentition/prognathism of Paranthropus robustus
large and robust jaw and teeth
large prognathic jaw with large molars and sagittal crest
large jaw muscles
body of Paranthropus robustus
short and broad pelvis angles at knee and hip joint fully bipedal small body strongly built foramen magnum centre of base of skull arms long compared to legs
tools used by Paranthropus robustus:
no tool making, use of bones to crush tuber or dig out termite mounds
no modifications
culture of Paranthropus robustus
lived in social groups with a dominant male and several females
name and date of Homo habillis
“Handy Man”
1.6-2.4 million years ago
Diet and environment of Homo habillis
first scavengers of meat, gathering of vegetable matter
grasslnd habitat in East Africa
height of Homo habillis
1.3m
skull of Homo habillis
650cm3 more rounded cranium
speech area of the brain enlarged
small brow ridges
dentition/prognathism of homo habillis
prognathic jaw small canines and a diastema large molars thick enamel no chin parabolic shaped teeth
body of Homo habillis
stood more erect fully bipedal modern pelvis long arms long straight fingers mobile thumbs large fingertips
tools used by Homo habillis
first evidence of tool making - Oldowan pebble tools for butchering (not hunting)
culture of Homo habillis
- temporary living sites, scavenging, trees for sleep
name and date of Homo erectus
“Java man”
100 000- 1 million years ago
Diet and environment of Homo erectus
small amounts of tough meat, root vegetables
hunted
first to move out of Africa - into Asia and Indonesia, possibly Europe
height of Homo erectus
1.6 m
skull of Homo erectus
1000cm3 (enlargement due to more meat and protein in diet)
flat skull
increased language areas and frontal lobe
pronounced brow ridges
dentition/prognathism of Homo erectus
less prognathic jaw hint of chin smaller teeth reduction in zygomatic arch protruding nasal bone large molars and rounded jaw
body of Homo erectus
upright modern stance, stocky and strong
hands more robust
tools used by Homo erectus
Acheulian (hand-axe) tools, percussion flaking, bifacial, flint, specialisation of tools
culture of Homo erectus
language for communication and hunting
cooperation
migration out of Africa (gradual, following herds) use of fire for warmth/cooking/ protection/ hunting/ toolmaking, huts, caves, clothing
name and date of Homo Neanderthalensis
“Neanderthal man” ancestors of homo but went extinct
28 000- 300 000 years ago
Diet and environment of Homo Neanderthalensis
lots of meat in diet
hunted big game
still omnivorous and had vegetation
Colder climates of Southern Europe and Western Asia
height of Homo Neanderthalensis
1.7m
skull of Homo Neanderthalensis
1450cm3 brow ver large
low flattened skull with an occipital (bun)
frontal lobe very small
different shape of brain, additional capacity required for additional muscles
dentition/prognathism of Homo Neanderthalensis
prominent nasal bone (wider and larger than modern human- adaptation for life in seasonally cold and dry climates) braod chin that lacked shape small teeth less prognathic jaw cheeks streamlines
body of Homo Neanderthalensis
wider pelvis barrel chested robust and stocky larger and more muscular than modern man limbs short and heavily jointed thick neck muscles
tools used by Homo neanderthalnesis
Mousterian (used flakes) and traded tools
culture of Homo neanderthalensis
clothes, burials, religious beliefs, lived in caves, used fire and ochre, painted, cared for sick, food preservation, belief in life after death, cannibals, hearths, built stone walls at cave entrances
name and date of Homo sapien
“Cro-Magnon man”
160 000 to present
Diet and environment of Homo sapien
Southern Africa, middle east, asia
Hunter-gatherer
height of Homo sapien
1.6-1.85m
skull of homo sapien
1350cm3
Vertical forehead, large frontal lobe
dentition/prognathism of Homo sapien
no prognathism, small teeth, chin present, nasal bones protruding
Body of Homo sapien
wide pelvis, birth of large brain infants (early birth so no longer parental care) deeper bowl shape
Tools used by Homo sapiens
Aurignacian blade tools, more sophisticated, retouching of edges, use of bone/antler/burin/microliths
culture of Homo sapiens
co-operative hunting, nomadic, domesticated plants and animals and relied on vegetation
use of food pits, cave art, portable art, imagination, permenant dwellings
