Anthropology

Question 0

Famous Anthropologists - Raymond Dart

Answer 0

• found “Young Child”
• an organism that lived over 3 000 000 years ago in South Africa
• southern ape of Africa

Question 1

The Evolution of Early Humans

Answer 1

• distinct human qualities emerged over a period of 5 million years rather than all at once
• walking regularly on two legs (bi-pedalism) was the first “big step”
• by 4 million years ago “ape like” individuals were bi-pedal but also retained the ability to climb trees
• either late “ape like” individuals or early Homo’s are credited with the first evidence of tool making about 2.5 million years ago
• the earliest Homo fossils are at least 2.3-2.5 million years old
• by 1.9 million years ago Homo Erectus reached modern human size
• Homo Erectus was the first hominid to leave Africa

Question 2

Famous Anthropologists - Mary Louis & Richard Leaky

Answer 2

• found Australopithecus Boisei

- discovered the first fossilized skull, now believed to be an ancestor to humans

Question 3

Famous Anthropologists - Donald Johanson

Answer 3

• found Lucy, the first bi-pedal ape

Question 4

Famous Anthropologists - Jane Goodall

Answer 4

• went to east Africa in 1960 to study apes
• chimps are normatic, emotional and also have a similar brain to humans
• eat 7 hours a day
• mother and young is the only stable relationship
• young chimps like to play
• make and use tools
• often aggressive
• sense of self-awareness
• gang violence
• psychopathic tendencies

Question 5

Famous Anthropologists - Charles Darwin

Answer 5

• observed many new and previously undiscovered species
• this trip inspired him to write “The Origin of the Species”, which states:
  A) all living things show variation
  B) no two members of a species are exactly alike
  C) this variation is partly a result of adaptation to a particular environment
  D) those species that survive long enough will reproduce and pass on their characteristics
  E) over time successful variations produce new species
• this theory is known as “Natural Selection” or “the survival of the fittest”
• in his major book “The Descent of Man” states:
  A) although humans have variation, they resemble closely
  B) physical and mental characteristics are similar in humans
  C) humans must have had a common ancestor

Question 6

Famous Anthropologists - Margaret Mead

Answer 6

• most famous worldwide anthropologist

Question 7

How Did Humans Become Human?

Answer 7

1) Aggressive war-like traits
2) Hunting
3) Using tools and hunting for groups and prey
4) The Savannah Hypothesis - as the tropical areas begin to dry out and be replaced with grasslands, hominids were forced out of the trees
5) Skin Colour Distribution
6) The Nose - the warmer, more humid climates noses are flatter and bigger, cooler climates are thinner and smaller
7) Epicanthic Eye Fold - the fold of skin at the inner corner of the eye which covers the true corner of the eye opening
8) Round headed people are commonly found in cold areas and long headed people are generally found in hitter climates