Chapter 12: Neanderthals and Contemporaries Flashcards
what happened during the mid-Pleistocene transition?
there was a change in glacial cycles, they become more erratic and long lasting (100 000 years of cold)
what happened in interglacial periods?
environment was fertile, warm, habitable
who was the first hominin in colder climates?
Homo Heidelbergensis
what was H. heidelbergensis also known as?
“the archaic homo sapien”
what was unique about H. heidelbergensis?
they used mode 3 tools known as Levallois, which had handles
- they also were the first evidence of ritualistic burying of the dead
what is the meaning if Sima de los Huesos
the pit of bones
who was the first fossil hominin to be named AND the first hominin to bury their dead?
Homo Neanderthalensis
where was H. neanderthalensis found?
Europe
what sized brains did H. neanderthalensis have?
1500cc (larger than humans - 1350cc)
what is the post cranial anatomy of H. neanderthalensis?
- robust
- short arms and legs
- wide ribs
- heavily muscled
what is the cranial anatomy of H. neanderthalensis
- large brain
- long skulls
- occipital bun
- large teeth
what is Bergmann’s rule?
body size increases at latitude increases
what is Allen’s rule?
colder climates result in shorter and thicker limbs
what is known about the lives of neanderthals?
short, difficult lives filled with injury, arthritis, etc.
what are mode 3 tools called?
Mousterian (Levallois is part of Mousterian tools)
what are characteristics of Denisovans?
dark skin, dark eyes, neanderthal-like build
what was the name of the first hybrid?
Denny (Denisovan father, Neanderthal mother)
what was significant about Denny?
he was the first evidence of interbreeding between hominin groups
when did the LCA between Neanderthals and Denisovan’s live?
450k years ago
when did the LCA between Neanderthals, Denisovans and humans live?
765-550k years ago
what cave was H. naledi discovered in?
The Rising Star Cave in South Africa
what species did Dr. Elliot help discover?
Homo Naledi
what was interesting about the behaviour sophistication of H. naledi?
the small brain size and behaviour was inconsistent
what species were known as “the hobbits”?
Homo Florensis
what is island dwarfism?
when a species is isolates with only a few predators, they evolve smaller bodies
what species was believed to have been effected by island dwarfism?
H. florensis
what characteristic sets H. sapiens apart from other species?
a chin
