Chapter 15 - Hominin Evolution Flashcards
human evolution
the physical and cultural development of hominin ancestors to modern humans
mammal characteristics
fur or hair
milk producing
primates characteristics
opposable thumb and/or toe
problem solve
complex social behaviour
hominoid
collective term for all apes
hominoid characteristics
no tail
complex brains
flexible arm and shoulder jointss
hominins
modern humans, extinct human species and al of our extinct erect walking ancestors
hominin anatomical features
bipedal locomotion
complex social behaviour
short body hair
large brain
bipedalism
two-legged walking
hands free for other uses
brain size
more tha tripled
tool making and use
face and teeth
U shape to parabola
vision and sense of smell
decrease reliance on smell
increase reliance on daytime vision
structure of hands
more refined hand movements
selection for bipedalism
carrying offspring and food
seeing over grass
thermoregulation
adaptions for bipedalism
position of foremen magnum
bowel shaped pelvis
S spine shape
selection for nakedness
thermoregulation
parasite control
retention of head hair - reflects sun
out of Africa hypothesis
modern humans originated in Africa about 200,000 years ago and then migrated into different regions of Europe and Asia and replaced non-modern populations
biological evolution
changes in human populations
from natural selection
inherited phenotypes
very slow
biological evolution is expressed in
physical traits
biochemical traits
physiological trait
cultural evolution
learned beahvoiur changes in human societies socially transmitted, not genetically inherited fast spoken, written or signed language
examples of cultural evolution
how to make a tool
learning a social rule
learning to play a musical instrument
technological evolution
changes over time in technology
give humans increased control over their environment
technological evolution is expressed through
tools
machines, automatons
medical procedures
many cultural changes are based on what
technological evolution
what made tool making possible
bipedal locomotion: freed hands
increased brain size: problem solving capacity
australopithecus afarensis (graciles)
1 erect walking small brain size simple tools: sticks stones Lucy
australopithecus africanus (graciles)
2
adapted for climbing
erect walking
hunter - weapons: broken teeth and bones
australopithecus robustus / paranthropus group
3
bones as tools
massive molar teeth
box shaped jaw
homo habilis
4
greater brain size
first tool makers
cooperative hunting
homo erectus
5 larger brain size controlled fire use: cooking, warmth, light crafted more elaborate stone tools facial expressions but no language
homo heidelbergensis
6 large brain tools for hunting animal hide clothing used fire hunted animals
homo sapien (neanderthals)
7 strongly built crafted fine tools buried dead lived in caves shelter out of animal skins clothing for bodies and feet
homo sapien
8 no diastema larynx evolved: language skilful tool makers control fire art
