Development of Mankind

Question 1

What are the different types/species of homonids (from earliest to latest)?

Answer 1

Australopitechus
Homo habilis
Homo erectus
Homo sapiens & neanderthals

Question 2

What are the characteristics of the homo habilis? What is special about them (with regards to archaeology)?

Answer 2

larger brain, small teeth, less prominent facial structure - beginning of archaeology

Question 3

What are the characteristics of the homo erectus?

Answer 3

Homo erectus (upright man): even larger brain, backward-sloped forehead, memory

Question 4

What are the characteristics of the Homo Sapiens & Neanderthals

Answer 4

increased cognitive and physical abilities, delicate facial features

Question 5

Who developed first, homo sapiens or neanderthals? Under what climactic conditions did they develop?

Answer 5

developed around same time period (homo sapiens before neanderthals in Israel) - under harsh climactic conditions

Question 6

Did homo sapiens & neanderthals live and breed together?

Answer 6

Biological research shows that they were a very separate population from Homo sapiens, with evidence of fertile hybrid breeding between them (at a lower rate)

Question 7

What are the characteristics of the Australopithecus?

Answer 7

bipedal primate with both ape-like and human characteristics - upright walk, small brain volume, prominent facial structure, vegetarian