Early tool production and Hominin Evolution Flashcards
Hadar and Lokalalei
Early archaeological sites that provide evidence of tool production and hominin activity.
Oldowan and Acheulean Tools:
Oldowan: The earliest stone tool industry, characterized by simple tools like flakes and choppers. Dating to approximately 2.6 million years ago.
Acheulean: More advanced tools, including bifacial handaxes, associated with Homo erectus, dating from 1.8 million years ago.
Hominin Radiation
The spread and diversification of early human species. A “hominin” refers to humans and their ancestors after diverging from the chimpanzee lineage.
Homo Erectus
First emerged around 1.9 million years ago and is considered the first hominin to have truly “left Africa” and spread across Eurasia.
Homo Erectus Features
Bipedalism
Large Brain
Tool Use
Fire Control:
Migration and Dispersal
Homo erectus is unique in that it is the first hominin to leave Africa, spreading into regions such as:
Asia (e.g., Dmanisi in Georgia, Indonesia, and China)
Europe (though their presence in Europe was less extensive)
East African Rift Valley
“Cradle of Humankind” due to the many important fossil sites it contains, such as Olduvai Gorge, Hadar, and Laetoli, where early hominins like Australopithecus and Homo habilis have been discovered. The valley’s varied landscapes, including savannas, forests, and volcanic activity, played a significant role in shaping early human traits like bipedalism and tool use.