Final Exam prior to midterms Flashcards
What are the goals of primatology
- Understand behaviour of all species
- Model early human behaviour
- Conservation of endangered primates
What is the primatology the study of?
Study of behaviour, evolution, distribution and classification of non-human primate species
What are the infraorder(s) of the suborder stresirhini of primates?
- Lemuniformes
What are the suborders of primates?
- Strepsirhini
2. Haplorini
What are the infraorder(s) of the suborder haplohini of primates?
- Tarsiformes
- Platyrrhini (new world anthropods)
- Cartarrhini (old world anthropods)
The superfamily Lemuroidea belong to which infraorder and suborder of primates?
Infraorder: Lemuniformes
Suborder: strepsirhini
What supetfamilies are part of the infraorder Cartarrhini?
- Cercopthecoldea (old world monkeys)
2. Hominoidea (apes and humans)
The superfamily ceboidea belongs to which infraorder and suborder?
Infraorder: platyrrhini
Suborder: haplorhini
The infraorder Lemuniformes has which subfamilies?
- Lemuroidea (lemurs)
2. Lorisoidea (lorises)
What are the hallmarks or characteristics or traits of primates?
- Mammals
- Tree-dwelling (arboreal adaptation)
- Omnivorous
- Large complex brain relative to body size
- Vision replaces smell as primary sense
- Social
What adaptations have primates made to be tree dwelling?
- Rotating forelimbs
- Retention of clavicle
- Prehensile (grasping)
- Pentadactyly( 5 toes and fingers)
- Opposable thumb, nails, dermal ridges on grasping surfaces
- Plantigrade locomotion (palms)
What social behaviours do primates exhibit?
- Long infant dependency
- Learning period
- Play, imitation, grooming
What changes have evolved so that primate vision is its primary sense over smell?
- Smaller snout
- Loss of moist rhinarium
- Stereoscopic vision
- Most have color vision
Form an opinion for or against GAP ( great ape project)
Need to complete yourself with points to support an argument for or against in case you need to write a short essay on your exam
What are the differences between old world and new world primates?
New world (platyrrhine)
- flat nose
- Nostrils further apart and outward
Old world (cattarhine)
- hook nose
- nostrils closer together and point downward
- big sharp canine teeth with a gap between canines and incisors
- are larger in size
- more terrestrial
What is the goal of GAP
The great ape project (GAP) is an international movement started in 1994. Its main purpose is to guarantee the basic rights to life, freedom and non- torture of the non- human great apes (chimpanzees, gorillas, orangatuns and bonobos)
Questions from slides - you need to find answer - What are the four major trends that differentiate hominids from hominids (describe in detail)
- Habitual bipedalism
Physical changes required for bipedalism - rotates foreman magnum, S lumbar curve and arch in foot, bowl- shaped pelvis and locking knee (knock kneed) and longer legs and a great toe in line - Dentition/ jaw changes
Facial projection decreases overall with reduce canine size and diastema. There is absence of canine honing complex and parabolic dental arcade. - Expanding, complex brain
The hominin brain capacity has increased through time but about 2mya the absolute and relative size of the brain increases - reasons? You will need to look this up notes just have reasons? With question mark after it - Tools and increasing cultural complexity
Earliest undisputed stone tools appear ca. 2.6 mya in Ethiopia. There were Oldowan stone tools and evidence for culture (teachers notes say advantages and who used them? But you have no notes to explain this)
Question from slide - What are the major genus groups of the early hominids
Notes just list superfamily
Lemuroidea (lemurs) Lorisoidea (lorises) Ceboidea (new world monkeys) Cercopithecoidea (old world monkeys) Hominoidea (apes and humans)
If she wants genus you will need to look this up
Question from slide - what are differences between robust and gracile species of authralopithecus
Later Australopithecus existed 3-1.5 mya they were divided into robust and gracile species based mostly on chewing
Robust line goes extinct
Should get more detail from your textbook I am guessing you missed this class as you have no notes that expand in teachers notes
Question from slides - Be able to identify what distinguishes genus homo from early hominins
Will need to find in notes
Earliest bipedal hominins were Australopiths e,g. Ardipithecus, Paranthropus and Australopithecus (7-1.5 mya)they had small cranial capacity, smaller canines and later around 3mya has slightly curved fingers and toes.
Early homo species appeared during 2.5-2mya and lived in Africa between 2.4 - 1.5 mya. Likely evolved from gracile australopiths and lived alongside robust australopiths - they had larger brains started by around 400-500 cm3
Highlighted question from slides - identify the tools and cultural behaviours associated with each homo species
What tools and cultural behaviours are associated with lower palaeolithic
At 2.6 - 1.5 mya there was the Oldowan stone took tradition
- associated with H. habilis
- percussion flaking, core and flaking technology
- choppers and scrapers
At 1.8 mya - 200,000 ya Acheulian stone tool
- associated with H. erectus
- soft hammer percussion
- bifacial handaxes , cleavers and scrapers
- culture - big game hunting and control of fire by 1.4 mya - they had campsites and Home based and cultural differences in Asia
Highlighted question from slides - identify the tools and cultural behaviours associated with each homo species
What tools and cultures are associated with Homo erectus
- 8 mya - 400,000 ya
- may have been the first to leave Africa
- little change for over 1 million years
- cranial capacity 1000 cm3
- pentagonal skull and smaller teeth
- endurance runners
- likely ancestor to sapiens through archaic Homo sapiens
- soft hammer percussion
- bifacial handaxes, cleavers and scrapers
Highlighted question from slides - identify the tools and cultural behaviours associated with each homo species
What tools and cultures are associated with Homo neandertalensis
230,000 - 27,000 ya
- were short and more robust with elongated skull and occipital bun (ave 1500cm3). There was some interbreeding between sapiens and Neanderthals outside of Africa.
- the mousterian stone tool culture was associated with H. neandertalnsus also used Levalloisian method of tools with tortoise shaped cores and produces standard size flakes
- the mousterian culture were of skilled hunters that killed bison, horses and deer. They used caves and rock shelters as homesites (cave man). There was evidence for ritual behaviours from burial sites
Highlighted question from slides - identify the tools and cultural behaviours associated with each homo species
What tools and cultures are associated with Homo sapiens
200,000 ya - now
- anatomically modern humans that have moved across the globe - cranial capacity around 1350cm3
During upper palaeolithic cultures (40,000 - 12.000 BP)
- blades are flakes that are at least 2:1 (length:width) with parallel sides
- pressure flaking
- had trade and diverse art (including cave art)
Highlighted questions from slides
What are the two models for what happened to the other hominins after modern humans appear
- Replacement/Single origin theory - in this theory Homo sapiens evolve in Africa. They leave Africa around 100,000 BP (before present) and replace others. Human variation is only recent in this theory.
- Multiregional theory/Regional continuity - in this theory each population around the world evolves in place from existing Homo erectus groups who left Africa around 1 mya. Thus requires gene flow and human variation would be ancient.
See textbook pages 138-139
Highlighted questions from slides
Know the two models of how the New Works was Peoples including dates
Notes only has following
- where did the Paleo-Indians come from?
- Siberian origins (blood, incisors, culture)
- Comparative linguistics (3 migrations)
- Clovis 1st (12,000) vs pre-Clovis (33,000 BP)
So you need to look up the two models and dates
Highlighted question from slides -
What is the importance of late Miocene?
23-5mya was the Age of the Apes
11-5 mya there is a sparse hominoid fossil record
In later Miocene there is a hominin/hominid line (Homo and Australopiths only) splits from hominoid line (between 10-5 mya)
Highlighted question from slides - for each epoch be aware of major events (do not need to know dates)
Palaeocene - extinctions and mammalian adaptation be radiation leads to evolution of diverse new species from a single ancestral species that occupy open habitats. Time of arboreal adaptation vs visual predation theory of primate emergence
Eocene - first definite primates appear - appearance of anthropoids (ancestors to apes, monkeys and humans)
Oligocene - emergence of hominoids (Fayun Depression fossils)
Miocene - Age of the Apes and time of split of hominin/ hominid line
Highlighted question from slides -
Explain in depth the skin color adaptation
Nothing in notes you need to look this up
Highlighted question from slides - Describe how different groups have adapted to different climates?
Not in notes you gave me - you will need to find answer
Highlighted question from slides - what is the main difference between adaptation and acclimatization
Nothing in notes you need to find answer
Highlighted question from notes - explain how physical adaptations may have cultural agents (provide examples)
Says from discussion in class there is nothing in your notes you will have to find answers - suggest watch Becoming Human video part 1 as well for exam
Highlighted questions from slides - What are the three foundation ideas of evolutionary theory
- transformational evolution (change)
- uniformitarianism (time)
- competition (pressure)
Highlighted questions from slides - What are the three principles of natural selection
Natural selection is a two step process of how descent with modification takes place
1. variation in all individuals in a species (e.g. recombination, mutation)
2. heritability of traits
3. differential reproductive success = adaptive individuals often win competitions for resources; they survive and/or reproduce more, with their offspring likely to inherit favourable traits
No notes on this topic
Highlighted questions from slides - is natural selection working towards a perfect organism?
No there is no perfect organism
• traits that give an advantage in survival and reproduction should increase over time
• adaptive, neutral and maladaptive traits in a given environment
• directional, normalizing, balancing selection
• HMS video clip (on BBL)
• the role of sexual selection
Highlighted questions from slides - explain the concept of Mendelian genetics
- homozygous, heterozygous
- dominant alleles are expressed if present
- recessive alleles are carried but not expressed unless in homozygous form
- genotype is the total genetic information of an organism, including recessive alleles
- phenotype is the portion of genetic information that is expressed and observed
- principle of segregation means an individual gets one gene for each trait from each parent
- principle of independent assortment means that alleles separate randomly into gametes and are not necessarily linked to other alleles
Highlighted question from slides - What are the patterns in genetic variation?
- clinal (continuous) variation is when a trait gradually changes (+/-) over a geographic area
- discontinuous variation is when traits appear in ‘patches’ with little/no gradation between areas
Highlighted questions from slides - why is generics not simply a matter of gene=trait?
- polygeny = many genes are responsible for one trait
- pleiotropy =one gene affects more than one trait
- norm of reaction = table or graph that displays the possible phenotypic outcomes for a genotype in different environments
- ‘environment’ + genes + age + “noise”
When is the Mesolithic time period?
14000 - 10000 BP Middle Stone Age See Natuflans (13000 - 9800 BC in text)Characterized by 1. Broad spectrum foraging (people gathering everything and staying in one place longer)2. Sedentarism = permanent habitation increases 3. New tool types - composite microlithic tools 2 big questions from this era - why and how did people start to domesticate plants and animals Why did we stop being hunted gathers and move into larger groups
Highlighted question from slides -What is the Neolithic period?
Is the New Stone Age and the era when food production begins (domestication if plants and animals)
- also results in more dependence on people
- modification of the environment/niches
- location of early domesticates (see textbook)
Highlighted question from slides - What is domestication?
Human modification of a species to make them more useful and productive
Highlighted question from slides - Explain the model of how plants are domesticated
- Wild plant is procured 2. Wild plant is produced from procured plants3. Wild plant is cultivated 4. Ultimately leading to agriculture use (see textbook as well)
Highlighted question from slides - What are the different ways that scientist can identify if domestication has occurred in plants
- Rachis is stronger
- Seeds/fruits are larger and more plentiful
- Weaker husk
- Seeds all mature at same time
- Art and written record
Highlighted question from slides - Describe the model for animal domestication
- Random hunting moves to 2. Controlled hunting 3. Which is followed by herd following4. Then loose herding5. Which changes to close herding 6. And ultimately industrial farming READ model in textbook
Highlighted questions from slides - How can scientist tell if an animal has been domesticated
- Outside its natural range
- Morphological changes ( less or lose of horns, less robust, chance in hair)
- Increase in relative numbers of a species
- Gender ratio imbalance
5 evidence of disease like tuberculosis
6 art and written records
Highlighted question from slides - What impacts did the Neolithic have?
Start ofdomestication which lead to:1. Increased sedentarism 2. Population growth 3. Environmental degradation 4. Increased trade5. Increased complexity6. Decline in health - disease, war, work arthritis, famine and malnutrition
Highlighted questions from slides - What is archaeology?
Archaeology is the study of past human behaviours through material remains
First archaeological evidence dates back to 2.6mya when first stone tools where found
- starts when humans begin to modify their world (i.e. make stone tools)
- remains more complex and rich after 40000BP (upper palaeolithic)
What is an archaeological record?
All material evidence from human activity that has been discovered through archaeology
What is an archaeological site?
Location of remains of past human activity
Highlighted questions from slides - What are the different types of archaeological evidence?
- Artifacts - objects that have been modified by humans or is a by product of human activities (e.g. lithics (rocks), ceramics, wood, bone, metal and glass)
- Features - large and/or immobile artifacts
- Ecofacts - natural materials that give evidence for environmental context (e.g. palynology (pollen study) coprolites (fossilized feces), insects, zooarchaeology (animal bones in an archaeology site)
Most common artifacts are rocks - stone tools, stone weapon tips etc.
Highlighted questions from slides - In archaeological terms what is context? Why is it important?
Information surrounding materials in their original location (undisturbed or in situ) and their relationship to other materials Important to understand context, want to understand exactly where everything is in relation to everything else (how the item is used, same pot different location but how it was used, food gathering, ceremony etc)
In terms of archaeology what is provenience?
The exact 3-D location of materials at a site
Highlighted questions from slides - What is taphonony?
Study of processes that affect sites (creation, preservation, and disturbance) or the study of life at a site
- nature of the material (stone versus bark versus hide)
- unusual environments (dry, peat tannis, cold)
- sites are vulnerable to human disturbance STATES: be able to give example from class and text if unusual preservation)
What is prehistoric or pre-contact?
Prehistoric are the earliest artifacts until the appearance of written records 5000 years ago Precontact - is prior to Europeans settling in areas such as the Americas, India etc
What does historic archaeology allow?
Historic archaeology started with written records - so this allows comparison of documents such as battles, first nation territories, location of historic sites etc
Highlighted questions from slides - What are the six steps in archaeology in order?
- Overview
- Survey
- Excavation
- Analysis
- Reporting
- Reconstruction
Highlighted questions from slides -Describe what happens in the overview phase of archaeology?
Pre- field studies such as GIS studies, examining previous studies, myths and informants and determining the archaeological potential
Highlighted questions from slides - Describe what happens during the survey stage of archaeology in progress?
Finding snd recording sites - so doing surveys with non-invasive techniques such as aerial imagery ( satellite or air photos) sediment surveys (GPR, magnetic spectrometry)
Highlighted questions from slides - describe what happens during the excavation stage of archaeology in progress?
Systematic exposure, recovery and recording of archaeological remains
- As excavation destroys the site there is one chance only so planning etc is important - note taking, measurements, photos, sketches, dating of samples
- Important to which strategy to be used testing or excavation
- Ensure permission from correct authorities and landforms (e.g. Historical resources act of 1980)
- All measurements are from the nail used to divide the dig plots
Highlighted questions from slides scribe - Describe what happens during the analysis stage of archaeology in progress?
Lab work - conservation, cleaning and cataloguing, identify and typology, metric analysis, analysis of materials collected (sediment, artifacts etc)
Highlighted questions from slides - Describe what happens during the reporting stage of archaeology in progress?
Description and reporting - time, extent and relationship to other sites - predictive models for future studies- submission of all project materials with catalogues etc to authorities - In Alberta use Archaeological Site Form
Highlighted questions from slides - Describe what happens during the reconstruction stage of archaeology in progress?
- Reconstruction and education
- public education and preservation
- reconstruction only occurs with the most important sites such as Fort Edmonton and L’anse aux meadows
Highlighted questions from slides - What is CRM?
Cultural resource management - management of cultural heritage including landscapes, archaeological sites and records, artifacts and intangible heritage
- examples -Aswan low dam (constructed in 1902), Rossdale, Molson brewery, UNESCO temple complex at Philae on Nile moved 0.5 km
STATES: and why do we do it … not stated in your notes you will have to find
Highlighted questions from slides - What are some examples/types/ specialization of archaeology?
- biblical- classical- maritime- human osteoarchaelogy ( study of human bones) - palaeopathology (study of ancient diseases of humans)
Highlighted questions from slides - What is the problem with the concept of race?
- Number of races varies dependent on criteria used to define race
- Arbitrator boundaries use to determine variables to define race (there is 94% variation within the human race)
- Misuse of the concept of species - races are not scientifically speaking species as all humans regardless of race, can interbreed and produce viable offspring
- Racism - stems from the concept of race
- Racism leads to stereotyping, discrimination and abuse
What 3 things does racism link together?
- Outward appearance2. Intelligence of the race (measured in theory by IQ)3. Success - the ability of a race to achieve civilization and other important goals
Highlighted question from slides - What is the definition of race?
Race is traditionally presented as subspecies or groups within the human species
Usually based on outward observable phenotypic traits
Attempts to define different races have been through essentialism, Craniometry and anthropometry
What is essentialism?
Generalization that all members of a group possess universal properties
What is Craniometry?
Is the measurement of the cranium )the main part of the skull) it is a subset of a cephalonetry (measurement of the head) which is a subset of anthropometry (measurement of the human body) -19th century and first part of the 20th century anthropology focused heavily on Craniometry to divide humanity into races
What is anthropometry?
The study of the measurement of the human individual. in particular the measurement of different body parts
What is the relationship between racism and social stratification?
- Racism is strongest in a stratified society where groups have unequal access to wealth, power and prestige2. Reinforced by religion, economics and politics 3. Freedom for some at the expense of others
Highlighted questions from slides - What are some of the impacts of racism?
- Ethnocide
- Genocide
- Economic and political discrimination
- Colonization
- Violence
- Human rights abuse
- Interpersonal violence
- Discrimination by the courts and police
Highlighted questions from slides - What elements make up racism?
- Differences in appearance 2. Differences in success3. Differences in intellect
Highlighted questions from slides - Why is ethnicity a better word than race?
When people talk about race usually it involves a cultural not just a biological aspect
Ethnicity is more flexible as it means a common heritage or ancestry which can encompass: language, religion, economics, history and territory, physical attributes, and a feeling of belonging and distinctiveness
Highlighted questions from slides - Why are we saying that race is biocultural?
It has a biological component - results from natural selection and physical adaptation to a specific geographic environment It has a cultural component - it impacts our life through social creation and reinforcement of differences for economic, political and religious reasons
What are anti-miscegenation laws?
Laws put in place to stop mix race births
What is the definition of prejudice?
An opinion for or against something without adequate basis
What impacts dating methods in palaeoantropology and archaeology?
- materials available on site
- projected age of site (should know if excavating)
- goals of excavation
What is the difference between relative and chronometric dating?
Relative dating techniques result in a date in relation to another (no exact dates)
Chronometric or absolute dating results in calendrical dates in years ‘before present’ (B.P.) +/- error
- non-radiometric dating methods
- radiometric dates are based on measuring the decay of radioactive isotopes (half-life)
Explain the following dating methods?
- stratigraphy
- typology and seriation
- radiocarbon
- potassium argon
- dendrochronology
In your text not in notes but stated can be tested on an exam so look up
What is anthropology?
The study of humankind
- is a science that collects data about humanity from fieldwork, participant observation, cross-cultural comparison, and experimentation
- views humans as biocultural organisms
- takes an evolutionary approach
- holistic and multidisciplinary approach
What are the sub-disciplines of anthropology?
- Cultural
- Anthropology
- Physical Anthropology
- Archaeology
- Linguistic Anthropology
- Applied Anthropology
Explain the concept of culture
- the learned customary ways of thinking and behaving of a population or society
- the total way of life of a society
- ‘extra-somatic means of adaptation’
- “that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, custom, and any other capabilities acquired by man as a member of society” (E.B. Tylor 1871)
Describe the defining traits of cultures?
- learned*, primarily through language and family
- mostly adaptive
- integrated (change in one area will often change other parts of the culture)
- constantly changing
- somewhat tacit (not formally taught, sometimes “hidden” – iceberg metaphor)
What is ethnocentrism?
Is judging other cultures negatively and solely in terms of one’s own culture
- the belief that one’s own way of doing things is the only correct way
- normal response of cultures
- hinders understanding and new experiences; creates prejudice & hatred
Important Reading: Nacirema
What is cultural relativism?
is the attitude that cultures differ and must be viewed objectively in their own context
- step back from what you think you “know” and look through another’s eyes
- promotes understanding
- “absolute cultural relativism” – anything goes?
What is an ethnography?
Description of culture using non-ethnocentirc language an input from people studied
What is ethnology?
Comparison of two or more cultures
What are the different ways to study ethnography?
1) Participant observation & fieldwork
- use of participant observation = the researcher takes part in daily activities during fieldwork
- fieldwork = extended period when researchers go into the “field” (they leave their culture)
- culture shock = negative feelings or interactions resulting from ignorance of (or breaking) cultural “rules of interaction”
- often worsened if they do not have a working understanding of the language
2) ‘Informants’
- ‘informants’ and the “insider” point of view
- emic and etic points of view
- informants are individuals who share their cultural point of view and knowledge
- they are often people who can ‘step back’ from their culture in order to interpret it
- what problems might arise? (examples from video)
What are the causes of human variation?
- the four evolutionary processes
- the environment (e.g. tanning)
- individual development (e.g. starvation)
- cultural and ethnic practices
What is the difference between micro and macroevolution?
- Microevolution occurs over relatively few generations
- Macroevolution is long-term evolutionary change, like speciation and adaptive radiations
What are the four evolutionary processes?
- Natural selection
- Mutation* = alteration of DNA that results in new alleles (e.g. heat, UV)
- Gene flow = movement of genes from one population to another (mating, migration)
- Genetic drift = random changes in genetic makeup in a population (due to chance, accidents, “sampling error”); “bottleneck” and “founder” effect
Explain the difference between adaptation and acclimatization
Adaptation = genetic changes that increase favourable genes in a population long term
- developmental adaptations happen within the lifetime of the individual, during growth and development (e.g. “hunter’s response” and high metabolism)
Acclimatization = short-term physiological changes to adjust to changes in environment (e.g. shivering, tanning)
What are some examples of human adaptation examples?
- sickle-cell anemia
- body size and shape (clinal variation)
- skin color (clinal)
- lactase deficiency (lactose intolerance)
- immunity to infectious diseases
What is an example of human acclimatization
hypoxia (altitude stress)
- reduction in the amount of oxygen in air
- increase in red blood cells to carry oxygen
- developmental acclimatization: larger chest capacity and lungs if it occurs during childhood development
