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Anthropology Test 1 > Hominin Evolution > Flashcards

Hominin Evolution Flashcards

Dating, classification, evolutionary processes

1
Q

What are the 2 main types of dating in archaeology?

A

relative and absolute

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2
Q

define relative dating

A

gives a sequence of “older” and “younger” without absolute times/dates

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3
Q

define absolute dating

A

provides calendar dates for sites

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4
Q

what is another name for absolute dating?

A

chronometric

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5
Q

what are the 2 types of relative dating?

A

stratigraphy and seriation

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6
Q

define stratigraphy

A

using the law of assumption

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7
Q

define seriation

A

based on the how much or how little we see patterns in artifact styles over time

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8
Q

what type of dating is based on the how much or how little we see patterns in artifact styles over time

A

seriation

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9
Q

what type of dating uses the law of assumption

A

stratigraphy

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10
Q

what are the 4 types of absolute dating?

A

-dendrochronology
-archaeomagnetism
-paleomagnetism
-radiometric

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11
Q

describe dendrochronology

A

using tree rings; the most precise method of absolute dating

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12
Q

describe archaeomagnetism

A

a type of absolute dating; study of remnant magnetism in artifacts

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13
Q

describe paleomagnetism

A

study of the changes in the earth’s magnetic field over time

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14
Q

describe radiometric dating

A

calculates age based on radioactive decay

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15
Q

what type of absolute dating is the most accurate?

A

dendrochronology

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16
Q

define half life (radiocarbon) dating

A

measuring the rate of decay in organic materials

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17
Q

measuring the rate of decay in organic materials is called what?

A

half life

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18
Q

define thermoluminescence dating

A

dating used when radiocarbon dating cannot be used (ceramic, stone)

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19
Q

Half life and thermoluminescence dating are examples of what type of dating?

A

radiometric

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20
Q

how far back can you use radiometric dating?

A

up to 50,000 years, after that it isn’t considered reliable

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21
Q

what does “BC’ stand for?

A

before christ

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22
Q

what does “AD” stand for?

A

anno domini- after Christ was born

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23
Q

what does “CE” mean?

A

common era

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24
Q

Is CE the same as AD in dating?

A

YES

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25
Q

what years are included in the “BC” period?

A

1 day after christ up to 5000 years ago

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26
Q

what does ‘bP’ mean and what does it signify?

A

before present; signifies the commencement of the dating scale, 1950 being the “standard” year

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27
Q

what does it mean for a period to be calibrated vs uncalibrated?

A

calibration represents evidence found in the form of radiocarbon concentration, which is then converted into years.

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28
Q

define uncalibrated dating

A

a rough estimate that still needs to be proven with carbon levels

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29
Q

define natural selection

A

“survival of the fittest”; acts on variation within populations

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30
Q

what is gene flow?

A

exchange of genetic information from one population to another

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31
Q

what is genetic drift?

A

small random changes in isolated populations

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32
Q

what is mutation?

A

main source of genetic variation

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33
Q

what is a hominin?

A

any creature believed to be in the direct line of evolution with humans

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34
Q

what is the one characteristic that separates hominins from other species?

A

Bipedal locomotion

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35
Q

what are some characteristics of primates?

A

-tendency for erect posture
-opposed thumb
-nails (not claws)
-stereoscopic vision (brain can create 3D images)
-live in groups/pairs with permanent males
-brachiation (branched on both sides)
-prehensile (able to grasp)

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36
Q

what does it mean to have stereoscopic vision?

A

your brain can create 3D images

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37
Q

what does brachiation mean?

A

to be branched on both sides (arms that are able to swing- form of locomotion)

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38
Q

what does it mean to be prehensile?

A

you are able to grasp with your hands

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39
Q

what is non-honing chewing?

A

grinding your food (molars) rather than slicing (incisors, canines)

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40
Q

what is an extinct species that was included in the early hominins?

A

austrolipiths

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41
Q

how were early hominins classified?

A

-bipedal locomotion
-bigger brain to body ratio
-generalized dentition
-non honing chewing

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42
Q

describe phylogeny

A

the evolutionary history of a species, using DNA & paleoanthropology, that involves comparing some genetic similarities of species

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43
Q

the evolutionary history of a species, using DNA & paleoanthropology, that involves comparing some genetic similarities of species is defined as what?

A

phylogeny

44
Q

LCA means what?

A

chimp-human last common ancestor

45
Q

between what years did the LCA exist?

A

6.3 and 5.4 AD

46
Q

Cretaceous Period

A

90-65mya, Purgatorius (shrew like animals)

47
Q

Euocene-Ogliocene Extinction

A

55-23mya; Aegyptopithicus (earliest possible ancestor of the old world monkey)

48
Q

Aegyptopithicus

A

predates the divergence of old world monkeys and hominoids (apes); found in the euocene-ogliocene period

49
Q

Fayum Depression

A

oldest/richest records of mammal fossils found in Egypt during the Miocene period

50
Q

Why is the Miocene period significant for archaeology, specifically referring to the Fayum Depression?

A

it holds the oldest/richest sites for mammal fossils in the world

51
Q

oldest/richest records of mammal fossils found in Egypt during the Miocene period..what place is this?

A

Fayum Depression

52
Q

What did the Miocene period mean for early primates?

A

they moved from forest to savanna and there was a huge expansion in the hominoids superfamily

53
Q

when did the Miocene period occur?

A

23-5mya

54
Q

when was there a lack of fossils during the Miocene period?

A

11-5mya

55
Q

All members of the human lineage after it splits to chimp lineage are called what?

A

Australopiths

56
Q

What are some extinct hominin generas?

A

sahelanthropus, ardipithecus, australopithecus, paranthropus

57
Q

what was the hominin that was first discovered to have been the closest in anatomy to modern humans?

A

Sahelanthropus tchadenisis

58
Q

what was the one outstanding characteristic of Sahelanthropus tchadenisis that set him apart from other hominins?

A

the position of the foramen magnum (where the spinal cord enters the cranium)

59
Q

what was significant about the foramen magnum in Sahelanthropus tchadenisis?

A

it sat more underneath the skull and was not at an angle like other hominins. This signified a more erect posture (bipedalism) and a need to balance the skull (something not seen in other apes aside from humans)

60
Q

what was the name of the hominin that came after Sahelanthropus tchadenisis?

A

Ardipithecus Ramidus

61
Q

what hominin was closely related to Sahelanthropus tchadenisis?

A

Ardipithecus Ramidus

62
Q

what hominin likely evolved into the earliest Australopithicines?

A

Ardipithecus Ramidus

63
Q

which hominin was as much in the trees as it was on the ground?

A

Ardipithecus Ramidus

64
Q

what are some of the key characteristics of Ardipithecus Ramidus?

A

-smaller canines
-opposed toe with no arches
-prognathism (protruding jaw)
-bipedal over short distances

65
Q

where did Ardipithecus Ramidus live?

A

Ethiopia

66
Q

what hominin lived during the middle of the Pilocene period?

A

Australopithecus

67
Q

what are some characteristics of Australopithecus?

A

-small brains
-bipedal
-smaller canines
-small stature (just over 1m tall)

68
Q

Who had features similar to both apes and humans but was more human like?

A

Australopithecus

69
Q

what species of hominin was separated into robust & gracile forms?

A

Australopithecus

70
Q

what genus of hominids had/has a prognathous jaw?

A

almost all members of the hominidae family (the great apes)

71
Q

what is the family of great apes referred to as?

A

Hominidae

72
Q

what is the super family of all species of apes and humans called?

A

Hominoidea

73
Q

Hominoidea refers to what members of the human lineage?

A

all apes, their ancestors and humans

74
Q

what are the members of the Hominiae?

A

gorillas, chimps, humans & their ancestors

75
Q

what is the tribe called that contains gorillini & panini?

A

Hominini

76
Q

what are the species included in the “great apes”?

A

gorillas, orangutans, gibbons, chimps bonobos, humans & their ancestors

77
Q

Australopithecines Include what members of early hominins?

A

Australopithecus Africanus, Australopithecus Afarenisis, Australopithecus Sebidia

78
Q

Approximately how tall were the early Australopithecines?

A

between 3.5 and 5 feet tall

79
Q

what were key features of the early Australopithecines?

A

-human like dentition
-smaller canines
-steeper forehead
-prognathous
-smaller temporal fossa
-less prominent sagittal crest
-lest robust zygomatic arch

80
Q

what is a sagittal crest?

A

bone running lengthwise on the skull

81
Q

what is a zygomatic arch?

A

cheekbone

82
Q

what area of the skull is called the zygomatic arch?

A

cheekbone

83
Q

what area of the skull is called the sagittal crest?

A

the bone that runs lengthwise down the middle of the skull

84
Q

what is the temporal fossa?

A

a depression on either side of the skull

85
Q

what are the depressions on either side of the skull called?

A

the temporal fossa

86
Q

Paranthropus is also called what?

A

Robust Australopithecines

87
Q

Robust Australopithecines are part of what genus?

A

Paranthropus

88
Q

Paranthropus had what features?

A

-flatter forehead
-larger temporal fossa
-large zygomatic arches
-thicker skull & bones
-massive molars & muscles
-more pronounced sagittal crest
-510cc avg brain size

89
Q

what genus of hominoids have a flatter forehead?

A

Paranthropus

90
Q

what genus of hominoids have a larger temporal fossa & zygomatic arches?

A

Paranthropus

91
Q

what genus of hominoids have thicker skulls/bones, massive molars & muscles?

A

Paranthropus

92
Q

what does bipedal mean?

A

using lower/rear limbs for locomotion

93
Q

what else evolved along with bipedalism?

A

larger brains

94
Q

Bipedalism is restricted to what tribe?

A

hominins

95
Q

what are some advantages of bipedalism?

A

-hands are free to carry & manipulate
-posture exposes less skin to sunlight & helps see further (see more land/protect self from predators)
-efficient function

96
Q

what are traits of the bipedal skeleton?

A

-pronounced lumbar curve
-foramen magnum is centered
-pelvis is bowl shaped
-shift in body mass distribution
-enlarged ankle bones/arches
-no opposable toe

97
Q

-pronounced lumbar curve
-foramen magnum is centered
-pelvis is bowl shaped
-shift in body mass distribution
-enlarged ankle bones/arches
-no opposable toe
…these are all traits of what?

A

bipedal skeleton

98
Q

“Lucy” is what species of hominin?

A

Australopithecus Afarenisis

99
Q

why were the footprints in Laetoli, Tanzania significant to learning about early hominins?

A

they had big toes in line with the rest of their foot (like humans) and they walked heel-strike first, then toe-off..this meant they were not only bipedal but also more human like than ape.

100
Q

“Lucy” was found at what Australopithecine archaeological site and how long ago?

A

Hadar, Ehtiopia 3.18mya

101
Q

What was the child found in South Africa in 2mya called?

A

Tuang child

102
Q

the Tuang child was a part of what genus of hominoid?

A

Australopithecus Africanus

103
Q

who comes first in the Hominini branch? Australopithecus Africanus, Australopithecus Afarenisis, Sahelanthropus tchadenisis or Ardipithecus Ramidus?

A

Sahelanthropus tchadenisis

104
Q

who came second in the hominini branch?
Australopithecus Africanus, Australopithecus Afarenisis, or Ardipithecus Ramidus?

A

Ardipithecus Ramidus

105
Q

who came 3RD in the Hominini branch? Australopithecus Africanus or Australopithecus Afarenisis?

A

Australopithecus Afarenisis

106
Q

who was the last out of these 4 in the Hominini branch:
Australopithecus Africanus, Australopithecus Afarenisis, Sahelanthropus tchadenisis or Ardipithecus Ramidus?

A

Australopithecus Africanus

107
Q

what species lived at the same time as the Australopiths?

A

Homo Habilis

Anthropology Test 1 (4 decks)

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