Homo

Question 1

What species is regarded as the first species of the genus to which we belong and when did it appear?

Answer 1

• Homo habilis
• 2,4 mya
• known as ‘handy man’

Question 2

What is a characteristic developed by H. habilis that is uniquely human?

Answer 2

• the making of tools

Question 3

When did Homo erectus live?

Answer 3

• around 0,3 to 1,8 mya

Question 4

What features of Homo erectus show that it had progressed toward Homo sapiens?

Answer 4

• the males were as tall as modern humans
• they were both powerful and graceful, and perfectly adapted to bipedal locomotion
• their adult brain capacity was about 1000cc (3/4 of the human brain)
• they were tool-makers and tool-users
• used and controlled fire

Question 5

What is the most significant aspect of Homo erectus species?

Answer 5

• Homo erectus was the first species to use and control fire (about 1,5 mya)

Question 6

When did Homo neanderthalensis (the Neanderthals) live?

Answer 6

• 30 000 - 235 000 years ago

Question 7

When did the anatomically modern Homo sapiens arise?

Answer 7

• about 200 000 years ago

Question 8

What anatomical features do anatomically modern H. sapiens have that show evolutionary progress?

Answer 8

• a more slender build
• a dome-shaped skull with a large sharply rising forehead
• eyebrow ridges that are very small or more usually absent
• a large brain
• a small flattened face (small nose, implying less dependence on smell)
• smaller teeth in an arched lower jaw
• canine teeth the same height as other teeth
• a prominent chin

Question 9

What do anthropologists consider?

Answer 9

• that the use of more complex tools, language and cooperative behaviour are all mutually dependent
• these qualities together would have promoted and necessitated the larger brain found in anatomically modern Homo sapiens