Human Evolution 1, 2 & 3

Question 1

Summarise characteristics of the 3 major genre

Answer 1

o	Australopithecus (biped, gracile, small brain) 
o	Parathropus (biped, robust crania, small brain)
o	Homo (biped, gracile, relativley larger brain)

Question 2

• Evolutionary themes (in order of occurrence)

Answer 2

1. Locomotion
   - Cooling drying climate; expansion of savannahs
2. Diet
   - thin to thick enamel
   - Reduced canines
   - Reduced prognathism
3. Brain
   - Cranial capacity
   - Fluctuating climate

Question 3

why do humans and chimps share common traits

Answer 3

1. Shared common ancestor (E.g. Y5 molars No tail)

2. Convergent evolution (E.g. Male cooperation and Warfare)

Question 4

Describe 3 mid-late miocene hominoid traits

Answer 4

Prognathism: condition in which part of face below nose is pushed out, relatively wide angle

Brachiation: method movement that uses arm to swing from branch to branch

Diastema: space b/w upper canin and incisor that accomodates the lower canine

Question 5

when was locomotory transition from arboreal to bipedal originated

Answer 5

3.8 mya

Question 6

Australopithecines (3.8mya) had cooling climate, how did this cause bipedalism (4 ways)

Answer 6

1. postural adaption to feeing
2. thermoregulatory (reduce surface area for insulation)
3. energetic of movement over open ground
4. carrying objects

Question 7

whats the wading hypothesis of hominin bipals

Answer 7

o Aquadic theory of bipedality

Question 8

describe the footprints of laetoli

Answer 8

• Evidence of bipedalism:
  o Australopithecus
  o Big toe less opposable / reduction of smaller toes
  o Arch

Question 9

what divergence occurred around 2.5-1mya

Answer 9

• Around 2.5-1mya: Divergence of ‘masticators’ & ‘brains’
  o = diversity of hominins
  o 3 genus at same time

Question 10

what trait is prominent in paranthropus

Answer 10

large molars

large masticatory muscles attached on sagittal crested mandible

Question 11

Summerise 5-2mya : eAST + south africa

Answer 11

bipedal= remodelling of lower limb

thicker enamel= diet shift to harder more fibrous

Question 12

Earlu homo - Why does face become smaller and flatter over evolutionary time?

Answer 12

1. Diet- main reason
   o Cooking allowed softer food
2. Increased brain size
3. Bipedalism

Question 13

Describe oldowan stone tools (

Answer 13

h. habilis

Define: simple flake tools struck from core

Question 14

H. habilis social discoveries

Answer 14

• Cut marks on bones > hunting
• Concentrations of bones and stones suggest central place foraging
  o Carrying meat back to a central camp
• Evidence of home bases
  o Also argued that they are butchering sites

Question 15

extinction of paranthropus happened at what time and at same time as

Answer 15

1.8- 0.5 mya: radiation of Homo ergaster & h. erectus

Question 16

describe acheulian tools

Answer 16

o 1.6 mya
o Clearly associated H ergaster
o Standard forms (bifaces) , teardrop w/ sharp point
♣ Hand axes, cleavers
o Persist for 1 mya- little change
o Stayed with ergaster in africa (didn’t take culture to asia)

Question 17

Descibr h. ergastur in africa

Answer 17

1. 8-0.5mya(?) – Acheulian tools
   - controlled fire
   - hunting of large mammals
   - Some disperse from Africa early to Eurasia and Asia

Question 18

Descibr h. erectus in asia

Answer 18

approx. 1.6 - 0.2 mya
- less complex tools than H. ergaster
- controlled fire
- dead end group but persists longer than H. ergaster

Question 19

what did homo ergastur probably give rise to

Answer 19

h/ heidelbergensis

Question 20

describe origin and movement of heidelberdnensis

Answer 20

• From erguster

- Left africa Moved to Europe and asia

Question 21

desire socials of heidelberg

Answer 21

Evidence for hunting: 
•	Wooden spears found 
•	Ca 400 000

'Beach Huts' 
•	Earliest documented shelter
•	350 000

Question 22

3 out of africa events

Answer 22

(caused by changes in climate)

1. Ergaster > became erectus in asia
2. Heidel >
3. Homo sapiens

Question 23

why did out of africa events require larger brains

Answer 23

• needed to be successful in new/changing environment)

Question 24

neanderthal lifestyle

Answer 24

• Hunted large game
• Buried dead -
• Lived in cave
• Possible cannibalism (bone marrow eaten + burning)
• Mousterian tool industry

Question 25

describe cro magnon

Answer 25

Early H. Sapiens (50-30kya) lifestyle
• Europe
• Decorative art, figurines, more complex tools (upper palaeolithic culture- antler, bone), raw material transport (trade), shelters, burials

Question 26

explain the obstetrical dilemma

Answer 26

humans= bowl shaped pelvis
- for bipedal. but restricts birth canal
> increase in brain size= problem of fitting through

Question 27

what are two broad categorises of adaptions to the obstetrical dilemma

Answer 27

1. maternal

2. neonate

Question 28

describe maternal adaptions to the obstetrical dilemma

Answer 28

increase neonate cranium> elective pressure on

1. dimorphism of pelvis (size of female opening)
2. softening of pubic symphyses at end of pregnancy

Question 29

describe neonate adaptions to the obstetrical dilemma

Answer 29

bones of cranium not fused
> able to slip + allow through
> space for rapid post natal brain development