Human Evolution - Cultural

Question 1

Define cultural evolution

Answer 1

The passing on of skills and knowledge from one generation to the next

Question 2

Name the tool culture associated with Homo habilis

Answer 2

Oldowan

Question 3

Name a tool from the Oldowan tool culture

Answer 3

Choppers

Question 4

Describe how a chopper is made

Answer 4

Rock struck against another rock and a few flakes have come off it

Question 5

What was a chopper used for?

Answer 5

Scrapping meat off bones

Breaking bones open for marrow

Question 6

Name the tool culture associated with Homo erectus

Answer 6

Acheulian

Question 7

Name an Acheulian tool

Answer 7

Hand axe

Question 8

Describe what hand axes were used for

Answer 8

Scrapping meat off bones
Digging
Breaking bones etc

Question 9

In what ways were Acheulian tools more advanced than Oldowan tools?

Answer 9

Degree of workmanship - more flakes taken off than in a chopper
Longer cutting edge

Question 10

Name the tool culture associated with Homo neanderthalensis

Answer 10

Mousterian

Question 11

In what ways were the Mousterian hand axes more advanced than the Acheulian hand axes?

Answer 11

Degree of workmanship - significantly more flakes taken off which produced a longer and sharper cutting edge
They used flint which is a material that flakes off in a predictable way

Question 12

Name the tool culture associated with Homo sapiens

Answer 12

Upper Paleolithic

Question 13

In what ways were Upper Paleolithic tools more advanced than other tool cultures?

Answer 13

Specialised tools for certain jobs
Degree of workmanship is greater
Use of bone, antler and wood - not just stone
Composite tools - using a combination of materials in one tool

Question 14

This increasing tool technology is a reflection of what biological changes

Answer 14

Brain changes - development of the frontal lobe which involves problem-solving helped develop tools to meet specific jobs. Other brain changes in the cerebellum helped evolve better fine motor skills to get more precision in the tools
Changes in the hand - with the thumb becoming more opposable allowed greater fin motor skills

Question 15

What cultural evolution development can be associated with Homo erectus?

Answer 15

Use of fire

Question 16

Describe ways the use of fire supported the migration of Homo erectus out of Africa (they were the first to leave)

Answer 16

Provided warmth - could travel into colder Europe and not die of the cold
Allowed them to exploit a greater range of foods that new habitats might provide
Provided a focus for groups at night which improved communication and more coordinated hunting
Provided light at night so they could travel longer distances in a day
Kept away predators that they might encounter in new environments

Question 17

In what hominin did we first see the development of the Broca’s region in the brain (endocranial)?

Answer 17

Homo habilis

Question 18

What is the Broca’s region for?

Answer 18

Making sounds/speech

Question 19

In what hominin did we first see the development of the Wernicke’s region in the brain (endocranial)?

Answer 19

Homo erectus

Question 20

What is the Wernicke’s region associated with?

Answer 20

The comprehension of sounds/language

Question 21

In what ways has the biological evolution of communication affected cultural evolution?

Answer 21

Greater communication has allowed skills and knowledge to be passed on more effectively to future generations
Helps coordinate hunting making it more successful. This increase in meat fuels bigger brains which can lead to developments in tool culture

Question 22

What hominin was the first to use art?

Answer 22

Homo sapiens

Question 23

What evolutionary advantage does art provide?

Answer 23

A way of communicating to help coordinate hunting, pass on knowledge of resources in the area etc

Question 24

What hominin was the first to use spirituality?

Answer 24

Homo neanderthalensis

Question 25

How did the know the Neanderthals became spiritually aware?

Answer 25

There was a system of burial - bodies were arranged in the same direction and were decorated with flowers and tools to support them in the after life

Question 26

What hominin was the first to use agriculture?

Answer 26

Homo sapiens

Question 27

In what ways was a change from hunter gather to agriculture aiding human evolution?

Answer 27

More reliable food source and less energy expenditure to get it
Division of labour allowed other people to develop tools
Living in the one place helped with the transfer of skills and knowledge

Question 28

In what ways was a change from hunter gather to agriculture problematic?

Answer 28

Reliance on one food dangerous if crop failed

Greater transmission of disease

Question 29

What tools do we associate with agriculture?

Answer 29

Neolithic (new stone age)

- stone and quern (ball and flat rock to grind up grain)