Human Evolution - Hominid Studies, Sequence, Out of Africa Hypothesis, Evolution in present times Flashcards
Define hominids:
The term that refers to the Great Apes as well as humans and their fossil ancestors.
Define Homo sapiens
The genus and species to which modern human beings belong.
Define bipedalism:
An upright posture and locomotion on two feet.
Define knuckle walking:
The specific four-footed manner of walking illustrated by gorillas and chimpanzees.
Define prognathism:
The phenomenon in apes of large, prominent jaws (snout / muzzle) with no chin.
Define chromosomal DNA:
DNA that occurs in the nucleus of all cells and contains all the genetic information of an organism.
Define tool culture:
The way in which tools found in a particular region are made and used.
Explain Oldowan tool culture:
The tool culture that is named after an area in Tanzania where the oldest tools were first found.
Explain Acheulian tool culture:
The tool culture that is named after an area in France where more advanced tools were found.
What is Mousterian tool culture?
The most advanced tool culture composed of more refined tools and tool kits.
List the three main hominid genera:
-Ardipithecus
-Australopithecus
-Homo
“Who” / what is Taung Child?”
The name given to a fossil skull of Australopithecus africanus which was found by Prof. Raymond Dart near Kimberley
“Who”/ what is Mrs Ples?
Name given to a complete adult skull of Australopithecus africanus discovered by Dr Robert Broom in 1947 in the Sterkfontein Caves.
Who / what is Lucy?
The name given to a female fossil skeleton of Australopithecus afarensis found at Hadar in the Afar valley in Ethiopia by Donald Johanson in 1974.
Who / what was Little foot?
Name given to the ankle and foot bones of an Australopithecus fossil discovered by Dr Ron Clarke in 1994 in the Sterkfontein Caves.