Lecture 9: Genus Homo

Question 1

timeline (mya)

Answer 1

insert image

Question 2

Lower Paleolithic (erectus)

Answer 2

•Acheulian tools

Question 3

Middle Paleolithic(

Answer 3

•Mousterian tools

Question 4

Upper Paleolithic (neanderthals)

Answer 4

•Blade tools

Question 5

Homo erectus

Answer 5

• leave Africa first

* followed by homo sapiens

Question 6

Homo Habilis

Answer 6

• coexisted w A. boisei for a million years (2.4 - 1.7 mya)
• relatively large brain
• long arges, small body (similar to a chimp)
• used Oldowan tools

Question 7

homo erectus

Answer 7

• 100,000 years after habilis
• lived 1.9mya to 400,000 BP
•modern body and limbs
•bigger brain 900-1250cc
• brow ridge from working with front teeth
example of punctuated equilibrium
• larger brains and better tools (Acheulian)
• inclusive fitness and group selection
• shift from Darwinian to (spiritual) Lamarckian selection
• culture

Question 8

punctuated equilibrium

Answer 8

• rapid change after period of relative

Question 9

evolutionary trends (erectus)

Answer 9

• growing brains were accompanied by related anatomical changes
• growing brains>birth canals>bipedalism

Question 10

immature birth

Answer 10

• skulls of newborns are not fully formed
• elastic
• continue to grow outside the womb

extended infant dependency

Question 11

Terra Amata

Answer 11

•FIRE

Question 12

h. neandertalensis

Answer 12

• adapted to cold enviornments
• large torso with shorter limbs
• face pulled forward and broad long nose for added insulation for the brain
• more cranial capacity than modern humans
• used Mousterian tools
• wore fur hides
• diet was all meat

Question 13

h. floresiensis

Answer 13

• 95,000 - 12,000 BP
• found on an island near Indonesia
• hobbit-like, human features
• very small brain

Question 14

Hunting and Diet and Fire

Answer 14

• Ability to make and control fire enabled humans to cook veggies, meat, feed young and old members soft foods, eliminated parasites
• Increased reliance on hunting created a less robust cranial morphology and dentition

Question 15

Anatomically Modern Humans

Answer 15

Homo erectus split into two groups: ancestral Neanderthals and Anatomically Modern Humans (AMH) early ones are known as Cro-Magnon

Question 16

Behavioral Modernity

Answer 16

• symbolic thought, elaboration cultural creativity
• explosion of creativity
• more developed/mentally and with the natural habitat
• EX: Lascaux cave paintings. Cauva de Las Manos, Argentina cave paintings of hands using red ochre (9,000-12,000 yrs ago)

Question 17

hominin tool traditions

Answer 17

1. Oldowan associated w Australopithecines
2. Acheulian associated w Homo erectus
3. Mousterian associated w Homo neaderthals
4. Upper Paleolithic (blade-like tools) associated w Homo sapien sapiens

Question 18

Bipedalism and Brain Size

Answer 18

Too big of birth canals impede with bipedalism

Narrow birth canals = smaller heads but brains continue to grow outside of the womb

Question 19

Darwinian to Lamarckian Selection

Answer 19

group selection becomes major factors in species success and inclusiveness

Question 20

Neandertal DNA

Answer 20

when compared to modern human DNA, is different at 27 locations. The same section of modern human DNA, gathered from populations around the world, has only 5-8 differences. This suggests that the neanderthal ancestors split from Homo sapiens about 300,000 years ago (last common ancestor)

Question 21

cave of forgotten dreams

Answer 21

in Chauvet Cave, France. Up to 32,000 yrs old. Shows complexity and modern thought.