Module 13

Question 1

Premodern Humans (Homo heidel bergensis) Expansion & hunting in the middle pleistocene (780 - 100 thousand years ago)

Answer 1

1. Very large brow ridges
2. Low forehead
3. More rounded brain case max. Width above ear holes (H. erectus below).
4. Increased brain size above 1100 cc.
5. Slight prognathism but less than H. erectus.
6. Large robust face with thick cranial bones.

Question 2

Glaciation in the Middle Pleistocene (an interglacial period).

Answer 2

A time known now as the ice age.

Question 3

interglacial period

Answer 3

glacial retreat and climactic impact. (more rain and environmental shift).

Question 4

Homo heidelbergensis First Site

Answer 4

Heidelberg

Question 5

Earliest site of heidelbergensis

Answer 5

Bodo d’Ar

Question 6

H. heidelbergesnsis (younger in time-variant, 130 thousand years ago, Broken Hill Zimbabwe).

Answer 6

1. Still large brow ridges but less than previous
2. Even more rounded braincase.
3. rounded occipital bone
4. Still somewhat noticeable nuchal torus (a protrusion from the back and bottom of your cranium that we don’t currently have).
5. flat vertical face.

Question 7

H. Heidelbergensis (300 thousand years ago, Atapuerca, Spain.)

Answer 7

1. Thick cranial bones.
2. Rounded occipital
3. Very diminished nuchal torus
4. Some prognathism.
5. Reduced tooth size overall
6. Brain size over 1100 cc
7. Large brow ridges.
8. Expansion of the parietals (sides of the Braincase).

Question 8

H. Heidelbergensis (230 thousand years ago, Dali, China).

Answer 8

1. Brain size: 1120 cc
2. Flattened nasal bones (unexpected since even we don’t have fully flat nasal bones).
3. saggital ridge (thickening at top of skull).

Question 9

H. Heidelbergensis (200 thousand years ago, Jinniushan, China).

Answer 9

1. Brain size: 1260 cc
2. Walls of the braincase are thin like H. Sapiens
3. Saggital ridge thickening at the top of the skull.

Question 10

Smaller Acheulean retouched flake tools in Germany & Hungary, but no handaxes.

Answer 10

Possible reasons for tool differences:

1. The tool industries were produced by different peoples (different cultures, maybe even biologically different from hominids).
2. The tool industries represent different types of activities carried out at separate locales.
3. The presence or absence of hand axes represents the availability or unavailability of appropriate stone resources needed to make the handaxe.

Question 11

Smaller Acheulean retouched flake tools in Germany & Hungary, but no handaxes.

Answer 11

Possible reasons for tool differences:

1. The tool industries were produced by different peoples (different cultures, maybe even biologically different from hominids).
2. The tool industries represent different types of activities carried out at separate locales.
3. The presence or absence of hand axes represents the availability or unavailability of appropriate stone resources needed to make the handaxe.

Question 12

Open Air Sites vs. Cave Sites

Answer 12

open-air sites are used far more often than cave sites now, However back in the day of H. heidelbergensis, cave sites were much more common.

Question 13

Fire

Answer 13

We now have evidence of controlled use of fire being utilized at this point.

Question 14

Schonigen, Germany (400-380 thousand years ago).

Answer 14

Here there were found 3 well-preserved sharpened finely made 6-foot long wooden spears.