Module 2 - Lecture 1: African Origins and Lithic Technologies

Question 1

how long ago did the human line split from other primates?

Answer 1

between 6-8 million years ago

Question 2

what are the differences between hominoids, hominids, and hominins?

Answer 2

hominoid: great apes and lesser apes, humans
hominid: great apes, humans
hominin: humans and the closest ancestors

Question 3

what is significant about the Pliocene epoch?

Answer 3

earliest evidence of stone tools making / use (Australopithecines)

Question 4

what are the three ways of identifying early hominins?

Answer 4

1. increase brain size
2. bipedality
3. stone tool use/making

Question 5

what are the two ways to identify bipeds?

Answer 5

• skull size and shape (foramen magnum)
• postcranial evidence (arched foot, long femur, angled femur, stacked pelvis)

Question 6

Ardipithecus
-> what epoch?
-> what environment?
-> any defining features?

Answer 6

-> Pliocene (specifically 5.8-4.4 mya)
-> East Africa (woodlands)
-> bipedal based on hip features
-> arboreal (grasping toe, long arms/legs)

Question 7

Australopithecus
-> what epoch?
-> what environment?
-> any defining features?

Answer 7

-> Pliocene (specifically 4.2-3.9 mya)
-> East Africa
-> bipedal (short legs)
-> possible users of stone tools
-> arboreal lifestyle
-> probable ancestor of homo genus

Question 8

who was Lucy? what was her significance?

Answer 8

Lucy was Australopithecus Afarensis
-> one of the most complete hominin skeletons on record

Question 9

what is the significance of the Laetoli site?

Answer 9

-> fossilized footprints of humans and mammoths (3.6 million years old)
-> volcanic ash covered the site, and a chemical reaction hardened the tracks

Question 10

what is the first major human trait?

Answer 10

bipedalism

Question 11

what is the savanna-based theory of why bipedalism rose?

Answer 11

-> the dryer environment led to open landscapes
-> it was more efficient and easier to travel on two legs
-> you could watch over tall grasses to hunt prey easier

Question 12

what is the postural feeding theory of why bipedalism rose?

Answer 12

-> it was easier to obtain food from higher up

Question 13

what is the thermoregulation theory of why bipedalism rose?

Answer 13

-> there is less surface area that is exposed to the sun
-> less heat exposure

Question 14

what is the threat model theory of why bipedalism rose?

Answer 14

-> it was a defense strategy
-> make yourself bigger to seem more threatening to prey and other predators

Question 15

what is the provisioning model of why bipedalism rose?

Answer 15

-> it was more efficient to carry with both hands
-> food transport
-> tool use