Module 2 - Lecture 3: The Rise of Modern Humans

Question 1

Neanderthals
-> what time period?
-> what environment?
-> any defining features?

Answer 1

-> middle paleolithic
-> Europe
-> short, stocky, powerful
-> robust, adapted to cold climates
-> 1500cc brains
-> Mousterian Artifacts

Question 2

what is the Levallois technique?

Answer 2

detaching large flakes from a single stone core

Question 3

who did Neanderthals interbreed with?

Answer 3

Denisovans and H. sapiens

Question 4

what modern behaviours did Neanderthals present?

Answer 4

-> behavioural flexibility
-> social complexity
-> healthcare
-> burials (symbolic)

Question 5

Denisovans
-> what time period?
-> what environment?
-> any defining features?

Answer 5

-> middle paleolithic
-> Siberia, China, Laos
-> only identified by ancient DNA and a few bones
-> interbred with neanderthals and H. sapiens

Question 6

UPPER PALEOLITHIC
-> when did this take place?
-> why is it significant?

Answer 6

35 - 10 kya
-> dominance of homo sapiens and the extinction of other hominins
-> upper paleolithic revolution

Question 7

what new behaviours were part of the upper paleolithic revolution?

Answer 7

1. blade technology (long narrow flakes)
   –> indirect percussion: hitting an intermediate stone
2. bone technology (needles, harpoons)
3. cave art/portable art
4. intentional burials (buried with ivory pendants / mammoth bones