Out of Africa Flashcards
Where else have Homo erectus fossils been found other than Africa?
Israel-Palestine from around 1.5 MYA
Georgia around 1.7 MYA
Java around 1.8 MYA
China around 0.75 MYA
Europe by around 0.5 MYA
What is one theory of Homo evolutionary origin?
Homo habilis evolved from somewhere close to Australopithecus africanus - possibly Australopithecus garhi
All subsequent Homo evolved from this EXCEPT Homo rudolfensis
Think Homo rudolfensis evolved from Kenyanthropus platyops - bit of an evolutionary blind alley
What were some features of Homo ergaster/erectus?
Similar to modern humans but more robust and heavily muscled
First molars eupted at 4.6 years old - shows they started to have extended childhoods so probably had years of parental care
Lifespan of around 52 years
Decrease in sexual dimorphism - this may reflect a change in social structure/dyanamics (possibly started to have more male-male co-operation)
Had a hole where spinal column ran but is smaller than modern humans so had less of a demand for nerve signal traffic and possibly less control over breathing - therefore probably no speech
Fully bipedal - no longer lived in trees
What are some brain capacities of early human species?
Australopithecines - 400 cc
Homo habilis - 650 cc
Homo erectus - 850 cc
Homo sapiens - 1350 cc
Shows trajectory of increasing brain size and intelligence
Why was Homo ergaster/erectus considered a new grade of hominin?
Shows first indication of extended childhood
Systematic tool making - these tools are different to Homo habilis used as now use Acheulian tools
First use of fire - important for warmth, cooking and protection from predators
First appearance of systematic hunting
First appearance of genuine home bases
First migration of hominis beyond Africa
Where do Acheulian tools appear and where don’t they? Why?
Africa from around 2 MYA
Middle East from around 1.5 MYA
Europe from around 0.9 MYA
Never make it to East Asia - known as the Movius line
Maybe no material to make these tools in East Asia?
Maybe they used bamboo for tools instead? Bamboo doesnt preserve well
Maybe they left Africa before Acheulian tool making started so never had any tools to take with them
How old do scientists think fire use is?
500,000 years old
Think it may be older but had to tell - fire does not preserve well
