The emergence of Modern Humans Flashcards
The hobbits of Flores Island: theory
The Hobbits were Homo floresiensis
- evolved from ancestral Homo and underwent insular dwarfism?
- evolved from an unknown small-bodied Hominin that arrived on the island much earlier?
Anatomy of the Hobbits of Flores Island
- cranial capacity 380-410 cc
- 1 m tall
- body proportions and wrist like Australopithecus
- shape of brain, facial morphology & dental characteristics like Homo
Stats of: Homo floresiensis
Brain: 380 cubic cm
Skull: similar to H.erectus, though with slightly brow ridge
Skeleton: similar to H.erectus, but smaller, bipedal stance
Lived: Remains date to 18,000 years ago, possibly existed 800,000 yrs ago
Stats of: Homo erectus
Brain: 900cc (archaic) to 1100cc (later)
Skull: flat, thick, large brow ridge
Skeleton: Robust, suggesting heavy musculature
Lived: c 1.9m years ago to c 25,000 years ago
Stats of: Homo sapien
Brain: 1200cc (archaic) to 1350cc (modern)
Skull: short, high, small, no brow ridges
Skeleton: More slender, slighter build
Lived: c 150,000 years ago to present
Skull structure: “Modern Humans”
- high, vertical forehead
- round, tall skull
- small browridges
- small face
- projecting chin
- more gracile, narrower bones
Skull structure: Archaic Homo sapiens
- longer, lower skull
- larger browridges
- bigger and more projecting face
- wider nasal aperture
- more projecting occipital bone
- larger teeth
- no chin
- thicker post-cranial bones
Modern Human Origins
- archaic forms of Homo sapiens emerge about 350,000 years ago
- modern form of Homo sapiens appear in Africa by about 195,000 years ago
- completed globally by about 25,000 years ago
Single-Origin/Replacement/Out of Africa theory
- occurred 100,000 - 200,000 years ago
- spread from Africa into Asia and Europe
- Archaic Homo species became extinct and were replaced by modern humans
Multi-regional theory
- Homo Erectus populations all over gradually evolved into modern humans
- not an event restricted to a single region
- contact between groups through migration and intermarriage
- Archaic Homo species represent transitional phases
What do the fossils tell us?
Early archaic Homo sapiens compared to Homo erectus:
- similarly large browridges
- reduced skeletal robusticity
- smaller teeth
- larger brain
- increasing cultural complexity
Archaic H. sapiens in Africa
- 350,000 - 200,000 BP (before present)
- Kabwe lead mine, Zambia
- cranial capacity 1,300 cc
- big face
- large browridges
- thick cranial bones
Archaic H.sapiens in Asia
- 350,000 - 130,000 Bp
- Ngandong site, Java, Indonesia
- cranial capacity 1,100 cc
- long, low skull
- large browridges
Archaic H. sapiens in Europe
- 500,000 -130,000 BP
- Sima de los Huesos cave site, Atapuerca, Spain
- cranial capacity 1,125 cc
- large browridges
- pronounced facial projection
- wide nasal aperture
- rounder, more gracile skull
Early Archaic H. sapiens’ Dietary Adaptations
- more diverse tools
- back teeth became smaller, tools became more important for processing food? Teeth used in different ways?
- front teeth became larger. More wear & tear on front teeth. Used as a tool?
