The Later Hominins Flashcards
What the cc of H. Erectus?
Avg 895-1040
What the old H erectus specimen found?
1.78 mya
Who was the first hominin to leave Africa
H erectus
Describe some of the physical features of homo erectus
- More robust post cranial body morphology
- Sagittal keeling-distinctive pentagonal form
- occipital bun (bony protuberance at rear of skull)
- heavy brow ridge
What tool tradition did H. Erectus use?
May have continued oldowan but for sure used acheulian
Describe the acheulian tool tradition
Twice the size of oldowan cores and flakes have been removed from both sides instead of one. Disappears 200000 years ago
What’s the evidence of language for H erectus
- By 1.7 mya cc increased and brain remodelling, could have had linguistic skills of an 6 year old
- thoracic vertebrae of nariokotome adolescent
- neural canal (spinal cord) is smal, less control over rib muscles, need muscle for precise breathing during speech
When did homo Erectus start using fire?
As early as 1.4 mya but for sure 500000 ya in China
What’s the difference between man the hunter and man the hunted scenarios
Man the hunter is a scenario that ties the change into mhs too hunting where as man the hunter is based on humans being prey
When did the cc of homo erectus start to enlarge?
500000 to 200000 ya
When did archaic Homo sapiens live?
300000-40000 ya
Where was the fossil evidence of archaic Homo sapiens
Africa Europe Asia
Where are Neanderthal fossils found?
Western Europe southwest Asia and center all Asia
What are some distinct characteristics of Neanderthals
- receding forehead
- occipital bun
- projecting mid face
- no chin
- browridge
- more robust
Where did Homo sapiens and homo neadertalensis both probably arise from?
Probably homo erectus
What is the mousterian tradition?
- Fewer hand axes and more flake tools
- created tool for different tasks
Disprove the neandertal lifestyle?
- Practiced burials (often flexed position)
- made huts out of wood bone and skin
What are some ideas for the extinction of neaderatals
They co existed with H. Sapiens so they could have interbred with h sapiens, killed off by h sapiens, or competition for resources. Or evolved into h sapiens
What is the single origin hypothesis?
Homo erectus had a spurt of evolution in Africa and modern Homo sapiens migrate out of Africa
What is the multi regional hypothesis
Homo sapiens revolved in multiple regions from homo erectus. Species was linked through gene flow but regional morphological differences
What is cro-magnons?
Once earliest of modern humans 35000 ya
What are some distinct characteristics of amhs
- Domed cranium
- Reduced brow ridge
- relatively none projecting face
- presence of chin
- gracile body and tooth reduction
Describe the upper palaeolithic culture
- larger and more elaborate tool kit
- stone - but also other material
- ornamental artifacts
- elaborate shelters
- increased use of non local materials
What happened in the 20000 years of the upper palaeolithic
- Different traditions emerge and replace one another
- new focus on blades (flake which as twice as long as is wide
- at least 5 traditions
What is the solutrean tool tradition
- indirect percussion - using bone or horn
- pressure flaking (instead of percussion flaking) using bone wood or antler to reshape fine edges
- appearance of microliths
- halted tools
What is an atlatl?
-spear thrower
What is beringia?
Land bridge from Asia to North America
