The Lower Paleolithic Flashcards
homo genus, tool making
who follows Australopithecus Africanus in the Hominini branch? Homo Habilis or Homo Erectus?
Homo Habilis
who follows Homo Habilis in the line of Hominins?
Homo Erectus
who was the first species assigned to the genus Homo?
Homo Habilis
what was Homo Habilis known for having?
a bigger brain and globular skull
who was the first species to show archaeological evidence of tool making?
Homo Habilis
where was Homo Habilis found in the world?
East & South Africa
what made Homo Habilis different from Austrlopithecines?
-Taller
-longer legs
-shorter arms (they didn’t need to use them to move through the trees)
-dexterous hands, large opposed thumb
-smaller dentition
-smaller facial features
-clear difference between male/female remains (sexual dimorphism)
what does sexual dimorphism mean?
there is a clear difference between male and female skeletal remains
what were the 2 tool industries found during the lower paleolithic?
Oldowan and Archeulean
who developed the Oldowan industry of tool making?
Homo Habilis
who developed the Archeulean industry of tool making?
Homo Erectus
Early stone age is defined as what (years)?
2.6mya to 300,000 years ago
300,000 years ago marked the beginning of what time period?
Middle Paleolithic
Oldowan tool industry was born when?
2.6mya
Archeulean tool industry was born when?
1.76mya
what did tool making tell archaeologists about hominin evolution?
-required complex thought/dexterity
-demonstrates hand eye coordination
-records ancient decision making
-may pre-date stone tools
what was the first site with stone tools?
Lomekwi 3 in Kenya (3.3mya)
what species of Hominin likely made the tools found at the Lomekwi 3 site?
Australopithecus Afarenisis
How did Oldowan tools get their name?
the Olduvai Gorge
why is the Olduvai Gorge significant?
it is the oldest site in the world with archaeological evidence of human ancestors
where is the Olduvai Gorge located?
Tanzania
what is significant about Oldowan tools?
hard hammer direct percussion flaking
what is the significance of the FLK 22 site in the Olduvai Gorge?
first evidence of modern human like hand bones; also found animal bones and stone fragments
Approximately how long ago were Oldowan tools first created?
2.6mya
define debitage
bits of rock/stone that are not useful after tool making
define cortex
the untouched surface of a stone tool (not chipped away at)
define flakes
slivers of stone that have been struck off a stone
what are flakes most ideal for?
slicing
slivers of stone that have been struck off a stone are called what?
flakes
what is a core?
pieces from which the flakes have been struck
what is a chopper?
a rounded stone with flakes struck off one edge
pieces from which the flakes have been struck from a rock are called what?
a core
a rounded stone with flakes struck off one edge is called what?
a chopper
define unifacial
a type of tool structure; taking bits off one side to create a sharp edge
define bifacial
a type of tool structure; two sides of a stone tool have been worked to create a cutting edge
what type of tool structure is best for smashing and butchering?
bifacial
what are the 2 types of scavenging?
passive & active
what is passive scavenging?
predator catches/kills prey, hominins get scraps, scavengers finish
what is active scavenging?
predator kills prey, hominins chase off predator, hominins transport carcass and scavengers finish
define hunting
hominins capture/kill prey, remove meat, transport carcass, scavengers finish
what is the most dangerous method of finding food?
hunting
what was the origin of homo erectus?
the ice age
the ice age occurred in what time period?
Early Pleistocene
the Early Pleistocene is also known as what?
the Ice Age