Topic 4 - Dating Stone Tools And Anatomical Evidance For Evolution Flashcards
What is the significance of stone tools in human evolution?
Stone tools provide evidence for human evolution by showing how tool complexity has increased with brain complexity.
What type of tools did Homo habilis use?
Basic pebble tools known as ‘Oldowan tools’ created by smashing rocks together.
How old are the tools used by Homo habilis?
1.5 million years ago.
What advanced tools did Homo neanderthalensis and modern Homo sapiens use?
Pointed arrowheads, spears, and hooks.
How old are the tools used by Homo neanderthalensis?
40,000 years ago.
What is the first method used for dating stone tools?
Radiometric carbon dating.
What does radiometric carbon dating measure?
The natural radioactive decay of an isotope of Carbon (Carbon-14).
What is the second method used for dating stone tools?
Stratifying rock layers.
What does stratifying rock layers involve?
Examining the layer of sediment in which a rock was found to date once-living fossils.
What is a pentadactyl limb?
A limb with five digits.
Which organisms exhibit a pentadactyl limb?
Humans, bats, cats, horses, and birds.
What does the presence of pentadactyl limbs imply about evolution?
It implies a common ancestor from which these organisms branched off.
True or False: Humans evolved directly from bats, cats, or horses.
False.
Fill in the blank: The human hand has _____ digits.
five
What role do selection pressures play in evolution?
They influence how different species adapt to their environments.
