Week 4 Part 2 Flashcards
When was homo heidelbergensis around? A range of 500kyr
700-200kyr
Where can Homo heidelbergensis be found?
- Africa, Europe
- possibly China
How were the features of Homo heidelbergensis similar to H. Erectus? 3 points
- Much less prognathic face
- Larger brain
- Short and wide bodies
- > heat conservation adaptation
Why were they Odysseus-like, H. Heidelbergensis? 3 points
- Controled use of fire
- Use of wooden spears (Schoningen, Germany)
- Routine hunting of large animals
- Built shelters (Terra Amata)
- Stone technology: late Acheulean
How can we summarise the behavioural changes from 6-2 mya? 3 points
- Greater bipedalism
- Manufacting of stone tools
How can we summarise the anatomical, dietary, and migratory changes from 2mya - 800kyr?
- Brain and body size increase
- More omnivorous diet
- Hominins spread out of Africa
- > Adaptations to environmental conditions
What happens from 800-200 kyr? Anatomical 1 point
- Brains grow rapidly
Pros and cons of big brains
Pros:
- Store, collect, and process information better
- Solve problems
- Create abstract ideas
Cons:
- Not energy efficient: modern brain is 2% of body weight but uses 20% of oxygen supply
- More difficult childbirth
- Longer juvenile dependency
How did limb, body shape and gut size change over time? By 6 mya, 1.9 mya, 400kyr?
By 6 mya?:
- Short bodies
- long guts
- long arms, short legs
By 1.9 mya?:
- Tall narrow bodies
- > due to hot climates
By 400 kyr?:
- Short, wide bodies
- > colder climate adaptation
What are Bergmann and Allen’s rule?
Bergmann:
- Bigger body size in cold climates, vice versa
Allen:
- Body becomes more linear in warm climates
- Body becomes more compact and rounded in cold climates
Summarise the dietary changes 6mya, 1.9mya,
- 6mya: plant-based
- 1.9mya: More omnivorous
