worldwide distribution of hominin fossils

Question 1

african hominin fossil sites

Answer 1

• east Africa : Great Rift Valley

- South Africa : Cradle Of Humankind

Question 2

Great Rift Valley

Answer 2

• kenya
• tazmania
• 2000 km
• 65 mya
• sediment landed in rivers trapping hominins / remains
• formed sedimentary rock

Question 3

cradle of humankind

Answer 3

• limestone caves

- breccia : rock type formed from mineralised sediment fallen into caves

Question 4

some important fossil and archaeological finds in the cradle of humankind

Answer 4

• mrs ples
• little foot (almost complete)
• oldest stone tools (oldowan culture)
• australopithecus sediba

Question 5

why are the cradle of humankind fossils so important?

Answer 5

• early ancestor of homo sapiens existed (3-2mya)
• hominin speciation
• two closely related hominin species co-existed
• hominin genus became extinct (robust paranthropus)
• brain evolved

Question 6

how can bipedalism, fire making, tool making, language and culture be seen as interdependent?

Answer 6

• climate change
• better movement
• fire and tool making : better protein
• fire making : integrated living groups, communication
• brain capacity increase : cultures