Anthropology Exam Final

Front 1

* Anatomical changes required for evolution of bipedalism

Back 1

Skull – movement of foramen magnum from back of skull to underneath skull

Spine - shift from c-shaped spine to s-shaped spine

Pelvis – shift towards flared pelvis to support butt muscles

Leg – shift from straight to angled femur

Foot – shorter toes and arch structure to accommodate upright walking

Front 2

* What is the difference between gracile and robust Australopithecines?

Back 2

Gracile:

A. afarensis, A. africanus

Smaller teeth and jaw

Smaller bodies

Ancestors of Homo genus

Robust:

A. robustus, A. aethiopicus

Large jaws and teeth

Sagittal crests on skull

Not ancestors of Homo genus

Front 3

* What are the Laetoli footprints and why are they important?

Back 3

Anthropological site in Africa (Tanzania) called “Laetoli”

Fossilized remains of footprints left in volcanic ash

3.6 million years old

Show clear evidence of bipedal walking

Likely made by A. afarensis

Front 4

* Climatic conditions that led to the emergence of the Homo genus

Back 4

Dramatic climatic and glacial cycles, recurrent climate fluctuation began ~3 MYA, around the time the genus Homo was emerging

This climate instability was likely an important evolutionary force, selecting for increased intelligence and adaptability in human ancestors

Front 5

* Distinguishing characteristics of Acheulean tools

Back 5

Tool tradition developed by Homo erectus

Spans 1.5 MYA to 250,000 YA

Bifacial tools (worked on two sides)

Hand axes and cleavers

Advantage of having long edge that maintained sharpness for a long time

Tools are highly uniform across large expanses of time and space

Front 6

* Neandertal behavioral characteristics and geographic range

Back 6

Use Acheulean and Mousterian stone tools, as well as some more advanced tools

Also used tools made of wood, bone, and antler

Used fire, wore unsewn clothes, maybe made temporary shelters

Hunted and cooked big game, relied on meat

Evidence of burials in caves (unclear whether ritual or disposal)

Some personal adornment, and other evidence of possible symbolism

Most fossils from Europe

Front 7

* Key anatomical features of early Homo (Homo habilis)

Back 7

Larger brain than Australopithecines

Great variation in brain size within species

May have been two species?

Definitely bipedal (evidence from foot – toes in line), but may have also climbed trees

Long legs and arms

Hand and finger bones show mosaic of human and ape-like traits

More human-like brain morphology (endocasts)

Front 8

* Key anatomical characteristics of Homo erectus

Back 8

Thick, robust skull with regional thickening in some places

Skull more long than wide

Brain size larger than Homo habilis

Brain structure shows similarities to modern humans

Robust powerful jaw

Shovel-shaped incisors

Robust body build with thick arm and leg bones

Front 9

Behavioral Traits of
Homo erectus

Back 9

Used both Oldowan and Acheulean Tools

Ate some plant material, but relied heavily on meat and marrow (more so than earlier ancestors)

Needed higher energy foods to increase brain size

Cooking also key behavior that helped meet increased energy demands of larger brain

Use of fire

Front 10

* Geographic range of Homo erectus

Back 10

Evolved first in Africa

Then spread to Europe, Asia, Near/Middle East, and Pacific/Indonesia – extensive range

Front 11

* Key anatomical characteristics of anatomically modern Homo sapiens (AMH)

Back 11

Large skull

Bulbous, gracile skull without muscle ridges

Rounded back of skull (occipital)

Large mastoid process

Small face, jaw and teeth

Chin

Front 12

behavioral characteristics of anatomically modern Homo sapiens (AMH)

Back 12

Used wide range of diverse tools

Used novel materials to make tools

Rapid technological development

Widespread art, ornamentation, and symbolism

Diverse diet, including fish and shellfish

Ritual burials

Art

Front 13

* Replacement Model of human evolution (Out of Africa model)

Back 13

Also called “Out of Africa” model

Modern humans evolve first in Africa and then move out to other continents

This constituted a second major dispersal event (the first was when Homo erectus left Africa)

Modern humans did not interbreed with archaic humans and Neandertals, but rather replaced them

Front 14

* Multiregional Model of human evolution

Back 14

After the initial movement of Homo erectus out of Africa, gene flow keeps populations connected as they evolve into modern humans everywhere

Assumes extensive interbreeding among populations in order to keep enough gene flow to allow large scale evolution and speciation

Front 15

* Brain size trends throughout human evolution

Back 15

Dramatic brain size increases come later in human evolution (bipedality first)

Early hominins and Australopithecines had relatively small brains (and only modest increases in size over long periods of evolution)

First big jump with emergence of Homo genus, and especially Homo erectus

Big increases in brain size with archaic humans and Neandertals

Absolute brain size of Neandertals larger than AMH