Human Biology - Evolution

Front 1

Name the evolution of humans from earliest to mose recent:

Back 1

Australopithecus, Homo habilis, Homo erectus, Homo neanderthalensis, Homo sapiens (modern human)

Front 2

Give some features of the Australopithecus:

Back 2

Fossils found in Africa only.
Small brain (low cranial capacity).
Bipedalism.
Foramen magnum positioned more forward than in apes.
Ape-like above waist, human-like below waist.

Front 3

Give some features of Homo habilis:

Back 3

Brain size was slightly larger than Australopithecus.
Oldowan Tradition.
Had opposable thumbs that allowed power and precision grips.

Front 4

What is the Oldowan Tradition?

Back 4

Rock was hit against another which resulted in a sharp-edged flake.
Allowed them to cut foods.
Gained proteins from meat but still ate fruits and plants.

Front 5

Explain the features of the Homo erectus?

Back 5

Travelled from Africa to Asia and Europe.
Physical appearance.
Large cranial capacity.
Thick bones and strong muscles for powerful movement.
Acheulian Tradition.

Front 6

Explain the culture of the Homo erectus?

Back 6

Home base for social interaction
Control of fire
Prolonged childhood → prolonged learning → developed simple language

Front 7

Describe the Acheulian Tradition:

Back 7

New method used to make hand-axes
Allowed the production of a variety of larger tools

Front 8

Tell me something about Homo neanderthalensis:

Back 8

Not ancestors of modern humans.
Became extinct due to competition with modern human.

Front 9

Describe the Physical appearance of the Homo neanderthalensis:

Back 9

Brain was larger than modern human because of muscle attachments.
Stronger muscles and larger-boned skeleton than modern human.
Short stature and compact body conserved heat during ice age.

Front 10

What is the Mousterian Tradition?

Back 10

Flakes were broken off from a stone core.
Followed by refinement.
Edges were sharpened by pressure-flaking (can be re-sharpened over time → tools last longer).
Other tools made: scrapers (remove waste from animal hides), notched flakes, pointed tools (spears).

Front 11

Describe the culture of the Homo neanderthalensis:

Back 11

Build shelters (with wood, animal skin, mammoth bones).
Had a religion (graves).
Body paintings.
Fire allowed to cook frozen meat, warm homes during ice age.

Front 12

Describe the physical appearance of the Homo sapiens.

Back 12

Globe-shaped braincase.
Flat face below the front of the braincase.
Small brow-ridges.
Lighter bones and less muscle bulk.

Front 13

Explain the Cro-Magnon tradition.

Back 13

Method used to make blade flake tools
This was done by indirect percussion and pressure flaking
Tools were used to make other tools

Front 14

Describe the Homo sapien culture?

Back 14

Women remained at home with children.
Cave paintings, made sculptures, decorated tools.
Had a religion.
Made cloth.

Front 15

What is used as Evidence of diet?

Back 15

Apes ate hard food, which was tough and fibrous
Thick enamel
Microwear (large numbers of small microscopic scratches)
Large jaws and bony crests on skull (strong jaws with powerful muscles)
Canine teeth
NOT evidence for diet
Smaller teeth allowed side-to-side movements of the jaw required for chewing
But large canine teeth showed aggression

Front 16

Briefly describe the Ramapithecus?

Back 16

Small canines (movement required for chewing)
V-shaped jaw
Large teeth and thick enamels

Front 17

Describe the New conclusion of the Ramapithecus?

Back 17

Small canines must have been from a female.
Jaw was reconstructed by using bones from different specimens.
Thick enamel is related to diet and not evidence for common ancestors.

NOT RELATED.