The Human Past - Chapter 4

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Biostratigraphy

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Dating method using the spatial and temporal distribution of species to establish geochronological dates for the first and last appearance of species and for extinction events.

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Electron Spin Resonance (ESR)

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Dating method that measures trapped electrons in bone and shell, the number of such electrons indicating the age of the specimen.

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Uranium-Series

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Dating method measuring on the radioactive decay of isotopes of uranium.

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Thermoluminescence (TL)

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Dating method used particularly on ceramics and baked clay, which measures the intensity of light emitted by electrons trapped when the object was last heated.

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Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OTL)

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Dating method used particularly on mineral rich soils, which measures the intensity of light emitted by these electrons when the sample is stimulated to reease stored radiation.

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Homo sapiens

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400,000 years old to present, found throughout the world, but earliest in Africa and Southwest Asia. Brain size 900-2000cc. Upper Paleolithic technologies (Aurignacian) by 40,000 years ago.

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Homo ergaster

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1.8mya - 600,000 years old, found in Eastern and South Africa, possible into Europe. Brain size 600-900cc. Associated with Oldowan and early Acheulean industries.

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Homo erectus

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1mya - 500,000 years old, found throughout Asia. Brain size 810-1250cc. Associated with Oldowan and Acheulean industries. First major migration out of Africa.

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Homo heidelbergensis

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600,000 - 400,000 years old, found in Africa and Europe. Brain size 1225-1300cc. Associated with Acheulean. Possibly direct ancestor for both H.neanderthalensis and H.sapiens.

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Homo neanderthalensis

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400,000 - 30,000 years old, found in Europe and Southwest Asia. Brain size 1125-1550cc. Classic Neanderthals associated with Mousterian tool industries.

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Multi-regional Evolution Hypothesis

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Hypothesis which argues for coeval regional evolution of anatomically moden humans from several earlier lineages, but linked through genetic flow to maintain a single species.

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Single Origin Evolution Hypothesis

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Hypothesis which argues for a single evolutionary event resulting in anatomically modern humans who then migrated and replaced other human species in other regions. Also called the out of Africa model.

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Hybridisation and Replacement Model

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Hypothesis which argues for regional continuity as well as slow expansion from Africa of anatomically modern humans with varying degrees of genetic mixing in different regions.

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Assimilatio Hypothesis

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Hypothesis which argues for the genetic assimilation of earlier human populations into the gene pool of anatomically modern humans as they expanded out of Africa.

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Multiple Dispersals Out of Africa Model

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Hypothesis which argues for multiple dispersals out of Africa, rather than a single event, which resulted in variability within populations.

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Franz Weidenreich

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(1873-1948) Early supporter (1940's) of the multi-regional origins of modern humans evolving from H.erectus populations outside Africa and connected through genetic flow.

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Alan Thorne

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Major proponant who, with Milford Wolpoff, formalised the multi-regional evolution position based on his work at Lake Mungo, Australia.

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Milf Wolpoff

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Major proponant who, with Alan Thorne, formalised the multi-regional evolution position argueing the racial differences today have deep evolutionary roots.

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Louise Leakey

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(1903-1972) Early supporter (1960's) of an African origins for the evolution of modern Homo sapiens.

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W W Howells

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(1908- ) Early supported (1960's) of an Africann origins for the evolution of modern Homo sapiens.

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Chris Stringer

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Major proponant, with Peter Andrews, of the single origins and out of Africa model (1988) for the veolution of Homo sapiens.

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Peter Andrews

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Major proponant, with Chris Stringer, of the single origins and out of Africa model (1988) for the veolution of Homo sapiens.

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Gunter Braver

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Proposed the hybridisation and replacement model (1982) for the evolution of modern Homo sapiens.

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Fred Smith

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proposed the assimilation hypothesis (1989) for the evolution of modern Homo sapiens.

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Marta Mirazon Lahr

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with Robert Foley, proposed multiple dispersals (1994) to the out of Africa model for the evolution of modern Homo sapiens.

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Robert Foley

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with Marta Mirazon Lahr, proposed multiple dispersals (1994) to the out of Africa model for the evolution of modern Homo sapiens.

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Leslie Aiello

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Synthesied and differentiated the leading hypothesis of the evolution of modern Homo sapiens into four seperate approaches (1993)

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Richard Klein

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Suggests the Elandsfontein skull, the last common ancestor between H.sapiens and H.neanderthalensis. Argues evolution of modern humans only tied to behavoiural shift evident after 50,000 years ago.

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Philip Rightmare

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Argues for the early rise of Homo sapiens based on transitional fossils in East Africa as early as 400,000 years ago.

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T.F. Dreyer

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Discovered and named the new species Homo helmei, later catagorised as archaic Homo sapien, from skull fragments at Florisbad, South Africa.

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Karl Butzer

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Argues for a later date to early Homo sapiens transitional speciments such as Omo, suggesting dates between 200,000 and 100,000 years ago.

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Rebecca Cann

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First major study and application of mtDNA genetics (1987) to support an African origin for modern Homo sapiens.

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John Relethford

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Argues genetic evidence does not support one model of evolution over another, rather could be related to variable population dynamics.

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Henry Harpeding

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Argues early Homo sapiens populations fragmented into three groups, followed by a bottleneck genetic crisis, which resulted in three distinct H.sapiens populations migrating out of Africa around 60,000 years ago.

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Lewis Binford

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Argued evidence from Klasies River Mouth evident of scavenging, not hunting, in the Middle Stone Age. Part of the Mousterian debate, arguing that different tool types represent different tasks.

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William King

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Proposed the species name Homo neanderthalensis in 1864, to seperate the Neanderthal finds from modern Homo sapiens.

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Jean-Jacques Hublin

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Supports the distinction of Homo neanderthalensis at the species level arguing they underwent gradual evolutionary adaptations to harsh glacial/interglacial cyclings.

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Mary Stiner

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Suggests shift in subsistence practices and behaviour around 55,000 years ago from primarily opportunistic scavenging to planned hunting, based on faunal and lithic evidence.

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Sabine Gaudzinski

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Suggests a shift in Neanderthal subsistance pattern earlier than Stiner, about 150,000 years ago, based on predominance of single prey assemblages, suggesting strategic hunting.

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Steven Kuhn

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Suggests the shift in subsistance practices around 55,000 years ago coincides and is interlinked with a shift in lithic technology.

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Francois Bordes

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(1919-1981) Documented five main Mousterian types of lithic assemblages, suggesting that each type represented a different Mousterian/ Neanderthal group and became the fulcrum for the Mousterian debate.

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Paul Mellors

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Part of the Mousterian debate, he argues that the differences in Mousterian assemblages do not support Binford or Bordes, rather they represent temporal changes.

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Daniel Lieberman and John Shea

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Comparing modern human and neanderthal faunal assemblages where they overlap in Israel, they suggest each practiced a different seasonal strategy of exploitation and mobility.

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Joseph Greenberg

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Linguist who proposed (1986) with Turner and Zegura, a three-wave model of americal colonisation from Asia of Amerind, Na Dene and Eskimo - Aluet language groups.

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Christy Turner

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Physical anthropologist who proposed (1986), with Greenburg and Zegura, a three wave model of American colonisation from Asia of Amerind, Na Dene and Eskimo - Aluet language groups.

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Stephen Zegura

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Geneticist who peoposed (1986), with Greenberg and Turner, a three-wave model of Physical anthropologist who proposed (1986), with Greenburg and Zegura, a three wave model of American colonisation from Asia of Amerind, Na Dene and Eskimo - Aluet language groups.

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Ryk Ward

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Uses genetic evidence to place the first colonisation and occupation of the Americas to about 16,000 years ago.

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Thomas Dillehay

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Agues for an older colonisation of the Americas, at least 20,000 years ago, based on early sites like Monte Verte in South America,

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Encephalisation

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Enlargement of the brain.

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Homo rhodesiensis

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Trasitional fossil originally discovered at broken hill, Zambia, sharing characteristics of H.ergaster and H.sapiens dated to 700-000 - 400,000 years ago, but often considered archaic Homo sapiens.

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Homo helmei

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Original species name of the early Homo sapiens skulls found at Florisbad, South Africa in 1932 and similar finds in the area, dated to between 250,000 and 125,000 years ago.

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Homo sapiens idaltu

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Recent name applied to fossils from Herto, Ethiopia dated to 160,000 and 154,000 years ago and sharing traits with both H.sapiens and H.rhodesiensis.

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Stable isotope analyses

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Method to determine an organism's life-long diet based on the ratios of certain isotopes (carbon, nitrogen) in the bone. This analysis suggests Neanderthal diet consisted of 90% meat, probably sugesting a hunting subsistance pattern.