ANTH112 MT2 Lecture Notes OverView

Homo naledi

Hominin species lived 236,000-335,000 years ago.

Rising Star Cave System

Location in South Africa where Homo naledi fossils found.

Dinaledi Cave

Site suggesting possible deliberate body disposal.

Homo erectus

Migrated to Western Europe by 1.2 million years ago.

Homo antecessor

Found in Spain, lived 1.2 million-800,000 years ago.

Sima del Elefante

Oldest hominin fossils in Western Europe, 1.2 million years.

Gran Dolina

Site with Homo antecessor fossils and cannibalism evidence.

Homo heidelbergensis

Lived 600,000-400,000 years ago, ancestor of Neandertals.

Cranial capacity

Homo heidelbergensis had 1,100-1,400 cc brain size.

Sima de los Huesos

Site with 6,500 fossils, likely early Neandertals.

Schöningen

Location with preserved wooden spears and butchered remains.

Boxgrove

Site with spear-hunted animals and handaxes.

Neandertals

Lived across Europe and Siberia, roots over 300,000 years ago.

Classic Neandertals

Existed 130,000 - 30,000 years ago.

La Chapelle-aux-Saints

Misinterpreted Neandertal skeleton depicted as brutish.

Neandertal brain size

Large brains (~1,480 cc), similar to modern humans.

Musculoskeletal hypertrophy

Strong muscles and bones for enhanced strength.

Intentional burials

Evidence of culture and care in Neandertals.

La Ferrassie

Site of intentional burial of multiple individuals.

Shanidar Cave

Evidence of care for injured Neandertal individuals.

Kebara Cave

Well-preserved skeleton with hyoid bone for speech.

FOXP2 gene

DNA analysis indicates Neandertals had speech ability.

Mousterian Tool Tradition

Advanced tool-making tradition used by Neandertals.

Levallois technique

Advanced stone-flaking method used in Mousterian tools.

Core Idea of Neandertals

Intelligent, culturally advanced, capable of speech and care.

Homo naledi traits

Small brain, shared traits with australopithecines and early Homo.

Cannibalism evidence

Found in Gran Dolina, indicating complex behaviors.

Neandertal physical characteristics

Long skulls, large brow ridges, stocky build.

Neandertal burial practices

Suggests cultural complexity and social structures.

Mousterian tradition

Sophisticated tools used by Neandertals.

Stable isotope analysis

Technique to study ancient diets through isotopes.

Coprolites

Fossilized feces revealing dietary habits.

Dental plaque analysis

Method to investigate ancient diets and health.

Cannibalism evidence

Indications of Neandertals consuming their own species.

Neandertal DNA

Genetic material retrieved from Neandertal fossils.

Interbreeding

Genetic mixing between Neandertals and modern humans.

Genetic legacy

Neandertal DNA present in modern non-Africans.

Cave paintings

Art created by Neandertals in caves.

Jewelry and ornamentation

Decorative items made by Neandertals.

Uranium-Thorium dating

Dating method confirming age of cave paintings.

Spondylus shell

Shell possibly used for body painting or art.

Denisovans

Distinct archaic human group identified from DNA.

Denisova Cave

Site where Denisovan remains were discovered.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)

Maternal lineage DNA used for ancestry studies.

Homo longi

New hominin species discovered in China.

Homo juluensis

Possible ancient human species under research.

Physical characteristics of Homo sapiens

Large brain, vertical forehead, and prominent chin.

Neandertal diet

Varied diet including meat and medicinal plants.

Elephant hunting

Evidence of Neandertals hunting large mammals.

Symbolic behavior

Neandertals engaged in art and cultural practices.

Robust bones

Physical trait distinguishing Neandertals from modern humans.

Stockier bodies

Neandertals adapted for cold environments.

Cultural complexity

Differences in social and cultural practices.

Neandertal speech capabilities

Possibility of spoken language among Neandertals.

High rounded skull

Distinctive feature of anatomically modern humans.

Vertical forehead

Characteristic of modern human skull structure.

Mental eminence

Prominent chin feature in modern humans.

Anatomically Modern Humans

Homo sapiens with distinct skull and body features.

Neandertals

Archaic humans with robust features and adaptations.

Skull Shape

Modern humans have high, rounded skulls.

Brow Ridges

Modern humans possess small brow ridges.

Chin

Modern humans have a prominent chin.

Forehead

Modern humans have a vertical forehead.

Brain Size

Modern humans average ~1450 cc brain volume.

Face

Modern humans have smaller, flatter faces.

Postcranial Body

Modern humans are tall and slender.

Multiregional Model

Homo erectus evolved into modern humans globally.

Replacement Model

Modern humans evolved in Africa, replacing others.

Feder's Broad Consensus

Oldest modern human fossils found in Africa.

Transitional Forms

Intermediate fossils between archaic and modern humans.

Key Fossil Sites

Locations of significant early modern human fossils.

Omo, Ethiopia

Fossils dated to 233,000 years ago.

Herto, Ethiopia

Fossils dated to 160,000 years ago.

Border Cave, South Africa

Fossils dated 70,000-80,000 years ago.

Blombos Cave, South Africa

Symbolic behavior evidenced by 70,000-year-old ochre.

Misliya Cave, Israel

Fossils dated 177,000-194,000 years ago.

Qafzeh/Skūhl, Israel

Fossils dated to 120,000 years ago.

Mandrin, France

Earliest modern human in Western Europe, 54,000 years ago.

Cro-Magnon Rockshelter

Site of early modern humans in France, 30,000 years ago.

Denisovans

Separate hominins that interbred with modern humans.

Symbolic Thought

Evident in early art and jewelry use.

Upper Paleolithic

Period marked by modern human cultural advancements.

Indirect Percussion

Technique for producing precise stone blades.

Pressure Flaking

Method for fine retouching stone tools.

Atlatl

Spear thrower that increased hunting efficiency.

Aurignacian

Tool industry from 34,000 to 27,000 B.P.

Gravettian

Tool industry from 27,000 to 21,000 B.P.

Solutrean

Tool industry from 21,000 to 16,000 B.P.

Magdalenian

Tool industry from 16,000 to 11,000 B.P.

Parietal Art

Art created on cave walls.

Mobiliary Art

Portable art objects like figurines.

El Castillo

Earliest cave painting site in Spain.

Chauvet Cave

Cave with stenciled handprints and animals.

Lascaux Cave

Cave with nearly 2,000 animal images.

Altamira Cave

First Upper Paleolithic cave art site excavated.

Sulawesi Cave Art

Cave art site in Indonesia, 45,000 years old.

Venus Figurines

Represent female forms, often fertility symbols.

Venus of Hohle Fels

Oldest known Venus figurine, 35,000 years old.

Venus of Willendorf

Limestone figurine emphasizing female form.

Venus from Dolni Vestonice

Fired clay figurine showing ceramic technology.