Biological Anthropology group assignment:

Hominin characteristics

Features that distinguish early human ancestors, including reduced canine size and increased molar enamel thickness.

Canine honing mechanism

A process that has been lost in hominins, leading to reduced canine size and less dysmorphism.

Molar enamel thickness

Thicker enamel indicates a diet that is harder and more abrasive, often consisting of coarse vegetation.

Worn down molars

Suggests a diet that involves a lot of grinding while chewing, indicative of consuming roots, nuts, and seeds.

Brain size in hominins

Generally increases with more modern hominins, determined through endocasts.

Endocasts

Impressions of the inner surface of the cranium used to infer brain size.

Australopithecines

Early hominins characterized by sexual dimorphism and smaller canines, with some showing signs of encephalization.

Gracile variants

A group of Australopiths with small cranial capacities and large back teeth, lacking chins.

Australopithecus afarensis

Known as "Lucy," characterized by parallel tooth rows and significant sexual dimorphism.

Australopithecus africanus

Features a small cranial capacity and a less protruding face, with a v-shaped zygomatic flare.

Australopithecus sediba

Notable for a relatively flat face and less flared cheekbones.

Robust variants

Include robust Australopithecus with adaptations for tough, fibrous diets, featuring massive canine teeth and large cheekbones.

Foramen Magnum location

Indicates a more vertical face angle and is associated with early hominin traits.

Tool usage

Increased complexity of tools began around 1.2 million years ago, marking the Lower Paleolithic era.

Oldowan stone tools

Early tools including choppers and flakes used for cutting, chopping, and butchering.

Neanderthal teeth

Show wear patterns indicating they were used as tools, with adaptations for cold environments.

Homo erectus

Similar to Neanderthals but with a smaller cranial capacity and distinct cranial features like a sloping forehead.

Archaic Hominins

Display both primitive traits (large brow ridges) and derived traits (larger cranial capacity and smaller teeth).

Homo heidelbergensis

Exhibits derived traits like a rounded skull and primitive traits like heavy brow ridges and lack of chin.

Evidence of big game hunting

Suggested by fire-altered tools found at archaeological sites, indicating advanced tool use.