The Fossil Record of Human Evolution - Study Guide fo

What are hominins?

All bipedal hominids since the split with the great apes.

On what continent did hominins first evolve and live until 2 million years ago?

Eastern Africa

First key trait of hominid evolution appeared/disappeared

Bipedalism

Second key trait of hominid evolution appeared/disappeared

Teeth get smaller through time

Third key trait of hominid evolution appeared/disappeared

Brains get bigger through time

Hypothesis #1 for the Origins of Bipedalism

More energy efficient

Hypothesis #2 for the Origins of Bipedalism

Helped in getting food out of trees—stand upright in trees first

Hypothesis #3 for the Origins of Bipedalism

Helped to keep cool—less sun, more wind

Hypothesis #4 for the Origins of Bipedalism

Allowed them to se predators above long grass

Hypothesis #5 for the Origins of Bipedalism

Freed the hands to carry food, infants

Evidence for bipedalism in Sahelanthropus and Orrorin

Foramen magnum underneath skull

Which is the first definitely bipedal hominin genus?

Ardipithecus ramidus

Brain size of Ardipithecus (in comparative terms, not the exact size)

Anatomy of Ardipithecus: Skull

Less face projection than chimps

Anatomy of Ardipithecus: Pelvis

Intermediate look

Anatomy of Ardipithecus: Feet

Stiffer feet, toe is divergent like other apes

Anatomy of Ardipithecus: Limb Proportions

Where did Ardipithecus stand upright?

On the ground

Where did Ardipithecus move quadrupedally?

Palms on tops of branches

The canine teeth of Ardipithecus vs. Australopithecus

Canines fairly large and back teeth parallel

Brain size of Australopithecus (in general terms, not the exact sizes)

First of the species of genus Australopithecus

Australopithecus anamensis

Second of the species of genus Australopithecus

Australopithecus afarensis

Third of the species of genus Australopithecus

Australopithecus africanus

Fourth of the species of genus Australopithecus

Australopithecus garhi

Fifth of the species of genus Australopithecus

Australopithecus sediba

Facial protrusion in Australopithecus

Large lower face

Bipedalism in Australopithecus: Laetoli footprints

Non-divergent big toe

Bipedalism in Australopithecus: Lucy

Arms longer than legs, slightly curved fingers

Evidence of stone tool use in Australopithecus

Lomekwian Tools

Evolutionary relationships between Ardipithecus, Australopithecus and Homo

Who were the descendants of Australopithecus?

Paranthropus: brain size (in general terms, not the exact sizes)

Paranthropus: diet and cranial features (including teeth)

What does “robust” mean when referring to Paranthropus?

Know the order in which the Paranthropus species appeared

What muscles are associated with the robust cranial features of Paranthropus?

Why did Paranthropus die out?

Know the relative brain sizes of all species in the genus Homo

Know about different species in the genus Homo: Homo habilis, Home erectus, Homo heidelbergensis, Neanderthals, Homo sapiens, Homo floresiensis

Know the order in which the Homo species appeared

Know which species invented each kind of stone tool that we’ve discussed

Know which species first shows evidence of hunting (not just scavenging)

Defining characteristics of the genus Homo

On what continent did Homo habilis live?

What were Oldowan tools used for?

Homo erectus: cranial shape, brow ridges, bipedal anatomy including limb proportions

Use of fire by Homo erectus

What is Homo floresiensis?

Why was Homo floresiensis so small? Island dwarfism vs pathology

Where has Homo heidelbergensis been found?

Homo heidelbergensis: cranial and facial anatomy compared with modern humans

Homo heidelbergensis: evidence related to language

Evolutionary relationships of Homo heidelbergensis to Homo erectus, Neandertals, and Homo sapiens

Where did Neandertals live?

Neandertals: distinctive features of the skull, face, body build

Neandertal culture: tools, burial

Skeletal evidence of interbreeding between Neandertals and humans

What is the significance of “Denny”?

Genetic contribution of Neandertals and Denisovans to modern human gene pool: which populations and how much?

First appearance of anatomically modern Homo sapiens: when and where?

Why was the location of the Jebel Irhoud, Morocco find surprising?

Anatomy of modern Homo sapiens: cranial shape, brow ridges, chin

What specific kinds of tools were first invented by Homo sapiens?

Tool technology for making clothing

Importance of clothing for Homo sapiens vs Neandertals

Grave goods among modern humans

Where in the world did Homo sapiens make art?

Where in the world is the earliest cave art showing recognizable figures found?

Most common themes in Homo sapiens cave art

Hypotheses regarding Venus figurines

Know difference between replacement and partial replacement models

Understand Out of Africa serial Founder Effect

When did Homo sapiens arrive in Australia?

When did Homo sapiens arrive in the Americas?

Expansion into the New World: Clovis and pre-Clovis evidence

Ancient One/Kennewick Man controversy

Ancient One skeletal traits and genetic evidence of kinship