Early Human Evolution and Behavior: Key Paleontology and Archaeology Insights

What does stone tool use among hominins indicate?

They had access to high energy foods that fueled encephalization.

Why have paleontologists not found many early Homo sapiens fossils?

Early human population size was very small.

How does Herto man's skull differ from other hominins?

He had a rounder braincase and a small face.

What contributed to early Homo sapiens' success in their environment?

Cooperating with each other.

How do hunters like the San kill faster and more powerful animals?

San are able to outlast prey in the hot sun, thereby exhausting them.

What strategy do the San use to compensate for lack of water in the Kalahari desert?

The San squeeze liquid from desert plants known to retain water.

How old were the ostrich egg sip wells unearthed by archaeologists?

100,000 years old.

What made Pinnacle Point an ideal refuge for early humans?

The combination of plants, animals and seafood.

What was significant about thin blades made of silcrete found at Pinnacle Point?

It indicated that these early Homo sapiens were operating with projectile weaponry.

What findings from Blombos cave show early Homo sapiens were different from other hominins?

Engravings in a chunk of ochre interpreted as an early form of communication.

How did early humans become 'modern' according to Chris Stringer?

Modern behavior accumulated over time.

What was the estimated size of the human population in Africa approximately 100,000 years ago?

10,000 breeding-age individuals.

Where were the oldest human remains outside of Africa discovered?

Skhul and Qafzeh.

What type of weather was characteristic of northern Africa 125,000 years ago?

Monsoon rain cycles.

What does DNA sequencing entail?

It's a process to reveal the exact pattern of the chemical base letters in recovered segments of DNA.

When did Homo sapiens first enter Europe?

50,000 years ago.

What does the body shape of Neandertals suggest they were well-adapted for?

Cold climates.

What happened to skin color as populations moved to northern latitudes?

These populations evolved lighter skin color.

What percentage of Neandertal DNA do modern populations living outside of Africa have?

2%.

What is found in abundance with modern humans at a site in Southern Germany, and not with Neandertals?

Symbolic artifacts including carved figurines.

How old are some of the earliest musical instruments ever discovered?

40,000 years old.

What artifact was likely the most important tool for Homo sapiens?

An eyed needle.

What has allowed for human population to expand quickly according to Katerina Harvati?

An extremely fast reproductive rate among Homo sapiens.

How long did the connection between North America and Asia, called Beringia, last?

10,000 years.

What discovery was found along with hundreds of bone and stone artifacts in Bozeman, Montana?

A 13,000 year old skeleton of a child.

What is the basic premise of the 'Solutrean hypothesis'?

The first Americans came across the Atlantic Ocean and are European in origin.

Approximately what percentage of living Native Americans share their genome with the Anzick child?

80%.

What has led humans to get this far according to the film?

Our powerful mind.