ANT171 Human Evolution Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering the Miocene epoch, early ape species, the emergence of the genus Homo, and the physical and behavioral adaptations of Neanderthals.

Miocene ape radiation

The period where many ape species appeared and spread out.

Ape features

A set of physical traits including no tail, bigger brains, longer arms, and a broader chest or palate.

Proconsul

An early ape from Africa around $22$ million years ago that possessed both monkey-like and ape-like traits.

Derived trait

A newer evolved trait.

Primitive trait

An older ancestral trait.

Hominins

Humans and human relatives after splitting from chimp ancestors around $6\text{--}7$ million years ago.

Homo

A genus traditionally defined by traits such as bigger brains, smaller teeth, bipedalism, and tool use.

Homo habilis

An early hominin species known for early stone tool use, whose name means handy or skillful.

Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania

The location where Homo habilis was first found.

Oldowan tools

Early simple stone tools like choppers, scrapers, and flakes used for cutting and scraping.

Cut-marked bones

Evidence showing that early hominins used tools to process meat.

Brains and Guts hypothesis

Also known as the Expensive Tissue Hypothesis, it suggests that bigger brains required more energy, leading to smaller guts and a need for high-energy food like meat.

Homo neanderthalensis

The scientific name for Neanderthals, an extinct human species adapted to Ice Age environments.

Neander Valley, Germany

The site of the first Neanderthal discovery.

Mousterian tools

The specific kind of tools used by Neanderthals.

Thrusting spears

The hunting weapon specifically linked to Neanderthals.

Cold adaptation

Traits that help survival in freezing climates, such as the stocky bodies and large noses of Neanderthals.

Shanidar Cave

A site that revealed Neanderthals cared for injured and elderly people, proving social care and compassion.

Bipedalism

The act of walking on two legs.

Obligate bipedalism

A movement pattern where a species mainly moves by walking upright.