Anthropology Exam 2 Study Guide

Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel

Both independently discovered the mechanism for biological change over time

3 basic principles of natural selection

Variability, heritability and reproductive sucess

Gregor Mendel

Developed the basic concept of inheritance

Genetic recombination

Each cell has random chromosomes and DNA equally distributed from the parents

Genetic mutation

Change in genetic sequence

Genetic drift

Affects gene frequencies in small isolated groups

Gene flow

Gene passed through interbreeding

Bipedal locomotion

Upright walking on 2 legs

Hominins

All/ any bipedal primates

Equates to slowness and a hindered ability to climb

Why favor bipedality?

To make and carry tools

Unmodified tools

Sticks and stones

What makes humans different from other primates?

Extensive food sharing and the use of fire

What is a prerequisite for human economy?

A carrying device

The earliest known hominin species are known as

Australopiths

Australopithecus (gracile)

Collectively date from 4.2-2 MYA

Small canine teeth with large, enameled molars

Sexually dimorphic

Mostly lived in trees

What is the brain size for Australopithecus?

Around 380-485 cc

Paranthropus (Robust)

Not thought to be ancestorial to the homo genus

Date to around 2.7-1.4 MYA
Massive faces and jaws with large detention

What was the brain size for Paranthropus?

Around 490-530 cc

When did the first modified tools appear in record?

Around 2.5 MYA

Where were the first modified tools discovered?

Olduvai Gorge in the East African Rift Valley (oldowan tools)

Types of oldowan tools

Flakes and choppers

We mark the beginning of the homo genus with what 3 trends

The appearance of stone tools alongside:

Expansion of brain size

Reduction of face, jaw and teeth

Modification of the female pelvis

Habilines

Earliest members of the homo genus

2 species date from 2.3-1.6 MYA

Very similar to Australopiths post cranially

Sexual division of labor

What is a prerequsite for sharing?

A carrying device and the use of fire

How many hours a day do chimps spend eating?

6 hours

How long do humans spend chewing in a day?

36 minutes

Homo erectus

First discovered in 1891 on the island of Java

First species to spread widely beyond Africa

Evolved in Africa around 1.9 MYA and quickly spread

First to have a 3rd set of molars that were smaller than the ones preceding

What was the brain size for homo erectus?

Averaged 1000 cc

Around 1.5 MYA what did erectus create?

Acheulean tool technology

Evidence of fire use through biological change

Continued reduction of the jaw, face and teeth despite brain growth and size

Shape of the ribcage indicates a smaller intestinal tract due to consuming cooked foods

No longer capable of spending nights in the trees

Found in elevated and tempered zones

Who were the first to use fire?

Habilines

Homo heidelbergensis

First found in Germany, 1908

Dates range from 500-200 thousand YA

Oldest known species to routinely hunt large game animals with shelters that compensated for their cooking

Like erectus post cranially, just with shorter, wider frames

What is the brain size for homo heidelbergensis?

Up to 1300 cc

Homo neanderthalensis (Neanderthals)

First discovered in Germany, 1856

Date from 200000-25000 YA with a greatly reduced population around 40000 YA

First known to evolve outside of Africa

Adapted to colder climates

Some evidence of symbolic use

Bad reputation comes from the discovery of the first Neanderthal

The old man of La Chapelle

Molesterian tool technology

Innovation of stone creation using the prepared core technique

First appeared 300000 YA

Homo sapiens

Earliest unambiguous fossil evidence dates 195000 YA

High skull vault with slight to no eyebrow ridge

Chins present for the first time

First evidence of living 60+

Ambiguous symbolic use

What is the brain size of a homo sapien

Around 1350 cc

Homo sapiens were first discovered where

Omo Kibish sites of Ethiopia

When did the great leap forward occur

70-40000 YA

What is the great leap forward marked by

The mergence of modern behavior

Nature and pace of innovation becomes modern

Marked as the beginning of fully articulate speech

What cause the development of fully articulate speech?

A genetic mutation

What happened preceding the great leap forward?

A large population bottleneck effect

DNA suggest a population decrease to around 10000

Results of the great leap forward

Rapid expansion of homo sapiens around the word

SE Asia and Australia to Central Asia to Europe to Arctic to Americas