Key Vocabulary: Civilizations, Human Variation, Genetics, and Primates

Flashcards covering key vocabulary from the lecture notes on the first civilizations, modern human origins, genetics, and primates.

Paleoethnobotany

The study of plants in past environments; how they were used

Paleoanthropology

The study of human evolution and our fossil relatives to understand the origins and variation in living humans and non-human primates

Fossil

Remains, impression, or trace of an organism that once lived, with organic parts replaced by inorganic minerals

Hominin

Humans and our bipedal ancestors.

Material culture

Tool manufacture, involving techniques like knapping, using hammerstones, cores, and flakes.

Sedentism

The settlement pattern of staying in one place

Bioarchaeology

Study of skeletal remains from archaeological sites

City

An urban center that both supports and is supported by a geographic expanse of lesser communities

Ziggurat

A mud-brick temple-pyramid built on elevated platforms

Civilization

A stage of human social and cultural development and organization that is complex

Hieroglyphics

Pictographic writing system used in Ancient Egypt.

Gene flow

Interchange of genes between populations

Endogamy

Mating within a distinct group

Ethnocentrism

Viewing the world through the lens of our own culture

Eugenics

Humanity could be improved through selective breeding for "talent and character" and hereditary basis for these traits

Neolithic Revolution

The Neolithic Revolution refers to the transition from hunting and gathering to food production through agriculture and domestication

Paleoethnobotany

Study of plants in past environments and how they were used

Zooarchaeology

Study of animal remains from archaeological sites

Fossils

Preserved remains, impression, or trace of an organism that once lived.

Taphonomy

Study of the process of fossilization

Stratigraphy

Study of rock layers.

Law of Superposition

Rock layers arranged in a time sequence with older rocks lower down and younger rocks higher up

Chronometric/absolute dating

Used to determine actual age/age range in years, employing isotopes and radiometric decay

Founder Effect

Occurs when a small group establishes a new population in a new area, leading to reduced genetic variation

Microevolution

Change at the microscopic level regarding evolution

Macroevolution

Results in formation of new species

Species

Group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring

Genetic drift

Random, occurs in small populations, where alleles become more or less prevalent

Gene flow

Interchange of genes between populations

Natural selection

Occurs when organisms that are better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and contribute genetic material to subsequent generations

Mutation

Change, variation in DNA from the original sequence

Domestication

The use of artificial selection to breed for desirable traits

Hominin

Humans and our ancestors who walk habitually on two feet.

Bipedalism

Moving on two limbs

Sexual dimorphism

Difference in biology and/or behavior between males and females of a single species