ANTH 196 Hominins

Australopithecus anamensis

Time period?

Location?

Distinguishing characteristics?

4.2-3.9 MYA

Only found in East Africa (Kenya)

Large canines, Canine honing, Parallel tooth rows, Thick tooth enamel, Post-cranial adaptations, Flexible elbow joints, Weight bearing tibia

Australopithecus afarensis

Time period?

Location?

Distinguishing characteristics?

3.6-3 mya

East Africa (Ethiopia and Tanzania)

Parallel tooth rows large canines and incisor, sprognathic foramen magnum anteriorly placed, curved phalanges

Australopithecus africanus

Time period?

Location?

Distinguishing characteristics?

3.0-2.0 MYA

Only found in South Africa

Less prognathic, Larger Molars and Premolars, Parabolic tooth rows, Longer arms than legs, Foramen Magnum shifted forward

Australopithecus garhi

Time period?

Location?

Distinguishing characteristics?

Cultural innovations?

2.5 MYA

Ethiopia

Longer legs, Larger molars and premolars

Stone tools (early stone tools from nearly every site), Animal remains found with cut mark

Australopithecus / Paranthropus boisei

Time period?

Location?

Distinguishing characteristics?

2.3-1.2 MYA

East Africa (Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania) (West Turkana, Kenya) (Omo Ethiopia)

Hyper robust, Largest molars, Sagittal crest, Supraorbital torus, No forehead (only face), Dished face

Australopithecus / Paranthropus robustus

Time period?

Location?

Distinguishing characteristics?

Cultural innovations?

2.0-1.5 MYA

South Africa

Large molars and premolars, Sagittal crest, Flaring zygomatic bones (cheekbones), Dished face, Robust cranial features

Potential use of tools for digging, Evidence of dietary specialization on tough plant materials

Australopithecus / Paranthropus aethiopicus

Time period?

Location?

Distinguishing characteristics?

2.5 mya

Ethiopia

Prognathic face, Flaring face with large cheek bones, Sagittal crest, Hyper robust (beyond heavily built)

Homo habilis

Time period?

Location?

Distinguishing characteristics?

Cultural innovations?

2.8-1.8 mya

East Africa

Reduced supraorbital tori (shelf of bone above eyes), Frontal lobe expansion, No sagittal cresting, Flat face, Large incisors, Cranial expansion

Made stone tools

Homo naledi

Time period?

Location?

Distinguishing characteristics?

Cultural innovations?

~335-236 KYA

South Africa

Small cranial capacity (~465-610 cc), Curved fingers, adapted for climbing. Modern-looking legs and feet for bipedal walking, Slender body structure

Evidence of deliberate body disposal in caves

Homo erectus

Time period?

Location?

Distinguishing characteristics?

Cultural innovations?

1.8 mya- 100kya

East Africa/ Europe

Larger brain, Skull has wider base, Sagittal keel, Metric keel, Supraorbital sulcus, Occipital torus, Angular torus

More advanced stone tools (Acheulean tools)

Homo heidelbergensis (Early Archaics)

Time period?

Location?

Distinguishing characteristics?

Cultural innovations?

~700-200 KYA

Africa, Europe, and western Asia

Larger cranial capacity (~1200-1300 cc), Thick brow ridges, More robust body than modern humans, Reduced prognathism compared to earlier species

Evidence of hunting (e.g., wooden spears), Controlled use of fire, Constructed shelters

Homo neanderthalensis (Late Archaics)

Time period?

Location?

Distinguishing characteristics?

Cultural innovations?

~400-40 KYA

Europe, western Asia, and the Middle East

Large cranial capacity (~1500 cc on average), Occipital bun, Stocky build with short limbs (cold-adapted), Prominent brow ridges, Mid-facial prognathism

Advanced tools (Mousterian culture), Evidence of symbolic behavior (burials, art), Use of fire and shelters