Download - Hominins (us) review…
Hominins (us) review…
• Defined by dental features, bipedal locomotion, large brain size, and tool making behavior
• Characteristics that developed at different rates, called mosaic evolution
Biocultural Evolution: The Human Capacity for Culture
• All aspects of human adaptation, including technology, traditions, language, religion, marriage patterns, and social roles.
• Culture is a set of learned behaviors; it is transmitted from one generation to the next through learning and not by biological or genetic means.
• Material culture is part of the cultural complex…
Oldowan Tool Industry
• The Oldowan is the first known industrial complex in prehistory. It takes its name from Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania
• Oldowan tool use is estimated to have begun about 2.5 million years ago (mya), lasting to as late as 0.5 mya.
• It is thought that Oldowan tools were produced by several species of hominids ranging from late Australopithecus to early Homo.
Chopping tool
Biface tool
Anthropologists who study this stuff…
• Paleoanthropologists. They study early humans. • Paleoanthropologists reconstruct the anatomy,
behavior, and ecology of our ancestors:• It is a diverse multidisciplinary pursuit seeking to
reconstruct every bit of information possible concerning the dating, anatomy, behavior, and ecology of our hominin ancestors.
• Locate early hominin sites, collect faunal remains and artifacts
Dating (relative)
• Relative dating methods. These tell you that something is older or younger than something else– Stratigraphy- based on the law of superposition,
which states that a lower layer is older than a higher one
– Flourine analysis, used to date remains of bone– Biostratigraphy – paleomagnetism
Dating (absolute)• Absoulte dating methods– Chronometric (Absolute) dating methods are based on
calendar years– K/Ar, or potassium argon method used to date materials
in the 5-1 mya range– Carbon-14 method used to date organic material
extending back to 75,000 years– Thermoluminescence– Uranium series dating– Electron spin resonance (ESR)
Early Hominoid – Where to Look?Rift Valley of East Africa
Southern Africa
3 Major Groups
Pre-australopiths (7-4.4mya)
Australopiths (4.2- 1 mya)Early Homo
(2.4 – 1.4)
How far back?
7 – 8 million years
70% of our history resides in Africa
Extensive changes in the last 10 years1992 3-4 million1998 4.4 2000 62003 7 million
Sahelanthropus tchadensis 6-7 mya
Beginnings to see Hominid trends•Brain case same as chimps 320-380cc
Sahelanthropus tchadensis 6-7 mya
Beginnings to see Hominid trends•Brain case same as chimps 320-380cc• The dentition, canines reduced
Sahelanthropus tchadensis 6-7 mya
Beginnings to see Hominid trends•Brain case same as chimps 320-380cc• The dentition, canines reduced•Brain case being moved back, tucked under the brain vault
Sahelanthropus tchadensis 6-7 mya
Beginnings to see Hominid trends•Brain case same as chimps 320-380cc• The dentition, canines reduced•Brain case being moved back, tucked under the brain vault•Primitive braincase, but hominoid facial features and canine teeth
Sahelanthropus tchadensis 6-7 mya
Beginnings to see Hominid trends•Brain case same as chimps 320-380cc• The dentition, canines reduced•Brain case being moved back, tucked under the brain vault•Primitive braincase, but hominoid facial features and canine teeth
•Probable Bipedal