1
Q
the process of fossilization
A
-death, quick burial, decay, minerals fill (solidifying), cement together becoming rock
2
Q
what is paleoanthropology (and the main evidence is from…?)
A
-study of prehistoric human life (evolution, interactions, and environments)
-main evidence from fossil record
3
Q
when did global temps get cooler
A
during the cenozoic (65Ma), especially after miocene (15Ma)
4
Q
what is the miocene
A
-begins 23 Ma
-is an epoch, part of tertiary and cenozoic (period, era)
-primates diversify
5
Q
what is the pliocene
A
-5 Ma
-part of tertiary and cenozoic
6
Q
what is the pleistocene
A
-2.6 Ma
-appearance of homo sapiens
-part of tertiary and cenozoic
7
Q
what is the holocene
A
-0.01Ma
-origins of agriculture and complex societies
-part of quarternary and cenozoic
8
Q
what is absolute dating
A
-age estimate in years
-unstable elements, as they decay they spontaneously change to another isotope
-potassium-argon dating of volcanic layers (can use for billions of years)
-carbon dating of organic matter (decays fast)
9
Q
what is relative dating
A
-look at layers of sediment, say lower is older and closer to land is younger
10
Q
what is biostratigraphy
A
-date rocks by looking at the fossils and comparing with other date sequences
-know the things in the layer among with what you are looking at and therefore know that age
11
Q
fossils of apes (time, place found, lived in, when do they decline)
A
-found from oligocene onwards
-first in Africa, live in Asia and Europe
-decline in late Miocene (climate change)
12
Q
what is a hominin
A
-humans and their closest relatives
-‘human clade’
-evolved since split with chimps
-hominins are everything that is more closely related to humans than chimps
13
Q
Why do we think the LCA is mostly chimp like
A
-would explain the shared features of chimps and gorillas
-possibly: frugivory, fission-fusion, climbing, suspension, and knuckle walking
14
Q
what are the 5 hominin synapomorphies
A
- dental characteristics
- larger brain to body ratio
- slow maturation and development
- complex culture
- habitual bipedalism
15
Q
what are the dental changes we see in hominins (5)
A
-smaller canines
-canine don’t interlock
-upper canine doesn’t sharpen on the lower
-went from u shaped teeth row to a parabola
-thicker enamel
16
Q
brain size synapomorphy
A
-2x than expected based on body size in apes
-humans are 7-8x
-cognition, life history
17
Q
slow maturation synapomorphy
A
-humans have slower life histories (timing of key events, ecology, and natural selection) than apes
-longer gestation, juvenile period, growth
-can see in fossils through tooth eruption and bone development
18
Q
culture synapomorphy
A
-can inhabit most environments
-have the ability to learn any language
-complex tools, fire, symbols, art, language
-many aspects of culture are not preserved in fossil record
19
Q
bipedalism synapomorphy
A
-most defining feature
-recognizable in fossil record
-it came FIRST, before big brains
20
Q
what do the hip abductors muscles attach to
A
-iliac crest
20
Q
what was the most altered anatomy for bipedalism
A
-pelvis
-bears a lot of the weight, important organs here (reproductive)
-wide, flared pelvis (iliac blades) for hip abductors (that stabilize pelvis
-ours is wider and rounder, apposed to taller or stout
21
Q
what is a distinctive feature in the human and hominin pelvis that is absent in chimps
A
-wide, short ilium (top of bone) with distinctive sciatic notch. this is because they don’t have butts or the stabilizing muscles so they don’t need them
22
Q
the main use of the hip abductor muscles in humans
A
-stabilizing the pelvis and stopping it from slanting at each step (walking efficiency)
23
Q
chimpanzee bipedal features vs humans
A
-humans: extended knee/hip, lumbar curve, ventral foramen magnum, centre of gravity is in line with major joints
-chimps: bent knee and hip, centre of gravity further forward. constantly use muscles to stop from falling forward
24
"summary of main anatomical features supporting bipedalism" slide, 1-5 (top to bottom)
1. foramen magnum, where the spinal cord leaved the cranium, is more centred in the skull for better balance
2. spine has 2 additional curves in neck and lower back (minimal S shape), evolved from a C spine
3. Pelvis is short and broad
4. angle in femur from the knee to elvis
5. foot loses opposable toe, and length of toes
25
why did we become bipedal
-getting and eating food
-frees up hands for many things, like making tools, hunting, grabbing low hanging fruit, carrying stuff
26
for the putative early hominins, what time did they appear
1. Sahelanthropus tchadensis: 6-7 Ma (with relative dating)
2. Orrorin tugenensis: 6 Ma
3. ardipithecus kadabba: 5.2-5.8 Ma
4. ardi ramidus: 4.4 Ma
27
for the putative early hominins, where did they appear
1. sahelanthropus tchadensis: were found in 2002 in CHAD, in a woodland area (right in the middle of Africa)
2. Orrorin tugenensis: found in 1999, in KENYA, in woodland area
3. ardi kadabba: middle awash in Ethiopia
4. ardi ramidus: iddle awash, Ethiopia, woodland environment
28
what are the characteristics of the putative early hominins (and primitive vs derived traits)
1. sahelanthropus tchadensis: found a nearly complete cranium and mandible. Primitive feature was the brain size, like a chimp. Derived was a flatter face, smaller canines, and thick enamel
2. orrorin tugenensis: found teeth and postcranial bones. Primitive was a curved toe/finger (proximal phalanx) and derived was small teeth, thick enamel, and femor neck length/shape
3. ardi kadabba: found toe bone and dental remains. primitve was upper canines are shapening against lower. derived was the toe bone similar to late hominins
4. ardi ramidus: primitive was opposable toe, long fingers, thin enamel, small brain. derived was foramen magnum, pelvis, canines.
29
what do the putative early hominins tell us about the order of appearance of the 5 categories of human derived traits
1. Sahelanthropus tchadensis: the location of the foramen magnum and neck muscle attachment suggest BIPEDALISM
2. orrorin tugenensis: femoral neck length/shape and distribution of bone suggest BIPEDALISM
3. ardi kadabba: toe bone possibly suggests BIPEDALISM
4. ardi ramidus: bipedal adaptations in pelvis,
30
looking at ardi ramidus, what did researchers conclude about the LCA
-that it was not pan-like knuckle walker but was ore generalized arboreal quadruped.
31
what were the 3 issues with ardipithecus
1. skull had hominin features but postcranium was chimp like (questions bipdealism)
2. if the LCA wasn't chimp-like, then all the similarities in Pan and Gorilla were convergences
3. some believe it is an ape
32
what 4 things do the first hominins tell us?
1. they were more widespread than though (not east/south africa only)
2. bipedalism, thicker enamel, and reduced canines are the first derived features in hominins
3. the environment of earliest bipedal creatures was woodland
4. we need more fossils!
33
what do researchers believe ardi's locomotion was
-bipedal on ground but spent lots of time in trees
-no evidence of knuckle walking
-walked on flat hands when arboreal
34
what are the two main geographic areas of australopiths
-east africa, oldest sites
-south africa, found here first
35
which species of australopithecus is the best known, and where we get most of the info
australopithecus afarensis
36
time, place, derived vs primitive, and habitat of australopithecus anamensis
-oldest australopith
-4.2-3.9 Ma
-Kenya/Ethiopia
-primitive: box-shaped jaw, larger canines than other australopiths
-derived: smaller canines, tick enamel, large molars, knee/ankle for bipedalism
37
can chimps or humans rotate their feet and ankles more
chimps
38
time, place, and habitat of australopithecus afarensis
-3.6-3.0 Ma
-east africa
-forest, woodland, and savannah
39
important specimens of australopithecus afarensis
-lucy, first family (13 found together), dikika 3 year old female
40
what major changes occur in australopithecus afarensis suggesting bipedalism
-pelvis (flared and rotated ilium for hip abductors/balance. enlarged sacrum-ilium joint for weight bearing)
-femur/knee (angled femur, minimizing sway and puts knee under centre of weight)
-foot (large heel for absorption, arch, big toe aligned with other toes)
41
what characteristics in australopithecus afarensis are in between primitive and derived
-jutted out jaw
-medium canines
-large molars
-thick enamel
-large neck/chewing muscles
-highly sexually dimorphic, medium canine dimorphism
-ape like brain, skull, teeth
42
some arboreal 'retentions' of A. afarensis
-long arms
-mobile shoulder joint
-curved fingers/toes
-time in trees
-waist down was bipedal and head up was ape
43
what was the smoking gun ob habitual bipedalism in A. afarensis
-laetoli footprints
-in tanzania, 3.4 Ma
-3 individuals walked in volcanic ash
44
time, place, characteristics of A. africanus
-1st hominin found in Africa
-South africa, 3.5-2.2 Ma
-Taung baby - hominin cause of foramen magnum
-small canines and incisors, large molars, postcrania close to afarensis
45
what about the taung baby and dikika child helped us to understand life history patterns
-they both grew very fast, seen through dental eruption and rate of enamel growth
46
time, place, characteristics of australopithecus garhi
-2.5 Ma
-Afar, Ethiopia
-larger molars and premolars than africanus
-cut-marked animal bones (evidence of butchery. stone tools found in similarly aged deposits, hunting or scavenging)
47
time, place, ancestor/descended from, characteristics of A. sediba
-recently found (2010) in South Africa
-2 Ma
-descended from africanus, possible ancestor of homo (cause of face, teeth, but small brain)
-fully bipedal with long arms
48
place and time of the 3 paranthropus species
-aethiopicus: Lake Turkana, Kenya, in 3-2.3 Ma
-boisei: East Africa in 2.3-1.3 Ma (found with H. Habilis)
-robustus: South Africa (found with africanus, definitely lived with homo) in 2-1 Ma
49
why are paranthropus the 'robust' australopiths
-the postcranium has the same bipedal adaptations
-massive molars
-large sagittal crest
-temoralis muscle wraps to top of head (temple muscle)
-masiter muscle (under ear) was huge
-thick lower jaw
-very hard, tough foods. like seeds, nuts, and tubers
50
what is the sexual and canine dimorphism in australopiths
-similar to gorillas and orangutans
-canines is less than chimps, more than humans
51
Match the following dates to the following australopiths and paranthropiths:
1. 4.2 - 3.9 Ma
2. 3 - 2.3 Ma
3. 2 Ma
4. 2 - 1 Ma
5. 3.6 - 3.0 Ma
6. 2.5 Ma
7. 2.3 - 1.3 Ma
8. 3.5 - 2.2 Ma
a. A. sediba
b. P. aethiopicus
c. A. africanus
d. A. anamensis
e. A. garhi
f. P. boisei
g. A. afarensis
h. P. robustus
-1 and d
-2 and b
-3 and a
-4 and h
-5 and g
-6 and e
-7 and f
-8 and c
52
which australopiths and paranthropiths are from east africa
-A. anamensis, afarensis, garhi
-P. aethiopicus, boisei
53
which australopiths and paranthropiths are from south africa
-A. africanus, sediba
-P. robustus
54
what rapidly changed with the emergence of homo
-body size
-body proportions
-sexual dimorphism
-brain size
55
which australopith is closest to us?
A. sediba
56
how long did australopiths and homo coexist
-1.5 million years
57
Climate and habitats are becoming more _ in Late Pliocene/Early Pleistocene
-seasonal (wet, with abundant food, and dry, with scarce resources)
58
what was the early homo
homo habilis and rudolfensis
59
time, place, characteristics, tools, cranium vs postcranium of homo habilis
-tanzania first
-then Kenya and Ethiopia, up to 2.6 Ma
-very basic flaked stone tools
-the 'handy man'
-50% larger cranial capacity than A.
-small teeth
-parabola dental structure
-reduced snout, jaws, and chewing muscles
-short stature, long arms and short legs
60
what showed larger brain and body than H. habilis in Tanzania
-H. rudolfensis. Lived alongside habilis
61
summarize early homo
-2 species
-bipeds but not body proportions
-brains slightly larger
-fast maturation
-stone tools
62
"real" homo
-homo erectus
-first definite member of our genus
-lower pleistocene (2 Ma) - period of sharp cooling
-eastern and southern Africa
63
what did the homo erectus cranium look like
-receding foreheard, no chin
-derived: flatter face, rounded skull, smaller molars
-larger cranial capacity than early homo
-had a jutting supraorbital (eyebrow) and occipital torus (base of skull, pointed)
64
what is the reorganized head difference in A. afarensis vs H. erectus
-in H. erectus, much more brain and much less face
65
postcranium of Homo erectus (and tooth eruption)
-same body proportions as humans
-long legs relative to arms
-more dimorphic than humans
-the birth canal is relative to skull size, just like humans. likely challenging births
-tooth eruption at 4.5 years (6 in humans, 3.5 in chimps)
66
transition from Lucy to H. erectus
-change in body proportions
-smaller molars
-Encephalization (larger brains)
-complex tools
67
what was geologically different with H. erectus
-found in Eurasia from 2.8 to 0.8 Ma
68
what was found in Dmanisi, Georgia (when, species, characteristics)
-homo erectus
-1.8 Ma
-5 crania, all aged differently
-human like long lower limbs
-basic stone tools
69
first specimen ever found of homo erectus
-java man in Indonesia in 1891
-1.6-1.8 Ma
-possibly lived up to 30k yrs ago
70
expected vs observed size of human brain, gut, liver, kidney, and heart
-liver, kidney, and heart is as expected
-gut is much smaller
-brain is much larger
71
reduction in gut size is linked with an expansion of _
brain size
72
Evidence for a dietary shift, likely including more meat eating (3)
1. reduced molar size (larger molars break down tough food, so a softer diet could reduce tooth and gut size)
2. change in body proportions
3. archaeological evidence (new and more tools, cut-marked and processed bones, fire)
73
earliest evidence of tool use
-A. garhi were first to use tools (2.5 Ma)
-found herbivore bones from 3.4 Ma with marks but found no tools - this would be A. afarensis
74
what are the oldest actual stone tools
-3.3 Ma
-Kenya, the Lake Turkana Basin
-the Lomekwian Industry
-made by Kenyanthropus or A. afarensis or both
75
The Oldowan Industry
-tanzania
-east africa, 2.5-1.6 Ma
-they made sharp edges, flakes, and hammerstones
-most made from flakes, used for many things
76
3 modes of stone tool classification
-mode 1: removed flakes from core to use as the tool (australopiths, Oldowan, Lomekwian)
-mode 2: shaped cores into bifaces (used a template, Acheulan)
-mode 3: cores and flakes, resharpened them to use many times
77
what would homo erectus likely use
-mode 2, Acheulean (appears 1.6 Ma)
-biface, hand axes, cleaver, picks
78
first evidence of fire
-Swartkrans in south africa (burnt bones, around 1 Ma, low temp and long time for brush fires, high temp for short time for camp fire)
-Koobi Fora in Kenya (high temps)
-they look at the length in one spot to see if it was natural
79
what do we see for the first time in homo erectus
-good body proportions (good for running)
-larger brains
-smaller teeth
-distribution outside of Africa (into colder climates)
-complex tech (in Archeulean)
-more meat eaters
80
when is the middle pleistocene and what first appears here
-900k-130k yrs ago
-wide climate variation
-H. heidelbergensis first appears in Africa and Western Eurasia (800-500 Ka)
81
derived and primitive traits of H. heidelbergensis
-derived: large brain, high foreheads, rounder cranium
-primitive: low skull, no chin, jutting brow ridge
-ancestral to humans!
82
what do we use to date H. heidelbergensis
-only relative cause the isotopes decayed too fast yet too slow for carbon and argon dating
83
when and where to big game hunters appear
-Europe, specifically Jersey in 250Ka for game drive (elephants, rhino, stone tools. injure then drive off cliff)
-Germany, spears found with stone tools and 20 horse carcasses, 400 Ka.
84
what technology does H. heidelbergensis use
-early uses Acheulean
-by 300 Ka, use mode 3, flakes for spears. Levallois technique
85
the distribution and time of Neanderthals
-Europe, middle east, and western asia (none in Africa or Asia)
-300-40 Ka (middle, upper pleistocene)
86
origins of neanderthals
-european branch of H. heidelbergensis (african branch is humans)
87
primitive and derived traits of neanderthals
-primitive: big double brow ridge, no chin, large orbits
-derived: rounder, bigger braincase and occipital bun
-big nose/face
-fused roots (teeth)
-worn, large incisors (used as tools)
-large brains (bigger than humans)
88
postcranium of neanderthals
-stocky build, robust, larger muscles
-slightly shorter, wide chest
-heavier
89
neanderthal tools
-mode 3
-Mousterian industry
-points, scrapers, awls (for holes), handaxes, spear points
90
neanderthal lifestyle (food, hunting)
-most of diet was cooked meat (hunted)
-worn teeth (possibly from making clothes from tendons)
-hard, short lives
-malnutrition, disease, starvation, healed wounds
91
neanderthal burials
-common
-with flowers?
-some lived old (Shanidar, La Chapelle)
92
Neanderthal symbolism
-art, pigments, jewelry, cave paintings
93
neanderthal cognition and language
-had some speech capacity (looked at vocal tract, hyoid bone shape, cranial nerve shape)
-couldn't make all vowel
94
fate of neanderthals
-40Ka went extinct
-did interbreed with humans beforehand
95
3 neanderthal extinction theories
1. killed by homo sapiens (no evidence of violence but could've brought disease)
2. competition with homo sapiens (advantages through population size, energy, technology)
3. couldn't cope with climate change
96
summary of neanderthals
-cold-adapted, short, tough lives, upper pleistocene
-large brains
-language capacity
-care for sick and elderly
-burials
97
homo floresiensis time and place
-flores indonesia
-cave found was 100-60 Ka, but other sites suggest 1 Ma
98
characteristics of homo floresiensis and how many found
-9-14 individuals
-small brain
-short (3 feet)
-primitive features: long arms, tiny skull, long feet no arch
-mode 1 tools
-controlled fire
-hunted, ate animals
99
where did H. floresiensis descend from
-dwarfed descendent of H. erectus
-must have crossed water to get to where they did (crappy boat, not swim)
100
facts about Denisova cave
-in russia
-neanderthals and humans lived here (bones assumed to be them until dna)
101
Denisovan bones and dna found
-one little finger bone (identified as denisova, sites from Asia dating back to 300-55 Ka)
102
Denisovan closest relative (+ LCA)
-neanderthals
-LCA of neanderthal and denisovans is 450 Ka
-denisovans interbred with neanderthals and humans
-small populations
103
first discovery of homo sapiens vs oldest human remains
-discovered in France, cro-magnon rock shelter 30Ka
-oldest remains in Morocco, Africa, 300-160Ka
104
homo sapiens skull features
-rounder braincase
-vertical, high forehead
-no or small brow ridge
-flat face
-chin (no need for it though, maybe resists bending?)
-big brain
105
postcrania of homo sapiens
-less robust
-slender bones
-longer distal limb bones
-shallow chest (bigger lungs for colder air, so we don't need it)
-early H. sapiens are more robust than we are now
106
where and when are homo spaiens from
-appear suddenly in europe and asia
-60 Ka
-they appear first in Africa (through fossil, archaeological, and genetic evidence)
107
Archaeological evidence of homo sapiens being from africa
-tools in middle stone age never found with neanderthals
-advanced tech found in africa first
108
fossil evidence of homo sapiens being from africa
-anatomically humans found here first 300 Ka
-moved to middle east and lived with neanderthals for 60 Ka
109
genetic evidence of homo sapiens being from africa
-gene tree support african origin
-humans all have african common ancestor 300-100 Ka
-LCA to non africans left africa 60-80 Ka
110
modern human tools (mode 4)
-long, thin, flat, sharp edge
-soft hammer percussion
-lots of variety
-shape determined by maker, not raw material
111
stone vs bone tools
-stone: points, knives, drulls, chisels, arrow heads
-bone: points, fish hooks, sewing needles, beads
-also throwing sticks (bow and arrow, atl-atl)
112
when and where are blade tools and shelters present
250 Ka, Kenya
113
what suggests a symbolic life for homo sapiens
-carvings, beads, dyes
-beads dated 75 Ka in Morocco and south africa
114
what distances where raw materials transported
~150km
115
what suggested long distance trading
-some sites had raw materials from hundreds of km
116
when do modern humans appear in europe
40 Ka
117
H. sapiens shows wider
range of __ than
H. neanderthalensis
-prey species
-large game but also shellfish or birds
-tools rather than teeth to process animals
-more plant foods
118
modern human shelters (made of what, when, where)
-first appear 25 Ka in Europe
-mammoth bones - open air
-suggest larger groups of multiple families
119
Art and personal adornment abundant in the European human
archaeological record from ~ __onwards
40,000
120
examples of art found related to H. sapiens
-bone beads, flute, carving, painting
121
ritualistic burial, first evidence of society
-Russia, 28-30 Ka
-one man two children with clothes, spears, bone beads
122
all basic aspects of our behaviour that are in place by 40,000 years ago
-innovation, language, symbolism, art, creativity, learning, sharing
123
common misunderstanding: genetic determinism
-all things determined by genes
-incorrect with learning and culture
-it's genetics plus environment
-behavioural traits are more sensitive to environmental influences than genes
124
common misunderstanding: behaviours aren't controlled y genes
-most are not
-natural selection shapes learning
-ex: soapberry bugs sit on mates to stop them from mating elsewhere
125
what is culture
-information acquired by individual though some type of social learning
-through mostly relatives
126
how is culture acquired
1. social facilitation: activity of one animal influences others. proximity. opportunity (more common)
2. observational learning: learn by watching, imitation
127
what does observational learning allow for
cumulative cultural change, cause things can get more complicated
128
examples of cultural traditions in primates
-chimps hold hands
-capuchins stick their fingers in eachothers eyes and nose
129
emo the potato washer is a prime example of what
social facilitation; she did not teach them
130
what do all human cultures have the same capacity for
language
131
what do all languages have
grammar, defining relationships between words, underlying structure, need the cognitive adaptation
132
difference between NHP and human language
-NHP can attach meaning to sounds and create calls
133
what was kanzi able to do
-use lexigrams with gestures
-make requests (sue tickle)
-create terms like water bird (duck)
-express thought
-use rules that specify order between elements (like hug roger)
134
where do apes get stuck with language
-2 year old human
-can't understand syntax
-cannot understand timing
-meaning must be derived from context
135
Human language is a _ trait
derived
136
Psychological mechanisms that allow for high-
fidelity observational learning likely shaped by _
natural selection
137
what is a meme
-an idea, behaviour, style, or usage that spreads from one person to another within a culture
-genes and memes influence eachother
138
how are memes under selection (4)
-they compete for attention
-more exist than what can survive
-variation in ability of memes to be transmitted
-memes are heritable
139
Cultural evolution is faster/slower than biological
evolution
faster
ERTH
flashcards
Decks in class (18)
# Cards
-
erth midterm 1129
-
ANTH midterm 226
-
ERTH midterm 21
-
erth test 3300
-
anth final140
-
lwso final47
-
psyc final148
-
Arky midterm 1250
-
lwso 203 midterm 1 (topic 1-3)175
-
soci midterm 1188
-
lab quiz 460
-
lwso midterm 2 (topic 4-)103
-
arky lab quiz 549
-
lwso midterm 3 extra notes and slide questions68
-
questions that will 100% be on midterm 367
-
arky midterm 2238
-
soci midterm 23
-
arky - rest of stuff for final56
