Archaeological record
Material remains of the past and their physical context
Anthropological archaeology
Using archaeology to understand the origins and diversity of modern humans
artifacts
Materials made or modified for use by hominins. The earliest tend to be made of stone or bone.
Material culture
Physical manifestations of human activities. For example, tools, art, and structures. Make up the majority of archaeological evidence
Sites
Locations of human activity, often associated with artifacts and features
antiquarian
- relating to an interest of objects and texts of the past
stratigraphic
relates to depositional levels/strata
theory
a statement that hasn’t been falsified, allow scientists to make predicts of unobserved phenomenon
ethnocentrism
viewing others’ cultures from a biased perspective of one’s own culture
regional continuity model
replacement model
-All Homo evolved in Africa and later dispersed to other parts of world
1) complete replacement: (not accurate) Modern-looking populations arose in Africa, migrated to replace populations in E. Asia.
BUT: Homo sapiens resulted from biological speciation event, couldn’t have interbred w/ non-African populations
ACCURATE MODEL:
-There was gene flow between h. Sapiens and other populations
Klaises Mountain River
- more modern human fossils found here
Middle Awash
-Ardipithecus and Australopithecus found here
-‘Herto’ (Ethiopia) remains
-radiometric dating ~160,000 to 154,000 ya
-‘Homo sapiens idaltu’ (large cranial vault, large brow ridge)
^extremely well-preserved
Upper Cave at Zhoukoudian
- Mongolian Ordos skull
Tianyuan Cave
Niah Cave
Australia
-inhabited 55,000 ya (at Sahul)
-Homo sapiens found at Lake Mungo
-30-25,000 ya (radiocarbon dating)
-But Kow Swamp fossils prove to look to antique
=Australians are descendants from single migration
Central Europe
Western Europe
a) Cro-Magnon site (28,000 ya): rock-shelter at France
- associated with Aurignacian tool assembly
- Evidence between interbreeding with Neanderthals and modern humans
b) Abrigo de Lagar Velho, Portugal~24,500 ya
Aurignacian tool assembly
Upper Paleolithic stone tool industry in Europe from around 40,000 ya
-Blades made from cores and flakes
Homo floresiensis
Southwest Asia and Europe
~47,000 ya
tundra
Upper Paleolithic vs Middle Paleolithic
Upper:
Middle:
-wooden spears