Chapter 13 - Hominin evolution

Question 1

what is the general trend in human evolution

Answer 1

Increasing cranial capacity, number of convolutions and skull size along with reduced prognathism. Homo sapiens also have a reduced brow ridge compared to earlier species

Question 2

5 characteristics of the skull that are considered more primitive

Answer 2

• Ticker bones forming cranium
• Heavier brow ridges
• No forehead or slopping forehead
• Possible saggital crest on top of skull
• Foramen magnum towards back of skull

Question 3

5 characteristics of the skull that are considered more modern

Answer 3

• Thinner bones forming cranium
• Brow ridges reduced or absent
• Increasingly larger and more vertical forehead
• No crest on top of skull
• Foramen Magnum under centre of skull

Question 4

5 characteristics of the mandible and teeth that are considered more primitive

Answer 4

• More prognathic jaw
• Heavier, thick mandible
• No chin
• Diastema present
• Canine teeth more prominent

Question 5

5 characteristics of the mandible and teeth that are considered more modern

Answer 5

• Flatter face
• More slender, thinner mandible
• Increasingly definitive chin
• No diastema
• Canine teeth less prominent

Question 6

3 characteristics of the torso that are considered more primitive

Answer 6

• Narrower pelvis
• Lumbar vertebrae less wedge shaped
• Wide, barrel shaped ribcage

Question 7

3 characteristics of the torso that are considered more modern

Answer 7

• Broader pelvis
• Lumbar vertebrae more wedge shaped
• Smaller ribcage

Question 8

2 characteristics of the upper limbs that are considered more primitive

Answer 8

• Shorter thumb that is less mobile

- fingers are longer and more curved

Question 9

2 characteristics of the upper limbs that are considered more modern

Answer 9

• Thumb with increased opposability

- Fingers straighter and shorter

Question 10

2 characteristics of the lower limbs that are considered more primitive

Answer 10

• Femurs more parallel

- arms longer than legs

Question 11

2 characteristics of the lower limbs that are considered more modern

Answer 11

• Femurs sloping inwards towards knee

- Arms shorter than legs

Question 12

Australopithecus afarensis characteristics (Time, Location, height, cranial capacity, skull, teeth and jaw, Limbs, pelvis)

Answer 12

• 3.9 to 2.8 MYA
• East africa
• 150 cm tall
• Cranial capacity: 430 cm3
• Skull: Low, sloping forehead, prominent brow ridges, short sagittal crest in males
• Teeth and Jaw: Prognathic jaw, small canine teeth (but larger than A. africanus), diastema present
• Limbs: Big toe not opposable, long arms but shorter than legs, long curved fingers and toes
• Pelvis: Short and wide

Question 13

Australopithecus africanus characteristics (Time, Location, height, cranial capacity, skull, teeth and jaw, Limbs, pelvis)

Answer 13

• 3.2 to 2 MYA
• Southern Africa
• 135 cm tall
• Cranial capacity: 457 cm3
• Skull: slightly arched forehead, smaller brow ridge
• Teeth and jaw: Prognathic jaw, Smaller incisors and canines, large molar and pre-molars, no diastema
• Limbs: Big toe not opposable, long arms but shorter than legs, some curvature of finger and toe bones
• Pelvis: short and wide pelvis, less rounded than in modern humans

Question 14

Paranthropus robustus characteristics

Answer 14

• 1.8 to 1.2 million years ago
• South Africa
• 1.2 m tall
• Cranial capacity: 542 cm3
• Skull: Large sagittal crest for attachment of strong chewing muscles, heavy brow ridges
• Teeth and Jaw: Very large molars and pre-molars with small incisors and canines by comparison, prognathism although less than australopithecines, wide dish shaped shaped face with large zygomatic arches

Question 15

Homo habilis characteristics

Answer 15

• 2.3 to 1.5 MYA
• Eastern and southern africa
• 130 cm tall
• cranial capacity: 590 cm3
• Skull: Rounder skull, small brow ridge, central foramen magnum
• Teeth and jaw: moderate prognathism, teeth arranged in rounder arc
• Limbs: relatively short arms and legs, slightly curved finger bones indicating strong power grip and able to form precision grip

Question 16

Homo erectus characteristics

Answer 16

• 2 MYA
• 145 to 185 cm tall
• Cranial capacity: 1004 cm3
• Skull: Low sloping forehead, defined brow ridges
• Teeth and jaw: large think jaw without chin, reduced size of molars
• Limbs: Short, stocky body with thicker bones, suggesting a demanding lifestyle

Question 17

Homo neanderthalensis characteristics (Time, Location, height, body type, cranial capacity, skull, teeth and jaw, Limbs, pelvis, ribcage)

Answer 17

• 28,000 to 300,000 years ago
• Europe and middle east
• 168 cm tall
• Body type: Shorter more robust and muscular than modern humans, wider shoulders
• Cranial capacity: 1485 cm3
• Skull: Occipital bun at the back of the skull, thick brow ridges, receding forehead, flared zygomatic arches, long and low brain case
• Teeth and jaw: Larger more robust prognathic jaw, lacking a chin, larger teeth
• Limbs: Thick limbs with large joints, shorter
• Pelvis: wider than humans
• Ribcage: Barrel shaped

Question 18

Homo sapiens characteristics (Time, Location, height, body type, cranial capacity, skull, teeth and jaw, Limbs, pelvis, ribcage)

Answer 18

• 300,000 years ago to present
• worldwide
• 175 cm tall
• Body type: short slender trunks and long limbs
• Cranial capacity: 1350 cm3
• Skull: Short base and high brain case
• Teeth and jaw: Short jaw, bony chin, small teeth
• limbs: long legs compared with the arms, straight fingers and toes
• Ribcage: less barrel shaped

Question 19

Culture

Answer 19

Anything that is learnt

Question 20

Cultural evolution

Answer 20

Cultural development that occurs as a means of overcoming environmental and other challenges

Question 21

Cro magnon people

Answer 21

The first anatomically modern people found in Europe

Question 22

Oldowan tools

Answer 22

A very simple tool made by removing several flakes from a stone. The stone tool culture of Homo habilis

Question 23

which species first used fire

Answer 23

Homo erectus

Question 24

Acheulian tools

Answer 24

A type of hand axe that was flaked all around the edges, first in one direction, and then in the other, until it forms a roughly 2 faced lump, approximately a teardrop shape. Associated with Homo erectus

Question 25

Mousterian industry

Answer 25

Describes a tool characterised by the careful preparation of a stone core from which a large number of flakes could be removed. Associated with Homo neanderthalensis

Question 26

Levallois technique

Answer 26

The process of producing a flake from a stone core, flakes normally had a flat side and sharp cutting edges

Question 27

Hafting

Answer 27

The process of attaching a stone tool to a handle, spear or arrow

Question 28

Aurignacian tools

Answer 28

The tool culture of stone, bone and antler associated with Cro magnon people

Question 29

Solutrean culture

Answer 29

Stone tool culture characterised by pressure flaking stones to produce beautifully made willow leaf and laurel leaf points. Associated with the later Cro magnon people

Question 30

Magdalenian culture

Answer 30

A prehistoric culture known for predominance of bone and antler over flint and stone tools, and for the works of art they produced

Question 31

order of the cultural periods of tools and the species associated with them

Answer 31

- Oldowan (2.6 to 1.7 MYA) Homo habilis - Acheulian (1.7 mil to 200,000) Homo erectus - Mousterian (200,000-40,000) Homo neanderthalensis - Aurignacian (43,000 - 26,000) Homo sapiens - Solutrean (22,000 - 19,000) Homo sapiens - Magdalenian (18,000 - 12,000) Homo sapiens

Question 32

What are the general trends of tool use in human evolution

Answer 32

- Increased manipulation of materials - Increased complexity of tools - Greater variety of materials being used to make tools - Improved workmanship and development of equipment needed to manufacture the tools - Increased specialisation of tools