Lecture 21 notes.docx

Today’s Toics Hominin Origins History of Paleoanthropology Early Primate Evolution Epochs Holocene Pleistocene Pliocene Micoene 23- 5 mya “Golden age of hominoids” more closely related to the ape-human lineage than to OWM; Hominins( appear during the late Miocene Oligocene 33-23 mya: parapit...

Today’s Toics Hominin Origins History of Paleoanthropology Early Primate Evolution Epochs Holocene Pleistocene Pliocene Micoene 23- 5 mya “Golden age of hominoids” more closely related to the ape-human lineage than to OWM; Hominins( appear during the late Miocene Oligocene 33-23 mya: parapithecids (NWM like) and propliopithecids (OWM, apes, & humans) Eocene 56-33 mya: “True” primates- adapoids (lemur-like) & omomyoids (tarsier-like) Paleocene 65-56 mya: Plesiadapids may have been the 1st primates Biocultural Evolution 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 onegeneration to the next through learning and not by biological or genetic means Material culture is part of the cultural complex Anatomical Terms Cranial-portion of the skeleton that includes the skull & mandible (cranium) Postcranial-all or part of the skeleton NOT including the skull (vertebrae, ribs, limb bones, etc.) Hominin(s) is a/are: Name for members of tribe Hominini (bipedal hominoids) Defined by dental features, bipedal locomotion, large brain size, and tool making behavior Traditional Classification of hominoids Revised classification of hominoids Who were the first hominins? the first hominins appear in the late Miocene or early Pliocene (10-5 mya) Hominins are bipedal hominoids, or apes that walk on two legs Most early hominins are placed in the genus Australopithecus Some hominins eventually develop: Changes in their dentition (teeth) Expanded brains Reliance on tools and language, e.g., culture Mosaic Evolution Characteristics that developed at different rates A pattern of evolution in which the rate of evolution in one functional system varies from that in other systems In hominin evolution, bipedal locomotion is a defining characteristic; brain development & behavior become significant in later stages Locomotion Brain Dentition Tool Making Behaviors Modern Homo Sapiens Bipedal: shortened pelvis; larger body and legs; fingers & toes not as long Greatly increased brain size—highly encephalized Small incisors; canines further reduced; molar tooth enamel caps thick Stone tools found after 2.5 mya; trend of cultural dependency in later hominins Early Hominin Bipedal: shortened pelvis; differences from later hominins, smaller body and long arms relative to legs; long fingers and toes; capable of considerable climbing Larger than Miocene forms, moderately encephalized; prior to 6 mya, no more encephalized than chimpanzees Moderately large incisors; canines somewhat reduced; molar tooth enamel caps very thick In earliest stages unknown; no stone tool use prior to 2.5 mya; more oriented toward tool manufacture and use than chimpanzees Miocene, Generalized hominoid Quadrupedal: long pelvis; capable of considerable arm swinging, suspensory locomotion Small compared to hominins, large compared to other primates; a fair degree of encephalization Large front teeth; molar teeth variable, depending on species; some have thin enamel caps, others thick enamel caps Unknown—no stone tools; probably had capabilities similar to chimpanzees