ANT 202 Midterm II Study Guide PDF

Megafauna Big Animals Extinctions In Diprotodon went extinct here (25,000 years ago) Australia Diprotodon Gigantic Extinct Marsupial Extinction in the - 37 Genera go extinct at end of Pleistocene (began Americas 12,000 year...

Megafauna Big Animals Extinctions In Diprotodon went extinct here (25,000 years ago) Australia Diprotodon Gigantic Extinct Marsupial Extinction in the - 37 Genera go extinct at end of Pleistocene (began Americas 12,000 years ago) - Flightless duck aka Chendytes Lawi went extinct 450 - 250 BCE or 2450 years ago Beringia Submerged landmass that used to bridge the gap between North America and Asia connecting Alaska and Russia/Siberia with dry land - During the peak of the last Ice Age (Last Glacial Maximum) low sea levels exposed land area between Siberia and Alaska —> Beringia - 17,000 - 24,000 BP = too much ice - 15,000 - 14,000 BP = Ice Free Corridors opens - 12,900 BP = Beringia submerged again Pleistocene AKA Ice Ages —-> 2.6 million - 10,000 BP Ice Free Corridors Beringia opens passage 15,000 - 14,000 BP Siberia to North (IFC) America Coastal Migration Route of possible first migrants to the Americas, along the Route coast of Alaska and British Columbia Laurentide/ Major features of the Pleistocene, covering most of North Cordilleran Ice Sheets America and Canada, when it melted it allowed for an Ice Free Corridor for migration 15,000 - 12, 000 years ago Last Glacial Maximum Most recent global cooling (20,000 BP) Near Oceania Greater biodiversity, settled by humans earlier than Remote Oceania, oldest settled part of Oceania (settled by polynesian people from southeast Asia) (islands like Melansia) Remote Oceania Settled by humans within the last 5,000 to 5,500 years ago (islands like Fiji) Polynesian Triangle Polynesia (samoa) 1,000 BC, Tahiti 2,200, Easter Island (1,200 - 800 BP), Hawaii (1,200 - 800 BP), New Zealand (800 Bp) = All defined by language and dialects Ethnocentrism Belief that one’s ethnic group is superior to another Diffusion vs. The spread of cultural traits via direct contact vs. similar Independent Invention cultural ideas being made around the same time just by coincidence Sunda The merged land masses of many of the Southeast Asian Islands (such as indonesia) and mainland Southeast Asia during Pleistocene; they were connected to each other by land exposed because of low sea levels Sahul The merged land masses of Australia and New Guinea during the Pleistocene; they were connected to each other by land exposed because of low sea levels Wallacea A region in Indonesia and Timor Leste that is between the Sunda and Sahul land masses - There are species there that are found nowhere else on earth Narrow Spectrum Generally on mammoths and a few other large animals, Hunting basic plant eating Broad Spectrum Many more types of animals, fish, plants even including Hunting preparing acorns Complex Hunting Sedentary, High population Density, often focused on aquatic resources. Generalized Hunting Highly mobile, hunting a wide variety of animals (less open minded version of broad spectrum) K-T Impact Event Global extinction event responsible for eliminating approx. 80% of all animal species 12,900 BP. May have had extraterrestrial impact, and may have caused the extinction of the megafauna Nanodiamond Microscopic diamonds that denote catastrophic explosions Magnetic Spherules Produced by meteors, used as proof of YD impact Younger Dryas Supposedly caused by impact 12,900 - 11,500 BP. Got cold Climatic Event and dry really fast all of a sudden then rebounded a lot Chiefdom Small community led by chiefs, who report to higher authority paramount cheifs Paramount Chiefs Highest ranking chiefs In Situ In original place or on site —> leaving where it was found or studying it where it was found Domestication of the Earliest example of humans forming a close relationship dog with another species. By Natufians at 14 - 13,000 BP Tunguska Event Massive explosion —> remote part of Siberia, Russia near Tunguska River on June 30th 1908 —> largest known impact Black Mat Dark layer of soil found in North America that dates back to 12,800 years ago —> happened right after last ice age Austronesian language Originated in Taiwan around 5,000 - 6,000 years ago family - Largest and most widespread language families - Provides insight into human migration and cultural exchange Seasonal Traditional way of moving livestock between different areas Transhumance based on season. Helped insure animals have food year round by relocating them Storage How ancient people stored resources Species: Cro Magnon (European 35,000 BP Homo sapiens sapiens) - At Abri Pataud, France Cro Magnons specialized in reindeer hunting because of the high population of reindeer migrating through the area - At Dolni Vestonice in Czech Republic Cro Magnons were mammoth hunters Homo floresiensis Nicknamed "The Hobbit" for its small stature. Lived on the Indonesian island of Flores. Dates back to around 100,000 to 60,000 years ago. Known for small brains but sophisticated stone tools. Homo sapiens sapiens Anatomically modern humans, our species. Originated in Africa about 300,000 years ago. Highly adaptable, with advanced tool use and symbolic culture. The Denisovans An extinct group of humans closely related to Neanderthals. Known from fossils in Denisova Cave, Siberia. Genetic evidence shows interbreeding with modern humans, especially in Asia and Oceania. CULTURES/PEOPLE Clovis Early Paleo-Indian culture in North America, dating to around 13,000 years ago. Known for distinctive fluted projectile points. Kennewick Man Ancient skeletal remains found in Washington State, dating to around 8,500 years ago. Controversial in terms of Native American affiliation. Chumash, Tongva, Paiute, Yurok, Kwakiutl Indigenous groups from the western U.S., each with unique cultures, languages, and histories. Chumash: Known for marine resource use and tomolo (sewn-plank canoes). Yurok: Used fishing weirs along rivers for salmon. Paleocoastal Peoples Early coastal settlers who used maritime resources in the Americas. Natufians A Late Epipaleolithic culture in the Levant (~12,500–9,500 BCE). Known for early farming practices and the first permanent villages. ARTIFACTS/FEATURES/FAUNAL REMAINS Ground-edge axes Stone tools with edges sharpened through grinding. Earliest found in Australia, dating to about 35,000 years ago. Microblades  Small, sharp stone blades used by ancient people across Asia and North America. Fluted projectile points (Clovis) Stone points with fluted bases for hafting onto spears, used by Clovis culture. Hiawatha Crater A massive crater beneath Greenland’s ice sheet, theorized to have formed around the Younger Dryas period. Chumash sewn-plank canoe (Tomolo) Unique, advanced plank-sewn boats used by the Chumash people. Lapita Pottery Pottery with intricate designs from the Lapita culture, important for tracing Austronesian migrations. Sweet Potatoes (Kumara) Evidence of Polynesian contact with South America due to genetic similarity. Coprolites Fossilized human feces, used to study ancient diets. Moai and Ahu Moai: Stone statues on Easter Island. Ahu: Stone platforms where Moai are placed. Mortar and Pestle; Bedrock Mortars Used to grind grains, seeds, and other foods, crucial for early agricultural societies. Ground Stone Tools shaped and smoothed by grinding, used for food processing. Contracting-stemmed projectile points Projectile points with narrowed stems, found in western North America. Solutrean Tools  Stone tools from the Solutrean culture in Europe (~21,000-17,000 BP), part of the Atlantic Maritime hypothesis. Basketry, Natufian bone sickles Basketry: Weaving plant fibers for containers. Bone sickles: Used by Natufians to harvest wild grains. Post Molds Dark soil stains showing where wooden posts once stood, indicating structures. Awl A pointed tool used for puncturing or sewing. Storage Pits Underground pits used for storing food or supplies. Hokuleia A replica of a traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe, used to demonstrate Pacific navigation. Bola Stone Weighted stones used in hunting. Ocean-going Dug-out Canoes Large canoes carved from single tree trunks, used for seafaring. Fishing Weir (Yurok) Wooden structures placed in rivers to catch fish, particularly salmon. SITES/LOCATIONS Liang Bua Cave, Island of Flores Site where Homo floresiensis remains were found. Tam Pa Ling Cave (TPL) Cave in Laos with early modern human remains, dating over 60,000 years. Abri Pataud Rock shelter in France with evidence of reindeer hunting by early humans. Dolni Vestonice Czech site with mammoth hunting and Venus figurines, dated to 25,000 years ago. Skhul, Mal’ta, Willandra Lakes (Lake Mungo), Madjedbebe Sites with early human remains or artifacts showing migration and adaptation. Tight Entrance Cave, Devil’s Lair Sites in Australia with evidence of early human occupation. Yana River, Ushki, Anzick Burial Siberian and North American sites showing early human presence. Monte Verde, Paisley Cave, Daisy Cave Sites in the Americas with early human evidence, challenging the Clovis-first theory. Arlington Man, Coopers Ferry, White Sands, New Mexico Evidence of early human presence in North America. THEORIES Pleistocene Overkill (Blitzkrieg) Hypothesis Suggests that humans hunted many large Ice Age animals to extinction. Kelp Highway Hypothesis Proposes coastal migration routes along the Pacific using marine resources. Atlantic Maritime Hypothesis (Solutrean) Suggests a possible European (Solutrean) migration to North America across the Atlantic. Extraterrestrial Impact Hypothesis (Younger Dryas Boundary/YDB Impact) Theory that a comet impact triggered the Younger Dryas cooling. Polynesian Contact with the New World Suggests Polynesian sailors reached South America; evidence includes shared crops like sweet potatoes. Ecocide or Collapse Model for Rapa Nui Theory that overuse of resources led to Easter Island's societal collapse. Rat Hypothesis Counters the "Ecocide" model, suggesting rats caused deforestation on Easter Island. Economic Intensification Describes societies increasing food production, either through agriculture or intensified foraging. INDIVIDUALS Paul S. Martin Proposed the Pleistocene Overkill hypothesis. Thor Heyerdahl Sailed the Kon-Tiki, theorizing Polynesian contact with South America. James Cook British explorer who mapped Pacific islands, opening them to European contact. Katherine Routledge Archaeologist who studied Easter Island’s Moai statues. Andrew Sharp Argued Polynesians reached islands by accidental drift, not navigation. Ben Finney Researched Polynesian voyaging and helped build the Hokuleia canoe. Eddie Aikau  Hawaiian surfer and lifeguard known for his contributions to Hawaiian culture. Esther Boserup Economist who argued population growth drives agricultural intensification. Mark Basgall Archaeologist known for research in California. Dorothy Garrod Archaeologist who studied Paleolithic sites, including Natufian culture. Jared Diamond Author of Collapse, proposing environmental factors for societal collapse. GENERAL TERMS Tell A mound created by many layers of human occupation over time. Common in ancient Middle Eastern sites like Tell Abu Hureyra. Domestication Process of humans selectively breeding plants and animals to emphasize desirable traits. Leads to changes in species that make them more suitable for human use. Fertile Crescent A region in the Middle East, spanning modern Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Egypt. Known as the birthplace of agriculture and early civilizations. Asian, African, New Guinea Domesticates and Their Dates Asia: Rice (~8,000 BCE), millet (~8,000 BCE), pigs (~8,000 BCE). Africa: Sorghum (~3,000 BCE), yams (~2,000 BCE), cattle (~7,000 BCE). New Guinea: Bananas and taro (~7,000 BCE). Neolithic "New Stone Age," beginning around 10,000 BCE.  Marked by the development of agriculture, animal domestication, and permanent settlements. Tough vs. Brittle Rachis in Plant Domestication Brittle rachis: Breaks easily, dispersing seeds naturally. Common in wild plants. Tough rachis: Stays intact, keeping seeds on the plant, making it easier to harvest. Selected in domesticated plants. CLIMATE AND HUMAN IMPACT Medieval Climatic Anomaly Period of warmer climate in Europe from around 950 to 1250 CE. Led to agricultural expansion and social changes in Europe. Perimortem Refers to injuries or modifications to bones occurring at or around the time of death. PATHWAYS TO ANIMAL DOMESTICATION Commensal Pathway Animals like dogs and cats were attracted to human settlements for food, eventually forming relationships with humans. Prey Pathway Animals initially hunted for food (e.g., sheep, goats) were gradually domesticated for more controlled breeding and resource management. Directed Pathway Humans intentionally domesticated certain animals (e.g., horses) for specific roles like transport or labor. Mutualism A symbiotic relationship where both humans and animals benefit, such as humans providing food and shelter to animals that help with tasks or provide food. CULTURES/PEOPLES Pre-Pottery Neolithic A (PPNA) Early Neolithic period (~10,000–8,500 BCE) in the Levant. Known for round, mud-brick structures and initial steps toward agriculture. SITES/LOCATIONS Jericho One of the oldest known settlements in the world, dating back to ~9,000 BCE. Known for its wall and tower, suggesting organized labor and social structure. Göbekli Tepe A ceremonial site in Turkey from around 9,500 BCE with massive stone pillars. Shows evidence of complex social behavior before agriculture. Tell Abu Hureyra Early site in Syria (~13,000–6,000 BCE) with evidence of the transition from foraging to farming. METHODS Archaeobotany Study of plant remains from archaeological sites. Helps identify diet, agricultural practices, and environmental conditions of ancient people. THEORIES/HYPOTHESES Economic Intensification (Pull Theory) Theory that agriculture developed as people sought to improve food productivity and availability, "pulling" societies toward farming. Oasis Hypothesis (Neolithic Revolution) (Push Theory)  Proposed by V. Gordon Childe, suggests people clustered near water sources (oases) during arid conditions, leading to agriculture as resources became limited. Population Pressure Hypothesis (Push Theory) Theory that increased population created a demand for more food, pushing societies to adopt agriculture. Overhunting Hypothesis Suggests that overhunting large animals led to food shortages, pushing humans toward domesticated resources and agriculture. Socio-political Evolution, Feasting, and the Transition to Agriculture Theory that social factors, like feasting and increased political organization, encouraged the cultivation of food to support community events and hierarchy. The “Nerd Hypothesis” Theory that domesticated animals were selectively bred to be smaller and more docile ("nerdy") for ease of handling. INDIVIDUALS V. Gordon Childe Archaeologist who proposed the "Neolithic Revolution" and "Oasis Hypothesis" as theories for the origins of agriculture. Dorothy Garrod Pioneering archaeologist who worked on Paleolithic sites in the Levant, notably on Natufian culture. Ester Boserup Economist known for her theory that population growth drives agricultural intensification. Kathleen Kenyon Archaeologist who excavated Jericho, uncovering its ancient walls and Neolithic layers. ARTIFACTS/FEATURES Mud-Brick Structures (Pre-Pottery Neolithic) Houses built from mud bricks, characteristic of early Neolithic sites like Jericho and Tell Abu Hureyra. Wall and Tower at Jericho Stone wall and round tower built around 8,000 BCE, indicating complex social organization and defensive strategies. What archaeological site produced evidence of mammoth bones and human teeth dated to 13,000 BP - Ushki What was the geographical feature known as Beringia during the Last Glacial Maximum? - A flat, treeless plain connecting Siberia and North America What is the primary focus of the study regarding Homo sapiens sapiens in Australia? - The interactions with megafauna and their extinctions - The primary focus of the study is on the interactions between Homo sapiens sapiens and megafauna in Australia, particularly how these interactions contributed to the extinctions of various megafauna species around 35,000 years ago. How does the discovery of mammoth bones support theories of human migration? - The discovery of mammoth bones indicates that humans co-existed with megafauna, providing evidence of their hunting practices and migration patterns. This supports theories of human migration during the Last Glacial Maximum in Beringia. What role did the Ice-Free Corridor play in human migrations? - The Ice-Free Corridor provided a crucial route between the Cordilleran and Laurentide Ice Sheets, allowing Homo sapiens to migrate southward into North America during the Last Glacial Maximum when other routes were blocked by ice.  What are the key characteristics of the Ice-Free Corridor for migration during the last glacial period? - The Ice-Free Corridor provided a route for migration. It was located between the Cordilleran and Laurentide Ice Sheets or that it opened around 15,000-14,000 years ago. What is the significance of the Clovis points found at archaeological sites? - They represent some of the earliest known tools in North America - They Indicated advanced hunting techniques - They suggested migration patterns of early humans - They provided us insight into prehistoric cultures and their interactions with the environment What does the discovery of human habitation in Beringia suggest about Homo sapiens migration patterns during the Last Glacial Maximum? - It suggests that early humans utilized Beringia as a land bridge for migration into North America when sea levels were lower. Discuss the theories surrounding the colonization of Oceania and the role of Austronesian languages. - Theories on Oceania's colonization include: - Near Oceania: Settled 30,000 years ago from Papua New Guinea, likely speaking Papuan languages. - Austronesian Expansion: Originated in Taiwan, spreading through Southeast Asia to Polynesia, bringing pigs and chickens. - Lapita Culture: Key in settling islands like Fiji and Samoa, using outrigger canoes and pottery. - Linguistic Evidence: Austronesian languages trace migration patterns and cultural exchanges. What role did pigs and chickens play in the settlement of Polynesian people? - They were significant for food supply and trade. - Evidence of early human settlement was found in Fiji dating back to 3,100 BP. Lapita pottery and remnants of domesticated pigs and chickens was found, suggesting a connection to the Austronesian language family and the migration patterns Near Oceania. How does the spread of sweet potatoes support contact between Polynesia and the New World? - Linguistic similarities and DNA evidence. What technology was crucial for long distance ocean voyages by Polynesians? - Sewn-plank boat technology How does sewn-plank boat technology contribute to our understanding of Polynesian voyaging capabilities? - Sewn-plank boat technology indicates advanced maritime skills, allowing for long-distance travel across vast oceanic distances, which facilitated exploration and settlement of remote islands How does the presence of mammoth bones and human teeth contribute to understanding of prehistoric humans? - It indicates human hunting them and coexisting with megafauna What is the significance of fluted points found at Clovis sites? - They demonstrate sophisticated techniques for hunting How did European contact influence the understanding of pre-European settlement in Oceania? - European contact provided historical accounts and artifacts that helped reconstruct the complex past of Oceania, integrating archaeological, genetic, and linguistic data to form a clearer picture of its settlement history.