Revised UCSP U2 Module 3 Bio-cultural and Socio-cultural Evolution PDF

Module 3: Looking Back at Human Bio-cultural and Social Evolution CHAPTER OBJECTIVES Trace the biological and cultural evolution of early to modern humans. Explore the significance of human material remains and artefactual evidence in interpreting cultural and social, includi...

Module 3: Looking Back at Human Bio-cultural and Social Evolution CHAPTER OBJECTIVES Trace the biological and cultural evolution of early to modern humans. Explore the significance of human material remains and artefactual evidence in interpreting cultural and social, including political and economic processes. Recognize national, local, and specialized museums, and archaeological and historical sites as venues to appreciate and reflect on the complexities of biocultural and social evolution as part of being and becoming human. INTRODUCTION A molar, a small portion of a skeleton, a piece of a flake tool: What do these things have in common? Why are these things of interest to scientists, especially paleoanthropologists? These seemingly ordinary things hold a world of intrigue and mystery for those who delve into their depths. To understand the nature of things and social reality, we need to have a broad information base and a proper tool to decipher the clues that are always available for discovery. Experts rely on scientific investigation or methods to arrive at certainty. What is common among the things mentioned is that first, it interests those who wish to understand the nature of man and society. Second, it opens an opportunity for a scientific inquiry that will lead to understanding the nature of man and society. Lastly, they give scientists additional evidence to understand human physical and cultural evolution. One of those who are interested in the things mentioned is a Paleoanthropologist. Paleoanthropology is the study of ancient humans. It is an interdisciplinary branch of Anthropology concerned with the origins and development of early humans. Another is an Archeologist. Archeology is the study of the human past using material remains. These remains can be any objects people created, modified, or used. Those who engage in the scientific study of ancient humans look for and investigate fossils (remnant, impression, or trace of an animal or plant of a past geologic age that has been preserved in Earth’s crust) and artifacts (including tools, clothing, and decorations made by people). They provide essential clues for researchers studying human ancestors and ancient cultures. Activity 1: Watch Out! Watch a documentary (Dawnn of Humanity) on human evolution through this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzLJAa5X4Fo&t=56s, and answer the following questions afterward. 1. You were one of those scientists studying the complete skeleton of “Lucy” (Australopithecus afarensis). Which of Lucy’s skeletons is more similar to a chimpanzee? Which are more similar to humans? 2. Do humans evolve from monkeys? DIGGING FOR CONNECTIONS Around 5 million years ago, our ancestors were little more than bipedal apes, confined to a few African regions. Today, humans dominate Earth because of the human brain and cultural inventions. We have invaded every corner of the planet. What were those creatures like, and how did they begin their evolutionary journey? Theories suggest that during hominin (members of the human family) evolution, several major structural features throughout the body have been reorganized, facilitating efficient bipedal locomotion. These are, according to Jurmain, et. al (2018); 1) The repositioning of the foramen magnum, the opening at the base of the skull through which the spinal cord emerges; 2) The addition of spinal curves that help transmit the weight of the upper body to the hips in an upright posture; 3) Shortening and broadening of the pelvis and the stabilization of weight transmission; 4) lengthening of the hind limb, thus increasing stride length; 5) Angling of the femur inward to bring the knees and feet closer together under the body; and 6) Several structural changes in the foot, including the development of a longitudinal arch and realignment of the big toe in parallel with the other toes. Bipedalism evolved as a new locomotor strategy during the late Miocene among the earliest hominin lineage. This new form of locomotion evolved in a mosaic pattern from habitual bipedalism toward obligate bipedalism. Figure 1. The hominin evolution https://cdn.britannica.com/60/94660-050-DC91376F/divergence-humans-apes-ancestor.jpg BIOCULTURAL EVOLUTION: The Human Capacity for Culture Aside from walking bipedally, one of the most distinctive characteristics of the human species is the capacity to elaborate and depend on culture. Other primates modify their environment, but experts agree that only humans can possess culture. Culture is the totality of shared and socially transmitted behavior (Schaefer, 2010). It involves much more than toolmaking capacity. It integrates an adaptive strategy involving cognitive, political, social, and economic components. It is a human strategy for adaptation. Because of the limited evidence and mostly available material culture, it is challenging to learn anything about the earliest stages of hominin cultural development before the regular manufacture of stone tools. According to Semaw et al. (2003), cultural development has been traced to approximately 2.6 million years ago. As Potts (1991) elaborated, humans can easily carry objects from place to place through bipedalism. As cognitive abilities developed, more efficient means of communication and learning resulted. Because of the consequent neurological reorganization, more elaborate tools and social relationships have emerged (Jurmain et al., 2018). Archeologists study the most common residue – stone – to understand prehistoric cultural behavior. Scientists refer to these stone tools manufactured and developed by early hominins as stone tool industries. Stone Tool (Lithic) Technology The Oldowan is the oldest-known stone tool industry. Dating as far back as 2.5 million years ago, these tools are a significant milestone in human evolutionary history. This industry represents the earliest evidence of cultural behavior. The Homo habilis, an ancestor of Homo sapiens, manufactured Oldowan tools. This was first discovered at Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania. Oldowan artifacts have been recovered from several localities in eastern, central, and southern Africa, the oldest of which is a site at Gona, Ethiopia. Oldowan technology is typified by what are known as "choppers." Choppers are stone cores with flakes removed from part of the surface, creating a sharpened edge used for cutting, chopping, and scraping. Microscopic surface analysis of the flakes struck from cores has shown that some of these flakes were also used as tools for cutting plants and butchering animals. Figure2. The Oldowan industry https://anthromuseum.missouri.edu/e-exhibits/oldowan-and-acheulean-stone-tools Around 1.6 million years ago, a new stone tool kit is developed in Africa. It is called Acheulian. These tools primarily consisted of bifacial hand axes and cleavers, which were more specialized and transported over longer distances. The Acheulian stone tool technology dispersed outside Africa but continued to show regional variation. Homo erectus was able to move into a different environment and successfully adapt to new conditions using this technology. Acheulean stone tools - named after the site of St. Acheul on the Somme River in France. Figure 3. The Acheulian industry https://anthromuseum.missouri.edu/e-exhibits/oldowan-and-acheulean-stone-tools Another significant achievement of pre-modern humans is the Mousterian stone tool industry. Neanderthals, who lived in the cultural period known as the Middle Paleolithic, are often associated with the Mousterian stone tool industry. However, they are not the only hominin group related to these tools. They extended and diversified traditional methods of making tools, indicating that they developed specialized tools for skinning and paring meat, hunting, woodworking, and hafting. A more significant proportion of flake tools characterizes this industry. This stone tool industry is in Europe, North Africa, and Central Asia. Figure 4. The Mousterian industry https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mousterian-industry#/media/1/395112/139175 The Upper Paleolithic is a cultural period showing many technological innovations, the development of more sophisticated (cave) art, and very elaborate burials rich in grave goods. Modern humans of the upper Paleolithic not only invented new specialized tools but also experimented with and used new materials such as bone, ivory, and antlers. Similar cultural developments occurred in Eurasia, Africa, and Indonesia. This is usually divided into five different industries based on stone tool industries: Chatelperronian, Aurignacian (beginning about 40,000 years ago associated with the Cro-Magnon), Gravettian, Solutrean (skill in modifying rock called knapping developed to the finest degree), and Magdalenian (last phase of the Upper Paleolithic stone tool industry in Europe). Figure 5. Chatelperronian industry https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0047248416000270 Figure 6. The Aurignacian industry Animal teeth from the Aurignacian culture used as ornaments. From Vanhaeren M, d’Errico F. Aurignacian ethno-linguistic geography of Europe revealed by personal ornaments. J Archeol Sci 2006;33:1105–28; https://s-media-cache- ak0.pinimg.com/564x/2f/58/8f/2f588fcf89355f934e774dc5ef3e4806.jpg. Figure 7. The Gravettian industry https://donsmaps.com/lagravette.html Figure 8. The Solutrean industry https://www.stoneagetools.co.uk/solutrean-theory.htm Figure 9. The Magdalenian industry https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/magdalenian Essential Question. Fossils and artifacts have shown that several species of hominins existed, but only humans have been naturally selected and survived. Based on available evidence, how is that so? THE SOCIOCULTURAL EVOLUTION With more than seven billion people living on Earth, seeing how an intricate web of connections and interactions influences our lives is challenging. Because of societal change, today’s way of life will be different by the next day. Ordinarily, people take for granted the change in people's way of life through time, but not for a sociologist and an anthropologist. To understand the nature of man and society is a thrilling pastime for them. What is society? What influences societal change? A society is a group of people who share a culture and a territory. It consists of individuals who live together in a specific geographic area, who interact more with each other than they do with outsiders, and who cooperate to attain common goals. Emile Durkheim pictured a continuum between simple and complex societies. He described simple premodern societies as held together by mechanical solidarity characterized by shared beliefs, values, and emotional ties. Members of premodern societies tend to think the same way about important matters, and everyone fulfills their expected social positions. As societies transformed, they became more complex through increasingly complex division of labor and changes in how people carried out necessary tasks for survival. Societies with specialized and interdependent social positions are held together by organic solidarity. Society can also be analyzed through the perspective of Gerhard Lenski. Lenski theorized that society changes over time. He classified society into five types: 1) Hunting and Gathering – the first type of society that emerged around 30-40 thousand years ago, people used basic tools to help them hunt wild animals and gather wild plants for food. They are small nomadic groups without permanent settlement. There is little to no social inequality because resources are shared with all members. Figure 10. Hunting and gathering society https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.history.com%2Ftopics%2Fpre-history%2Fhunter- gatherers&psig=AOvVaw1zIlund5Rqp5rtk0ztq95W&ust=1716257169998000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBIQjRxqGAoTCOjxxamSm4YDFQAAAAAdAAAAABC YAQ 2) Horticultural and Pastoral – around 12,000 years ago, the domestication of animals and cultivation of plants led society to change. Pastoral is still nomadic, while Horticultural has shown the first human settlement. Accumulation of material surplus started, resulting in specialization and social inequality. Figure 11. Horticultural society https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2Fthe-study-of-international-team-led-by-harvard-medical-school-reveals-three- genetically-distinct-farming-popul-- 591238257301080965%2F&psig=AOvVaw2x6jBKr1tbnSEkKcqFhNcp&ust=1716258391225000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBIQjRxqFwoTCNir8O- Wm4YDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAS Figure 12. Pastoral society https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.shh.mpg.de%2F1977786%2Ftaylor- sheep&psig=AOvVaw3fsylu7odFMU0dZDbNuW9q&ust=1716258561277000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBIQjRxqFwoTCLip1dOYm4YDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAJ 3) Agrarian – developed 5000 years ago with better farming techniques like an animal-drawn plow. There is a permanent settlement. More material surplus, specialization, and inequality. Figure 13. Agricultural society https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.khanacademy.org%2Fhumanities%2Fwhp-origins%2Fera-3-cities-societies-and-empires-6000-bce-to-700-c- e%2F33-comparing-early-agrarian-societies-betaa%2Fa%2Fread-introduction-to-agrarian-societies-beta&psig=AOvVaw2lBGD6MC- 5St1PT8gY8zod&ust=1716256347287000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBIQjRxqFwoTCOiIlvePm4YDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAp 4) Industrial – around 1750, with the birth of the Industrial Revolution, production shifted from animal and human power to machine power. There is centralization of almost everything. Capital-based economy emerged. More material surplus, specialization, and inequality. Figure 13. Industrial society https://mark-hofmeister.medium.com/critique-of-industrial-society-and-its-future-475d27b915d4  5) Post-industrial – emerged with the development of computers. This is characterized by an economy based on information, services, and technology. Figure 15. Post-industrial society https://cdn.britannica.com/01/129401-050-0EEFB558/school-computer-lab-computers-area-network-resources.jpg The change in society from one type to another is due to technology. Lenski focused on technology as the primary source of societal change through a process he called sociocultural evolution (the changes that occur as society gains new technology). Activity 2: Let’s Apply! Create an infographic describing the Philippines based on Gerhard Lenski’s sociocultural evolution. References: Ballantine, J. H. (2016). Our Social World: Introduction to Sociology. Los Angeles, CA: Sage. Jurmain, R., et al. (2018). Physical Anthropology. 15th Edition. Boston, USA: Cengage Learning. Kottak, C. P. (2019). Cultural Anthropology. 18th Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill. Schaefer, R. (2014). Sociology Matters. 6th Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill. Online References: https://www.stoneagetools.co.uk/solutrean-theory.htm https://www.britannica.com/science/fossil https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/artifacts/ https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17148/oldowan-industry-chopper/ https://anthromuseum.missouri.edu/e-exhibits/oldowan-and-acheulean-stone-tools https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0047248416000270