GEOL 107 Lecture Notes - Lecture 32: Archaic Humans, Homo Habilis, Homo Erectus

• School: Queen's University
• Department: Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering
• Course: GEOL 107
• Professor: Guy M Narbonne

Document Summary

Geol 107 / geoe 207 -- history of life. Genus homo is characterized by a human (shorter) face and larger brain size (typically 1000-1700 ml) than the australopithecines. Barrel-shaped rather than funnel-shaped rib cage would dramatically increase athleticism and reflects a more nutritious diet. Fingers metatarsal longer (better adapted for tool making but not climbing) As with the australopithecines many names have been applied, but both cowen and i believe in simplifying the nomenclature to a few main species. This lecture will concentrate on key developments in the rapid evolution of technology and culture: homo habilis (2. 3-1. 6 ma) Halfway between australopithecus and homo (some workers refer to this species as. Had many aspects of homo morphology, but had a brain-size only slightly larger than that of australopithecus. Habilis means handyman , a name derived from the abundant evidence of tools (oldowan hammerstones and simple flakes) that were constructed opportunistically and discarded after use.