ANT 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: Mousterian, Oldowan, Acheulean
Document Summary
Much more human-like body proportions than previous hominins. Earlier hominins: short legs apparently restricted to wooded areas. Moved short distances on the ground: ergaster longer legs entire body more efficient, human-like walking and endurance running. **occipital torus** (not in earlier specimens or in modern humans) First discovered in java difficult to date fossils. Homo erectus in indonesia and china persisted until perhaps 30,000 years ago. Little increase in technological innovation or behavioral flexibility. A few archaeological sites appear to preserve evidence for controlled use of fire by early. But difficult to rule out natural burning. Zoukoudian (china) ~500 kya: burnt bones and stones & what appear to be layers of ash. But, chemical analyses have failed to find wood ash or charcoal in the layers. After ~130 kya: abundant evidence of simple fireplaces e. g. , sterkfontein in south. After 130kya: many archaeological sites in caves before 130kya: most archaeological sites in open air may explain absence of evidence before 130kya.
