ANT 131 Chapter Notes - Chapter 8: Thermoluminescence, Zhoukoudian, Absolute Dating
Document Summary
Bipedal locomotion freed hands for carrying objects and making/using tools. Hominins were bipedal for at least 2mya prior to first evidence of stone tools. Asia, africa, europe diverse group of hominoids emerged. Significant climate and land transformations: movements of s. america and australia from antarctica altered ocean currents. Allowed migration of animals from africa to sw asia. Widespread geographically, numerous, span entirety of miocene, poorly understood. More related to ape-human than old world monkeys or smaller-bodied apes. Relative dating tells you that something is older/younger than something else, but not by how much. Middle: 780 125 kya period characterized by widespread ice and snow cycles of glacial advance and retreat. Stratigraphy - based on superposition, lower stratum is older than higher one. Earth disturbances may shift the strata/materials in them; chronology is difficult/impossible to reconstruct. Thermoluminescence (tl) - release stored energy of radioactive decay as light. Fire use of fire by early humans.
