ANTH-101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Taphonomy, Homo Heidelbergensis, Homo Ergaster
Document Summary
Ethe fossil record and human origins: an introduction to hominin evolution. Define macroevolution and discuss the material evidence used in interpreting fossil remains. Outline the four major trends in hominin evolution through discussion of the skeletal and dental morphology and evidence of culture of australopithecus, homo habilis, homo erectus and homo sapiens (including neandertals). Describe the traditional theories exploring the emergence of homo sapiens and the peopling of the americas. The study of comparative anatomy of living organisms: primatology, paleoanthropology: investigate human origins. Hominin: a bipedal hominoid: includes humans and near humans (e. g. australopithecines) First appear in africa ~5-10 million years ago: hominid great apes and humans; previously the main term. Australopithecus ( austra southern or south; pithicus ape) The oldest known hominins: found exclusively in africa; lower paleolithic, fragmentary remains; number of species debated. Gracile australopithecines: a. afarensis (3. 9-3. 0 mya, a. africanus (3-2 mya) Robust australopithecines (some refer to them as a separate genus paranthropus: a. robustus (2-1. 5 mya)
