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Early Hominids Evolution & Characteristics Summary

Explore the evolution of early hominids from Australopithecus to Homo habilis, focusing on key characteristics, sites, dating techniques, and notable findings in South Africa and East Africa. Learn about their cranial capacities, locomotion, tool use, and possible descendants in the timeline of human evolution.

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Early Hominids Evolution & Characteristics Summary

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  1. Early hominids A.africanus A.robustus/A. boisei H.habilis

  2. SA dating techniques • Chronometric techniques not possible in SA • Correlate with Plio-pleistocene fauna at the East African sites • Breccia • Secondary deposits: Bob Brain • South African sites: 4.4 – 1.5 mya

  3. Australopithecus africanus • 3.6 to 1.4 mya (South Africa) • 410 – 533 cc • Increased cranial capacity • Reduction in face and tooth size • No semi-sectorial premolar, no canine diastema • Descendants: Homo and Robust australopithecines

  4. Little foot (3.6 to 4.4 mya) • Sterkfontein Cave • Ron Clarke & team - 1998 • Evidence of hominid locomotion

  5. Taung child – 2.0 mya • Raymond Dart -1924 • Child between 3 – 4 years of age

  6. Mr (s). Ples (Sterkfontein)

  7. Mr (s) Ples (2.5 mya)

  8. "Robust"australopithecines • 2.5 mya climate changes and becomes more dry/ savannah • Robust forms are seen in both East and South Africa • ‘Robust’ refers to cranial architecture while body size is the same as a. africanus

  9. A. robustus • 2.0 to 1.5 mya • Cranial capacity: 587 cc • Robust masticatory apparatus • Grinding of hard foods: seeds, tubers etc • No descendants? contemporaneous with h. habilis

  10. Swartkrans – 1.5 mya

  11. Mr. Ples (2.5 mya) Swartkrans (1.5 mya)

  12. A. boisei • Hyper-robust hominids: East Africa: 2.3 to 1.0 mya • Zinjanthropus : 1.75 mya (Olduvai) • 60% size of a. aethiopicus • No descendants, contemporaneous with H.habilis • More specialized diet than a. robustus

  13. Genus: Homo • 2.3 to 1.5 mya • Increase in brain size • Posterior teeth decrease in size • Elongated thumb, shortened fingers, precision grip (tool development) • Visible anterior nasal spine • Short cranial base, foramen magnum more anteriorly placed.

  14. Homo habilis • Olduvai Gorge, Koobi Fora, South Africa • 631 - 775 cm3 • Oldowan tool makers • Immediate use • Cores, crude flakes, hammerstones • Ancestors: a. africanus • Descendants: other early h.sapiens and h. erectus

  15. A. robustus & H. habilis 1:2 • Sexual dimorphism used to assess taxonomic classifications • Dental measurements (MD/BL) for 1st molars • Modern humans and Vervets: • MD/BL ratio low in males (1.06 to 1.09) and high in females (1.11 to 1.14)

  16. A. robustus & H. habilis 2:2 • A. robustus MD/BL ratio 1.08 ± 0.06 • Early homo MD/BL ratio 1.13 ± 0.07 • This suggests that some species assigned to A. robustus and early homo are conspecific

  17. Summary 1:2 • Pre-Australopithecines (7.0 to 4.4 mya) • Sahelanthropus, Orrorin and Ardipithecus • bipedal • primitive dentition • Australopithecines (4.2 to 3.2 mya) • A. afarensis, A.africanus • Small brain, large teeth, and bipedal

  18. Summary 2:2 • Australopithecines (derived) 2.5 to 1.4 mya • "robust" australopithecines (paranthropus) • Facial architecture • Early Homo (2.4 to 1.8 mya) • Decrease in dentition • Greater encephalization

  19. Generalizations • From the earliest hominids to homo habilis • Efficient bipeds • Increase in brain size relative to body size • Decrease in tooth size • Increase in the manipulation of tools

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