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Hominid Evolution

Explore the fascinating evolution of hominids from early bipedal traits to the emergence of Homo sapiens. Discover key trends, adaptations, and major fossil finds, shedding light on the diverse pathways that led to modern humans.

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Hominid Evolution

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  1. Hominid Evolution

  2. When? Where? • Evolution Timeline

  3. Trends • Bipedalism • African genesis • Savannas? • Environmental variability? • factors favoring bipedalism • modifications for bipedalism • costs of bipedalism

  4. Hominid Trends (cont.) • Expansion of Brain • early hominids = small brains • factors contributing to expansion • Other Trends • reduction of face / teeth / jaws • wider female pelvis • longer infant dependency • division of labor

  5. Australopithecines • Fossil Finds • plentiful sites (Africa) • indicate bipedalism

  6. Australopithecines (cont.) • Adaptations of Australopithecines • dentition • habitation • sexual dimorphism • brain size increasing • habitual bipedalism • use of tools

  7. Homo habilis • Introduction • appeared 2.5 mya • stone tools • traits • larger brain size • elaboration of culture • elaboration of tools • dentition

  8. Homo habilis (cont.) • Cultural Characteristics of Homo habilis • Oldowan pebble tools • unifacial & bifacial • percussion flaking • increased consumption of meat • exploited wide range of animals • mobile populations

  9. Homo erectus • Introduction • widely distributed species • Early Discoveries • “Java Man” • Eugene Dubois – 1891 • Thought to have Asian origin • Other finds • 1950’s – Africa • Indicated earliest presence was African continent

  10. Homo erectus (cont.) • Physical Traits of Homo erectus • increasing brain size • thick skull • face reducing • molars reduced

  11. Homo erectus (cont.) • Acheulian Tool Tradition • St. Acheul, France - first discovery • comparison to Oldowan tools • more elaborate • tools for butchering

  12. Homo erectus (cont.) • Control of Fire • Zhoukoudian Cave, China • Uses of fire • Campsites • near water sites • caves and open areas • base camps? specialized camps? • Terra Amata- near Nice, France

  13. Transition from Homo erectus • areas of agreement • areas of disagreement • fossils with mixed traits • Africa / Europe / Asia • fossils < 200,000 years old • definitely Homo sapiens

  14. Two Origin Theories • Single-origin theory (hatrack) • modern humans evolved in one place • spread rapidly to other areas • superseded Neanderthals • DNA evidence • “Eve” hypothesis • Out-of-Africa

  15. Two Origin Theories (cont.) • Multiregional theory (candelabra) • modern humans evolved in various parts of the Old World • evolved from widely dispersed H. erectus populations • resulted in wide varieties of humans we observe today

  16. Two Origin Theories (cont.) • Multiregional theory (cont.) • Neanderthals were “transitional” form

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