...developed arch, somewhat curved, suggesting wasn’t fast on ground, but good in trees. Her face is distinctive, no chin to speak of. Researchers have clashed over whether LB1 really does represent a species of its own, a descendant of Homo erectus or a pathological form of Homo sapiens. These specimens may represent a new hominin species, Homo floresiensis, descended from a local population of Homo erectus or from an earlier migration of a small-bodied and small-brained hominin out of Africa. Scientists found that the LB1 skull shows greater affinities to the fossil Homo sample than to pathological modern humans. Although some superficial similarities were found between LB1 and skulls of modern humans with pathologies, additional features linked LB1 exclusively with fossil Homo. Shows that LB1 is “clearly distinct from healthy modern humans and from those exhibiting hypothyroidism and Laron syndrome. The mandibles evidence suggests mandibles “share a distinctive suite of traits that place them outside both the H.sapiens and H.erectus ranges of variation,” sharing similarities with Australopithecines and early Homo. Island dwarfism is one aspect of the more general "island rule", which posits that when mainland animals colonize islands, small species tend to evolve larger bodies, and large species tend to evolve smaller bodies. The impact...
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...Lifespan and longevity are hallmark to the existence of species. Life history, which lifespan and longevity spawn from, is the basis for species to exist and a necessity for evolution to happen (Carey et al. 2001:411-412). With regards to the importance of paleodietary shift within the hominin lineage, it is imperative to understand that diet has had a lasting influence to longevity and lifespan within the genus Homo. Why do modern humans have such high life expectancies compared to their ancestors, and how has life expectancy changed within the genus Homo as its species has evolved? As time has passed, life expectancy within the genus Homo has increased due to numerous dietary advancements, such as the shift from heavy chewing to hunter-gathering...
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...Human Fossil Report your name here Part I. Comparison Chart (roman numeral) = Name 1 = Genus and species 2 = Time frame and Location 3 = Brain Size 4 = Physical characteristics 5 = Height and weight 6 = Cultural -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Homo neanderthalensis 1. Homo, H neanderthalsensis 2. 400,000 - 40,000 years ago, Europe and southwestern to central asia 3. brains that were just as large as a human and often larger 4. features included their skulls having a large middle part of the face, angled cheek bones, and a huge nose for humidifying and warming cold, dry air. Their oval shaped skulls had a low, receding forehead and distinct browridges, with thick, strong bones. Their bodies were shorter and stockier than ours, another adaptation to living in cold environments. Their large skulls indicated brains that were just as large as ours and often larger. 5. Males average 5 ft 5 in (164 cm). Females average 5 ft 1 in (155 cm). Males average 143 lbs (65 kg). Females average 119 lbs (54 kg). 6. They created and used sophisticated tools, controlled fire, lived in shelters, made and wore clothing, as well as were skilled hunters of large animals. They also ate plants as food and occasionally made symbolic or ornamental objects. There is evidence that they deliberately buried their dead and occasionally even marked their graves with offerings such as flowers...
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...Human beings as a species seem set upon the task of proving ourselves superior to the rest of the animal kingdom. Many philosophical, psychological, biological, and anthropological questions are focused on discovering what makes humans different from other creatures. In essence, we want to know what makes humans human. This question can elicit lengthy debates about a homo sapiens’ mental capacity or moral compass, but perhaps one of the simplest ways to answer this question is to look at our physical bodies. The first thing one can notice about the human body structure, from our vertical curved spine to the relative length of our legs, is that we are meant to be bipedal. Bipedalism is often mentioned as a factor that defines us as humans. Gordon Hewes (1961) stated that “man’s upright posture and bipedal gait have been justly considered outstanding features of human nature…” (p. 687). There’s no denying that bipedalism is important to us now, but the concept of bipedalism brings about the issue of why. Why did our early ancestors...
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...Haydee Munoz 01063896 ANT2033 15- April-2010 Physioanatomical Analysis of Australopithecus Afarensis The first Australopithecus afarensis was found in 1974 by Don Johanson at Hadar in Ethiopia, Africa, and dates from about 3.9 to 3 million years ago. The very complete fossil is thought to be a female skeleton and it is called “Lucy” after a Beatles song. Because the skeleton is 40 percent complete, it facilitates a more accurate analysis in a broader sense. When comparing A. afarensis to a chimpanzee, a species with many traits that for hominins are considered primitive, and a modern human, it is concluded that the subject is very primitive, because it shows few developed traits. The Lucy skeleton is female and it is approximately 3 or 4 feet tall, while other A. afarensis male fossils have been found that are about 5 feet tall. While male chimpanzees average height is 4 feet tall and female average height is 3 feet tall, the male human height average is 5 feet 9 inches and the female average is 5 feet 3 inches. Therefore, like chimpanzees, Australopithecus afarensis has smaller body size than the modern human. Also, A. afarensis is sexually dimorphic, which is a trait that is common for attraction and reproduction among apes, while humans are not very different in body size among sexes. One of the most characteristic derived traits of modern humans is brain size. Modern humans have between 1150 to 1750 cm3, chimpanzees have 285 to 500 cm3, and A. afarensis...
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...discovered Shoulder Clavicle and scapula, humerus and the joint, some ligaments… The hominin shoulder passed through various different stages from our early ancestor to know (10) The clavicle is the only skeletal anchor to the torso, so this bone is very important in throwing because the torso is used. The clavicle length is also an important measure to know the position of the scapula (17) The pectoral girdle or shoulder girdle is the set of bones, which connects the upper limb to the axial skeleton on each side. It consists of the clavicle and scapula in humans and, in those species with three bones in the pectoral girdle, the coracoid. The glenoid cavity (or glenoid fossa of scapula from Greek: gléne, "socket") is a part of the shoulder. It is a shallow pyriform, articular surface, which is located...
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...In late 2013, numerous fossilized skeletons were discovered in the Dinaledi Chambers of South Africa’s Rising Star Cave System. Upon analysis, these remains were determined to have belonged to that of a previously unknown hominin, known now as Homo naledi. Popular consensus in the scientific community have seen H. naledi’s uncovering as a highly prominent discovery, one that will have potentially large ramifications on our current understanding of humanity and its evolution throughout time. The focus of this paper aims to discuss the current research that is being done on H. naledi, specifically its morphology and its intelligence. In addition, the criticism of H. naledi is discussed, and why some in the scientific community are skeptical in...
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...Extra Credit Critical Thinking Questions Chapter 8 #1: Do you thinking that knowing about aggression between groups of chimpanzees is useful in understanding conflicts between human societies? Why or why not? Answer: For many primate species, especially those whos ranges are small, contact with one or more other groups of conspecifics is a daily occurrence; and the nature of these encounters can vary from one species to another. Primate groups are associated with a home range, where they remain permanently. Within the home range is called a portion called the core area. This area contains the highest concentration of predictable resources, and it is where the group is most likely to be found. Although portions of the home range may overlap with that of one or more other groups, core areas of adjacent groups do not overlap. The core area can also be said to be a group’s territory, and it is the portion of the home range defended against intrusion. In some species, however, other areas of the home range may also be offended. Not all primates are territorial. In general, territoriality is associated with species whose ranges are sufficiently small to permit patrolling and protection. But male chimpanzees are highly intolerant of unfamiliar chimpanzees, especially other males, and fiercely defend their territories and resources. Therefore, chimpanzee intergroup interactions almost always include aggressive displays, chasing, and sometimes fighting. In recent years, a good...
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...This includes the phyla Chordata (chordates). Primitive forms are creatures with evidence of a notochord, a structural rod of cartilage and neural tissue running down the long axis of the body. This notochord was the early precursor to the spine in vertebrates (animals with a true backbone, like fish), and modern examples of simple chordates include sea squirts and lancelets. Two Cambrian fossil localities are of key importance here: Chengjiang in Yunnan Province, southern China, and the Burgess Shales in the British Columbia Rockies of Canada. Both of these localities have produced fossils classified as chordates. The Chinese forms include the forms Myllokunmingia and Haikouichthys (it has even been suggested these could be primitive vertebrate jawless fish). The Canadian form (somewhat later in the Cambrian period) is Pikaia, which especially resembles the modern lancelet. Event 15 “GET OUT OF THE POOL” EARLY AMPHIBIANS 360 million years ago We are land-living animals with four limbs - so are most of the animals we know and love. But go back in time 400 million years or so, you would not see any such animals. Life was primarily in the sea, which teemed with invertebrates like trilobites (extinct relatives of spiders and crabs) and brachiopods as well as early fish. On land there were...
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...discovered. Since then, White and his team have discovered over 100 fossil specimens of Ardipithecus ramidus. It is believed that the Ardipithecus ramidus species lived about 4.4 million years ago. The Ardipithecus ramidus has some ape-like features but it also has human features as well which include smaller diamond shaped canines and some evidence of upright walking. There is a possibility that it is a descendant from an earlier species named, Ardipithecus kadabba. The fossils collected were that of a female, which is known as “Ardi”. The partial skeleton of “Ardi” is combined of both human and other primate traits. Her pelvis was shorter than other apes which indicate she could have possible been able to walk bipedally and she had a grasping big toe for moving throughout trees. Based on the skeleton, scientists have predicted the average height of “Ardi” was 3ft 11inches and her weight was approximately 110lbs. Scientists believe that the Ardipithecus ramidus species were omnivores based on the enamel of their teeth. Australopithecus anamensis was discovered in 1994. The history of this species began in the year 1965 when a research team led by Bryan Peterson from Harvard University found what appeared to be a single arm bone of an early human at a site of Kanapoi in northern Kenya. Patterson was unable to identify what species it belonged to due to the lack of additional fossils. In 1994, paleoanthropologist Meave Leakey and her team found large amounts of bone fragments...
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...evolution | The process of change over time resulting from shifting conditions of the physical and cultural environments, involving mechanisms of mutation and natural selection. | fieldwork | The search for archaeological sites in the landscape through surveys and excavations. | site | The accumulation of artifacts and/or ecofacts, representing a place where people lived or carried out certain activities | survey | A systematic search of the landscape for artifacts and sites on the ground through aerial photography, field walking, soil analysis, and geophysical prospecting. | shell midden | A mound of shells accumulated from human collection, consumption, and disposal; a dump of shells from oysters, clams, mussels, or other species found along coasts and rivers, usually dating to the Holocene. | excavation | The exposure and recording of buried materials from the past. | ethnography | The study of human cultures through firsthand observation. | economy | The management and organization of the affairs of a group, community, or establishment to ensure their survival and productivity. | technology | The combination of knowledge and manufacturing techniques that enables people to convert raw materials into finished products. | rank | A relationship of inequality between members of society in which status is determined by kinship relations of birth order and lineage | organization | The arrangements between individuals and groups in human society...
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...Australopithecus afarensis is one of the longest lived and as well-known early human species—paleoanthropologists have uncovered remains from more than 300 individuals. Found between 3.85 and 2.95 million years ago in Eastern Africa, this species survived for more than 900,000 years, which is over four times as long as our own species has been around. Australopithecus afarensis is very similar aspect of both modern chimpanzee and human. The first and most important is that physical characteristics of modern chimpanzees has same and different point from Australopithecus afarensis. According to “Exploring Biological Anthropology” Craig Stanford, John S. Allen, and Susan C. Anton say that in 1974 Donald Johanson and his team discovered Lucy, the famed skeleton of Australopithecus afarensis. She stood a little over a meter tall and possessed a cranial vault suggesting a modest brain size about equal to that of an adult chimpanzee. The cranium and teeth of afarensis are intermediate in appearance of a modern chimpanzee. The cranial capacity is small but slightly larger than that of a modern chimpanzee. The afarensis face was prognathic, but not so much as in the modern chimnpanzee, and the cranial base was relatively flat, similar to that of modern chimpanzee. Cranial crests, flanges of...
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...ANTH 151 Literature Review Topic article: Evolution of the human body size Target Article Grabowski, Mark et al. 'Body Mass Estimates Of Hominin Fossils And The Evolution Of Human Body Size'. Journal of Human Evolution 85 (2015): 75-93. The article outlines the evolution of the human body size from unique fossils research technique. There was not research processed in last two eras in hominin body size. Since then, tremendous amount of fossils had been discovered and developing technology has improved the method to research and can discover more from the fossils. The cutting edge methodology shows that early hominins were slightly smaller than the previous species. One of the discover that we can say from this research is that we make the assumption...
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...evidence from other fossils suggests this was less present in early Homo. This affects the estimation of both his age and his likely stature as a fully grown adult.[1] * Anthropologists Alan Walker and Richard Leakey in 1993 estimated the boy to have been about 11–12 years old based on known rates of bone maturity.[4][nb 2] * Christopher Dean (M. C. Dean) of University College London, in a Nova special, stated that Turkana Boy was 8 years old at death.[5][6] But Alan Walker and Richard Leakey said that dental dating often gives a younger age than a person's actual age.[7][nb 3] * Ronda Graves and colleagues in the most recent review of the problems involved concluded that he would "have grown an additional five to 14 cm before reaching adulthood" and that "if, at death, he was eight to ten years of age, [he would have been] 154 centimetres (61 in) tall, and growing faster than a modern human but slower than a chimpanzee. According to this scenario, KNM-WT 15000 would have attained an adult stature ranging between 159 centimetres (63 in) and 168 centimetres (66 in)." Moreover that "according to our preferred models of growth and development, [his] growth in stature [would have been] completed by 12 years of age (4 years after death), so that the majority of growth has already occurred.[1] Morphology[edit] Nariokotome Boy reconstruction The specimen comprises 108 bones, making it the most complete early human skeleton discovered. The...
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...Punctuated equilibrium, as proposed by Gould and Eldredge in 1972, is a model of species evolution to counter the explanation of evolutionary change through phyletic gradualism, or the slow accumulation of novel adaptations over evolutionary time, culminating in the appearance of new species (speciation). Gould and Eldredge argue that evidence of gradualism would require fossil evidence of intermediary stages in a species’ evolution, with different specimen of an evolving species exhibiting ancestral traits and an increasing number of derived traits leading towards the present form. Paleontologists, however, had long noted that the fossil record was marked by long periods of stasis (on a geological scale) with the sudden appearance of new species, though these gaps were interpreted as simply missing information (Gould and Eldredge 1993). While fossil preservation is notoriously problematic (Wood et al. 1992), Gould and Eldredge (1972, 1993) proposed that the gaps in the record arise not from artifacts of preservation, but from an alternate mechanism of evolution by which small populations become isolated from parent stocks and rapidly accumulate novel adaptations leading to speciation. Thus, parent stocks remain in the geological record parallel with newly adapted species. Successfully adapted species would thereafter remain in the fossil record as well. Thus, most species in the fossil record appear in a state of equilibrium across geological time (i.e. not exhibiting...
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