Modern homo sapiens ANA 215 In the

Modern homo sapiens ANA 215

In the beginning… 7. 0 mya Toumaï 6. 0 mya Tugen Hills – Orrorin tugenensis 3. 9 - 3. 0 mya Australopithecus afarensis 3. 7 – 3. 3 mya Australopithecus africanus 2. 5 -2. 0 mya Australopithecus robustus 1. 75 mya Australopithecus bosei

Australopithecines

Homo habilis?

Homo erectus (1. 8 – 400, 000) 1. 6 – 1. 8 mya – Homo erectus sites in Europe (Dmansi) and East Africa (Narikotome). Acheulian tool assemblages biface

Biface

Early archaics/Neandertals 400, 000 – 100, 000 ya Transitional forms in Africa, Asia and Europe Brain expansion, reduction in tooth size, more advanced tool culture, evidence of hunting, use of fire and burials in the late archaic

Neandertal speech?

Modern humans Cranial morphology Rapid increase in technology and social developments Where did they originate? How did they spread out into the rest of the Old World?

Objectives Cranial morphology of modern h. s. s. Two theories pertaining to their origins Cultural adaptations: tool use and art

Cranial morphology Vertical forehead Reduced browridge Pyramidal mastoid process Canine fossa Definite chin

Out of Africa hypothesis Origin in Africa Klasies River Mouth, Border Cave Replaced hominids in Asia and Europe Support from mt. DNA – mitochondrial Eve

photo

Multi-regional evolution Milford Wolpoff, University of Michigan Evolution of anatomically modern humans occurred simultaneously in different regions Gene flow, migration and selection = prevented speciation

Partial replacement model Anatomically modern humans appear in Africa around 100, 000 ya Migrate into Europe and Asia Interbreed and replace the archaic homo sapiens

South Africa Klasies River Mouth 120, 000 to 80, 000 years ago

Near East Skhūl Cave, Mt Carmel, Israel 115, 000 years ago 10 individuals Qafzeh Cave, Israel 100, 000 years ago 20 individuals

Central Europe Mladeč, Czech Republic Vindija, Croatia 33, 000 years ago Both Neandertal and modern human features

Southern France Cro-Magnon site 30, 000 ya 8 individuals Old Man (Cro-Magnon 1) • Gracile traits indicative of anatomically modern humans.

Spain Abrigo do Lagar Velho 4 year old child skeleton 24, 500 ya Most compelling evidence for the multi-regional theory

Asia Zhoukoudian Upper late Pleistocene: 18, 000 – 10, 000 ya Jinniushan 200, 000 ya Supports the idea of regional continuity instead of complete replacement

Australia Lake Mungo 30, 000 -25, 000 ya

Upper Palaeolithic (40, 000 y. a. )

Cultural periods Chatelperronian/Aurignacian – 40, 000 ya Gravettian – 27, 000 ya Solutrean – 21, 000 ya Magdalenian – 17, 000 ya

Awl/bone needles (19, 000 ya)

Solutrean blade

Burin

Barbed harpoon

Atlatl (Magdalenian) Spear thrower

Venus figurines

Cave Paintings

Art - Symbolism Is this symbolic or utilitarian? Cave paintings Lascaux cave (Magdalenian) Altamira (Magdalenian) Grotte Chauvet (Aurignacian)

Summary Anatomically modern human: Africa, Near East, Europe, Asia, and Australia Anatomically modern human: Near East and Europe admixed with archaic features

Summary Harsh climate: advanced tool technology Adaptation: culture