Hominin Skull Lab Revealed

#8: Gorilla gorilla (Modern)

Split 10mya Western Lowland 17-year-old Silverback 600 pounds Prominent crests provide large surface area for attachment of massive neck and jaw muscles Diet?

#2: Pan troglodytes (Modern)

Split 4 6 mya 18-year-old Large ears Use tools and medicines Hunt and make war Laugh and play

#7: Australopithecus afarensis

3.2 mya Lucy Evidence of bipdalism: Wide knee bone Smaller humerus to femur ratio Lumbar curve Cranial capacity small

The Evolution of Bipedalism

Laetoli Footprint Trails- 3.6 mya

Arched feet Big toe in line with foot Heal strike toe off Shorter stride than modern humans

#6: Australopithecus africanus

2.3 mya Tuang Child 3.3 years old Cause of death? Position of foramen magnum evidence of bipedalism Small cranial capacity in the ape-range (~400cc)

The Evolution of Bipedalism

#4: Paranthropus boisei

2.0 mya Adapatations for heavy chewing: Strong sagittal crest Wide zygomatic arch Large back teeth (molars and premolars) Diverse diet Slight increase in cranial capacity (~500cc)

#1: Homo habilis

1.9 mya Handy man Slightly larger brain case Smaller face and teeth Some ape-like features: Long arms Prognathic face

#5: Homo erectus

300,000 600,000 ya Peking man First species to expand beyond Africa Moden human body proportions: Elongated legs Shorter arms Loss of tree-climbing adaptations First hand axes

#10: Homo neanderthalensis

200,000 ya The Old Man Huge nose for humidifying and warming cold, dry air Shorter, stockier bodies Brains as large or larger Sophisticated tool use Controlled fire Lived in shelters Buried dead and marked graves

Changing diet and brain size

Larger brain Requires more energy to function! Extra energy came from more meat in the diet! Getting meat requires More complex social system (hunting in groups) Tools Cooking More meat = even bigger brain = even better tools!

#9, 3: Homo sapiens

100,000 ya -present Cranial capacity 1520cc! Lighter build of skeleton High, vaulted skull with near vertical forehead Jaws less heavily developed, smaller teeth

Whats Hot In Human Origins?

Genetic vs. Cultural evolution

Genetic evolution deals with inherited characteristics Body morphology Number of chromosomes Biochemistry Examples: Brain size Tooth anatomy Hips and feet adapted for bipedalism

Genetic vs. Cultural evolution

Cultural evolution deals with acquired knowledge Language Customs and rituals Art Technology Which is more important in the recent evolution of humans?