Paleoanthropology Essay
Unit 3: Paleoanthropology and the Fossil Record
Paleoanthropology
* The study of human evolution, the hominid fossils, and their relations to each other and modern humans. The study of the fossil record, the study of the relationships among the fossils to themselves and to us. * There is nothing outside Africa that is even in the running to be a potential human ancestor * The most fossils are found in East Africa in the Rift valley, several in South Africa, and a few in Central Africa
Definition : the study of human evolution, the fossil record, and the relationship among the fossils themselves * Hominids * Anything in the family hominidae; may be human but have more ape like characteristics * Hominin …show more content…
Australopithecus * A. afarensis * 3.9-3 mya * Only found in East Africa * At least 120 individuals found (well represented) * Skull shows it was small brained * Had a small degree of post-orbital constriction * Small to no sagittal crests * Have large brow ridges * Large nuchal crest * Fairly prognothic – gives a concave appearance to the face * Teeth = ape-like (very large canines) * U shaped dentition (the sides are parallel to each …show more content…
afarensis * Single individual that is relatively complete * She tells us that afarensis were bipeds * “Selam” * Not an adult (child) * 3-4 years old when it died * Nearly complete child skeleton * Most complete A. child * A. afarensis * Tells us about growth rates and children * Only scapula we have for afarensis * Confirms that they could climb based on their shoulder morphology * Laetoli * Site in East Africa with the footprints * Dates to about 3.5 mya * Based on chronometric dating methods * Have trails of footprints walking across – showed they were walking bipedal * Australopithecus * Gives us an idea of a foot shape and Shows there is no opposable big toe and Longitudinal arch
The rest of Australopithecus: * A. africanus * 3 – 2 mya (little big later in time) earliest species named, box of fossils brought to someone working in Africa * A lot of fossils come from limestone * South African
Paleoanthropology
* The study of human evolution, the hominid fossils, and their relations to each other and modern humans. The study of the fossil record, the study of the relationships among the fossils to themselves and to us. * There is nothing outside Africa that is even in the running to be a potential human ancestor * The most fossils are found in East Africa in the Rift valley, several in South Africa, and a few in Central Africa
Definition : the study of human evolution, the fossil record, and the relationship among the fossils themselves * Hominids * Anything in the family hominidae; may be human but have more ape like characteristics * Hominin …show more content…
Australopithecus * A. afarensis * 3.9-3 mya * Only found in East Africa * At least 120 individuals found (well represented) * Skull shows it was small brained * Had a small degree of post-orbital constriction * Small to no sagittal crests * Have large brow ridges * Large nuchal crest * Fairly prognothic – gives a concave appearance to the face * Teeth = ape-like (very large canines) * U shaped dentition (the sides are parallel to each …show more content…
afarensis * Single individual that is relatively complete * She tells us that afarensis were bipeds * “Selam” * Not an adult (child) * 3-4 years old when it died * Nearly complete child skeleton * Most complete A. child * A. afarensis * Tells us about growth rates and children * Only scapula we have for afarensis * Confirms that they could climb based on their shoulder morphology * Laetoli * Site in East Africa with the footprints * Dates to about 3.5 mya * Based on chronometric dating methods * Have trails of footprints walking across – showed they were walking bipedal * Australopithecus * Gives us an idea of a foot shape and Shows there is no opposable big toe and Longitudinal arch
The rest of Australopithecus: * A. africanus * 3 – 2 mya (little big later in time) earliest species named, box of fossils brought to someone working in Africa * A lot of fossils come from limestone * South African