INSTITUTE OF ARCHAEOLOGY AND DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY
THEMES IN PALAEOANTHROPOLOGY AND PALAEOLITHIC
ARCHAEOLOGY (ARCLG179)
Core Course for MSc in Palaeoanthropology and Palaeolithic
Archaeology (30 credits)
COURSE HANDBOOK 2015-16
Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania – I. de la Torre
Course Co-ordinator: Dr. Andrew Garrard
e-mail: a.garrard@ucl.ac.uk
Room: IoA 408, tel: 020 7679-4764
INTRODUCTION
This is the core course for the MSc in Palaeoanthropology and Palaeolithic Archaeology and as such
is compulsory for all students taking this degree. This handbook contains basic information about the
content and administration of this course. If you have queries about the objectives, structure, content,
assessment or organisation of the course, please consult the Course Co-ordinator.
Further important information, relating to all courses at the Institute of Archaeology, is to be found in
the general MA/MSc handbook (which is also on the Institute website). It is your responsibility to read
and act on it. It includes information about originality, submission and grading of coursework;
disabilities; communication; attendance; and feedback.
AIMS
This course will provide essential background on a range of topics necessary for graduate study in the
fields of Palaeoanthropology and Palaeolithic Archaeology. It will be taught by UCL’s leading
specialists in the fields concerned. The topics will include:
1) the interpretive history of palaeoanthropology and palaeolithic archaeology.
2) aspects of primate behaviour, adaptation and evolution.
3) recent hunter-gatherer lifeways and the use of ethnoarchaeology and experimental archaeology.
4) environmental history, faunal communities and palaeoecology.
5) taphonomy and site formation processes.
6) the human fossil record and the evolution of human life history.
7) the role of genetic evidence in studying human evolution.
8) lithic technology, subsistence strategies and cognitive evolution.
9) case studies drawn from various time periods.
OBJECTIVES
On successful completion of this course, students will:
1) have a very strong foundation for graduate study in the fields of palaeoanthropology and
Palaeolithic archaeology.
2) be knowledgable about the methodological and analytical tools, and the theoretical models which
have been used in reconstructing the human evolutionary past.
3) be able to review and critically appraise a wide range of primary and secondary sources and data
relating to these fields.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
1) a detailed knowledge of human biological and cultural evolution.
2) expansion of written and oral skills in communicating complex ideas and data-sets derived from
these academic disciplines.
3) ability to critically evaluate evidence and arguments regarding issues in human evolution.
TEACHING METHODS
This 30 credit course will be taught weekly through the autumn and spring terms in 20 two hour
sessions. Lecturers may vary in their presentation format, but each session is likely to begin with a
lecture and be followed by a discussion. There will also be two sessions at the British Museum and
Natural History Museum in London. This handbook contains weekly recommended readings and
others will be handed out during the course. Students are expected to read recommended references
before the sessions, so they are able to follow and actively contribute to discussion.
WORKLOAD
There will be 40 hours of lectures/discussion sessions for this course. Students will be expected to
undertake around 160 hours of reading for the course, plus 100 hours preparing for and producing the
assessed work. This adds up to a total workload of some 300 hours for the course.
METHODS OF ASSESSMENT
This course is assessed by means of a total of 8,000 words of coursework, divided into two essays of
ca. 4,000 words each. The topics and deadlines are given at the end of this handbook. If students are
unclear about the nature of an assignment, they should contact the Course Co-ordinator. The Course
Co-ordinator will be willing to discuss an outline of their approach to the assessment, provided this is
planned suitably in advance of the submission date.
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LIBRARIES AND OTHER RESOURCES
The most important libraries in UCL relating to the subject matter of this couse are the Institute of
Archaeology Library and the Watson Science Library (especially the Anthropology section). The most
useful library outside of UCL with relevant holdings is the British Library in Euston Road
TEACHING SCHEDULE
Unless otherwise indicated, seminars will be held on Mondays 11.00-1.00 in Term 1 and on Mondays
12.00-2.00 in Term 2 in Room 412 at the Institute of Archaeology. It is hoped that students will attend
all the sessions, but a minimum attendance of 70% is required, except in the case of illness or other
adverse circumstances which are supported by medical certificates or other documentation as
appropriate.
COURSE TIMETABLE
Lecturers:
Nick Ashton (British Museum)
Anna Barros (Anthropology)
Christopher Dean (Cell Biology)
Andrew Garrard (Archaeology)
Phil Hopley (Birkbeck College)
Maria Martinon-Torres (Anthropology)
Norah Moloney (Archaeology)
Simon Parfitt (Natural History Museum)
Matt Pope (Archaeology)
Christophe Soligo (Anthropology)
Ulrike Sommer (Archaeology)
Rhianon Stevens (Archaeology)
Mark Thomas (Genetics)
Ignacio de la Torre (Archaeology)
Todd Whitelaw (Archaeology)
SCHEDULE OF SEMINARS
1.
2
3.
4.
5.
(05 Oct)
(12 Oct)
(19 Oct)
(26 Oct)
(02 Nov)
History of Palaeoanthropology – C Dean
History of Palaeolithic Archaeology – M Pope
Primate Evolution and Behaviour – C Soligo
Adaptation, Phylogeny and Reconstruction of Behaviour – C Soligo
Plio-Pleistocene Environments – P Hopley
Reading Week 09 Nov - 13 Nov.
6. (16 Nov)
7. (23 Nov)
8. (30 Nov)
9. (07 Dec)
10. (14 Dec)
Taphonomy and Site formation in East Africa – I de la Torre
Human Fossil Record I – Earliest Hominins & Australopithecines – A Barros
Human Fossil Record II – Genus Homo – A Barros
Genetics and Human Evolution – M Thomas
Evolution of Human Life History – C Dean
Christmas break 19 Dec - 10 Jan.
11. (11 Jan)
12. (18 Jan)
13. (25 Jan)
14. (01 Feb)
15. (08 Feb)
Stone tool technology and analysis I – N Moloney
Stone tool technology and analysis II – N Moloney
Evolution of Cognition – J Steele
Application of Experimental Archaeology – U Sommer
Application of Ethnoarchaeology – T Whitelaw
Reading Week 15 Feb – 19 Feb.
16. (22 Feb) Application of Isotope Studies – R Stevens
17 (29 Feb??) Reconstructing Subsistence Strategies - S Parfitt (at Natural History Museum 2-4 pm)
18. (7 Mar) Contribution of Atapuerca to Hominin Evolutionary Studies – M Martinon-Torres
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19. (14 Mar) Lower & Middle Palaeolithic Technology in Britain – N Ashton (at Franks House 2-4 pm)
20. (21 Mar) Late Palaeolithic & Neolithic Landscape Project in Jordan – A Garrard
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LECTURE/SEMINAR SUMMARIES
The following is an outline of the course as a whole, and identifies key readings relevant to each
session. Further readings for individual classes will be provided during the course. Information is
provided as to where in the UCL library system individual readings can be found and whether they are
available online. However, this should be checked against the UCL library computer system (eUCLid)
to see if material is out on loan or whether there are other copies available in other branches/sections
of the library.
Arch. = item in Archaeology Library
Anthrop., Biology, Geology, History of Science etc are held in the Watson Science Library.
* = Highly recommended reading
1. History of Palaeoanthropology (05 Oct) – Christopher Dean
Beginning especially with Darwin's The Descent of Man, hypotheses have been put forward to explain
the evolution of human anatomy and behaviour. Discoveries in the fossil record test these
hypotheses. This session goes through the history of fossil discoveries and how they have refined our
general understanding of human evolution and raised new questions. In general, explanations that
integrate many aspects of human anatomy and behaviour into single transformations have broken
down, so that human evolution is now interpreted as a mosaic pattern.
Bowler P.J. 1986. Theories of Human Evolution: A Century of Debate, 1844-1944. Baltimore, Johns
Hopkins University Press. (Anthrop: B 30 BOW; History of Science: RG 5 BOW)
Darwin C.R. 1885. The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex. 2nd edn. London, Murray.
(For reprints see: History of Science: RG 4 DAR)
* Delisle R. 2006. Debating Humankind's Place in Nature: The Nature of Paleoanthropology: 18602000. New York, Prentice Hall. (Arch: BB 1 DEL; Issue Desk DEL 4)
Keith A. 1916. The Antiquity of Man. London, Williams and Norgate. (Order from Library Stores)
rd
Le Gros Clark W. 1978. The fossil evidence for human evolution. 3 ed. Chicago, Univ of Chicago.
(Arch: BB 1 CLA; Anthrop: B 45 CLA)
Lewin R. 1987. Bones of Contention: Controversies in the search for human origins. London, Penguin.
(Arch: BB 1 LEW)
* Reader J. 1981. Missing Links: The hunt for the earliest Man. London, Penguin. (Arch: BB 1 REA)
* Tattersall I. 2000. Paleoanthropology: the last half century. Evolutionary Anthropology 9: 2-36.
(Online)
2. History of Palaeolithic Archaeology (12 Oct) – Matt Pope
This will examine the history of research on the archaeology of human evolution. It will discuss the
th
work of 19 Century European pioneers in Palaeolithic archaeology and their involvement in the
th
emergence of evolutionary theory. It will continue with a discussion of 20 Century and more recent
developments in methodological and theoretical approaches.
Dennell R.W. 2001. From Sangiran to Olduvai, 1937-1960: The quest for 'centres' of hominid origins in
Asia and Africa. In R. Corbey & W. Roebroeks (ed.): Studying human origins: Disciplinary
history and epistemology. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, 45-66. (Arch: BB1 Qto
COR)
Grayson D.K. 1983. The Estabishment of Human Antiquity. New York, Academic Press. (Arch: AG
GRA; or order from Library Stores)
Henke W. 2007. Historical Overview of Paleoanthropological Research. In W. Henke & I. Tattersall,
(eds.) Handbook of Paleoanthropology. Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 1-56. (Online book – see library
catalogue)
* Lewin R. 1987. Bones of Contention. University of Chicago Press, Chicago. (Arch: BB 1 LEW)
* Sackett J.R. 2000. Human antiquity and the Old Stone Age: the nineteenth century background to
palaeoanthropology. Evolutionary Anthropology 9: 37-49. (Online)
Trinkaus E. & Shipman P. 1993. The Neandertals. Changing the Image of Mankind. London, Jonathan
Cape. (Arch: Issue Desk TRI; Anthrop: B 34 TRI)
Walker A. & Shipman P. 1996. The Wisdom of Bones. Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London. (Arch: BB 1
WAL)
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3. Primate Evolution and Behaviour (19 Oct) – Christophe Soligo
Research on non-human primates forms an integral part of palaeoanthropological research due to the
comparative insights non-human primates provide into human evolution. Tool use, hunting and the
recent discovery and descriptions of local cultural traditions in a range of non-human primate species
are some of the most obvious behaviours exhibited by extant primates with a direct relevance to
human evolution. Similarly, the fossil record of non-human primates is of foremost importance in that it
provides insights into the physical and temporal framework within which the earliest phases of human
evolution took place. This session will give students an overview of the latest developments in the
fields of palaeoprimatology and comparative primate behaviour.
rd
Fleagle J.G. 2013. Primate Adaptation and Evolution. 3 ed. Academic Press, San Diego. (Anthrop: B
34 FLE)
Hartwig C. (ed.) 2002. The Primate Fossil Record. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. (Anthrop:
B 40 HAR)
Martin R.D. 1990. Primate Origins and Evolution. Princeton University Press, Princeton. (Anthrop: B
34 MAR)
Reed K.E. & Bidner L.R. 2004. Primate communities: past, present, and possible future. Yearbook of
Physical Anthropology 41: 2-39. (Online)
* Soligo C. (ed.) 2007. Primate Evolution and Environments. Folia Primatologica 78: 273-448. (Online)
rd
* Strier K. 2006. Primate Behavioral Ecology (3 edn). Needham Heights, MA, Allyn & Bacon. (Arch:
BB 3 STR; Anthrop: B 24 STR)
Wrangham R.W. 1994. Chimpanzee cultures. Cambridge, Harvard University Press. (Arch: BB 1
WRA; Anthrop B 36 WRA)
* Whiten A. 2005. The second inheritance system of chimpanzees and humans. Nature 437: 52-55.
(Online)
4. Adaptation, Phylogeny and Reconstruction of Behaviour (26 Oct) – Christophe Soligo
The process of natural selection is central to understanding how the environment has shaped human
evolution. It also provides the theoretical framework for using skeletal evidence to reconstruct
behaviour of humans and other animals in the past. In this session we go through concepts of
adaptation, how to test hypotheses of adaptation, and the challenges of then using evidence of
adaptation to reconstruct behaviour.
Cartmill M. 1990. Human uniqueness and theoretical content in paleoanthropology. International
Journal of Primatology 11:173-192 (Anthrop: journal)
Felsenstein J. 2003. Inferring Phylogenies. Sunderland (Mass.): Sinauer Assocs. (Biology J 9 FEL)
* Hall B.K. 2007. Homoplasy or homology: dichotomy or continuum? Journal Human Evolution 52:
473-479. (Online)
Kitching I.J., Forey P.L., Humphries C.J. & Williams, D.M. 1998. Cladistics: Theory and Practice of
nd
Parsimony Analysis (2 ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. (Biology: A 9 KIT)
* Plavcan J.M., Kay R.F., Jungers W.L. & Van Schaik C.P. (eds) 2001. Reconstructing Behavior in the
Primate Fossil Record. New York, Kluwer Academic/ Plenum Publishers: 1-41. (Arch: BB 3
PLA; Anthrop; B 44 PLA)
* Rose M.R. & Lauder G.V. (eds.) 1996. Adaptation. San Diego, Academic Press. (Biology J 7 ROS)
Williams G.C. 1966. Adaptation and Natural Selection. Princeton, N.J., Princeton University Press.
(Science: Issue Desk WIL; Zoology: 22 e WIL)
5. Plio-Pleistocene environments (02 Nov) – Phil Hopley
The climatic and ecological context of human evolution is crucial to the understanding of hominin
adaptations and the speciation and extinction of early hominins. This seminar will outline trends in
global and African climate in the Plio-Pleistocene and will discuss the geological and palaeontological
evidence used to reconstruct hominin environments. We will discuss different hypotheses relating to
the micro- and macro-evolutionary responses of hominins and other species to Plio-Pleistocene
climatic change. Hominin ecomorphology will be discussed within the context of changing
environments.
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* Behrensmeyer A.K. 2006. Climate Change and Human Evolution. Science 311 (5760): 476-478.
Behrensmeyer A.K., Todd N.E., Potts R. & McBrinn G.E. 1997. Late Pliocene faunal turnover in the
Turkana Basin, Kenya. Science 278: 1589-1594. (Online)
* Kingston J. 2007. Shifting adaptive landscapes: Progress and challenges in reconstructing early
hominid environments. Yearbook of Physical Anthropology 134 (S45): 20-58. (Online)
Potts R. 1996. Evolution and climate variability. Science 273: 922-923. (Online)
Sponheimer M., Passey B., de Ruiter J., Guatelli-Steinberg D., Cerling T., & Lee-Thorp J. 2006.
Isotopic Evidence for Dietary Variability in the Early Hominin Paranthropus robustus. Science
314 (5801): 980-982. (Online)
* Zachos J., Pagani M., Sloan L., Thomas E., & Billups K. 2001. Trends, Rhythms, and Aberrations in
Global Climate 65 Ma to Present. Science 292 (5517): 686-693 (Online)
6. Taphonomy & Site Formation Studies (16 Nov) – Ignacio de la Torre
Paleolithic sites are commonly found in caves and rockshelters, eroding out of cuts in alluvial deposits,
as well as in open-air sites in arid and semi-arid environments. Each of these settings has formation
processes that are distinct, and often heavily impacted by natural factors. In order to determine which
characteristics of a site are the result of human behavior, and which stem from natural taphonomic
processes, it is essential for archaeologists to understand the human and natural factors that interact
to transform an ephemeral camp site, chipping station or base camp into the archaeological deposits
we excavate and record. In this session we will discuss the taphonomy of early hominin and later
Palaeolithic sites.
Early Sites
Benito-Calvo A. & Torre I. de la 2011. Analysis of orientation patterns in Olduvai Bed I assemblages
using GIS techniques: Implications for site formation processes. Journal of Human Evolution 61,
50-60. (Online)
Blumenschine R.J. & Masao F.T. 1991. Living sites at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania? Preliminary
landscape archaeology results in the basal Bed II lake margin zone. Journal of Human
Evolution 21, 451-462. (Online)
* Isaac G.L. 1983. Bones in contention: competing explanations for the juxtaposition of Early
Pleistocene artefacts and faunal remains. Reprinted in B. Isaac (ed.) The Archaeology of
Human Origins. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press: 325-335. (Arch: BB 1 ISA, Issue Desk
ISA1)
Petraglia M.D. & Potts R. 1994. Water Flow and the Formation of Early Pleistocene Artifact Sites in
Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 13, 228-254. (Online)
Schiffer M.B. 1987. Formation Processes of the Archaeological Record. Alburquerque: University of
New Mexico Press. (Arch: Issue Desk SCH6)
* Stern N. 1993. The Structure of the Lower Pleistocene Archaeological Record. Current Anthropology
34, 201-225. (Online)
Later Sites
* Binford L. 1980. Willow smoke and dogs’ tails: hunter-gatherer settlement systems and
archaeological site formation. American Antiquity 45: 4-20. (Online)
Goldberg P. & Bar-Yosef O. 1998. Site formation processes in Kebara and Hayonim Caves and their
significance in Levantine prehistoric caves. In T. Akazawa et al. (eds) Neandertals and Modern
Humans in Western Asia. New York, Plenum. (Arch: BC 120 AKA; Issue Desk AKA)
* Goldberg P. & Macphail R. 2006. Practical and theoretical geoarchaeology. (Chapter 6 on “Aeolian
settings and geomorphological environments” and Chapter 8 on “Caves and Rockshelters”)
Malden MA, Blackwell Science: 169-187. (Arch: BA 10 GOL; Issue Desk GOL2)
Pettitt P.B. 1997. High resolution neanderthals? Interpreting Middle Palaeolithic intrasite spatial data.
World Archaeology 29: 208-224. (Online)
7. Human Fossil Record I: Earliest Hominins and Australopithecines (23 Nov) – Anna Barros
The palaeontological record of ancient hominins is covered in detail in the Palaeoanthropology option
course. The purpose of these two lectures is to provide a brief overview of general patterns in the
human fossil record over the last seven million years, including the major groups of hominin species,
current understanding of their evolutionary relationships, and major questions in human
palaeontology. The first lecture covers the earliest putative hominins and species of the genus
Australopithecus.
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Aiello L.C. & Dean M.C. 1990. An Introduction to Human Evolutionary Anatomy. London, Academic
Press. (Arch: BB 1 AIE; Anthrop: B 25 AIE)
Berger L.R. et al. 2010. Australopithecus sediba: A new species of Homo-like Australopith from South
Africa. Science 328: 195-204. (Online)
De Queiroz K. 2007. Species concepts and species delimitation. Systematic Biology 56: 879-886.
(Online)
* Kimbel B. 2007. The species and diversity of Australopiths. In W. Henke and I. Tattersall (eds.)
Handbook of Paleoanthropology. Heidelberg: Springer, pp. 1539-1573. (Online book – see
library catalogue).
* Senut B. 2007. The earliest putative hominids. In W. Henke and I. Tattersall (eds.) Handbook of
Paleoanthropology. Heidelberg: Springer, pp. 1519-1538. (Online book – see library
catalogue).
Teaford M.F. & Ungar P.S. 2000. Diet and the evolution of the earliest human ancestors. Proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences 97: 13506-13511. (Online)
White T. et al. 2009. Ardipithecus ramidus and the paleobiology of Early Hominids. Science 326: 6586. (Online)
Wood B. & Lonergan N. 2008. The hominin fossil record: taxa, grades and clades. Journal of Anatomy
212: 354-376. (Online)
8. The Human Fossil Record II: The Genus Homo (30 Nov) – Anna Barros
This lecture begins with a discussion of the origins of the genus Homo and covers species up to and
including modern humans.
Aiello L.C. 2010. Five years of Homo floresiensis. American Journal of Physical Anthropology
142:167-179. (Online)
Green R.E. et al. 2010. A draft sequence of the Neandertal genome. Science 328: 710-722. (Online)
* Hublin J.J. 2009. The origin of Neanderthals. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 106:
16022-16077. (Online)
* Leakey M.G. et al. 2012. New fossils from Koobi Fora in northern Kenya confirm taxonomic diversity
in early Homo. Nature 488: 201-204. (Online)
Lordkipanidze D. et al. 2007. Postcranial evidence from early Homo from Dmanisi, Georgia. Nature
449: 305-310. (Online)
Reich D. et al. 2010. Genetic history of an archaic hominin group from Denisova Cave in Siberia.
Nature 468: 1053-1060. (Online)
Stringer C.B. 2002. Modern human origins: Progress and prospects. Philosophical Transactions of the
Royal Society of London, Series B 357: 563-579. (Online)
Wood B. & Baker J. 2011. Evolution of the genus Homo. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and
Systematics 42: 47-69. (Online)
Wood B. & Collard M. 1999. The changing face of genus Homo. Evolutionary Anthropology 8: 195-207.
(Online)
9. Genetics and Human Evolution (07 Dec) – Mark Thomas
The study of molecular information revolutionised anthropology in the 1960s and 1970s, pointing to
major conclusions such as the close relationships of humans to chimpanzees and the relatively high
levels of genetic variation within human populations as opposed to between. In recent decades
genetics has taken a central place in understanding modern human origins, and the study of ancient
DNA may give us a complete Neanderthal genome within a matter of years. This session combines
the history of understanding with current major topics in human evolutionary genetics.
Carroll S.B. 2003. Genetics and the making of Homo sapiens. Nature 422: 849-857. (Online)
* Jobling M.A., Hurles M.E. & Tyler-Smith C. 2004. Human Evolutionary Genetics: Origins, Peoples
and Disease. London, Garland Science Publishing. (Arch: BB 1 JOB; Medical Science: BK 10
JOB)
Green R.E. 2010 A draft sequence of the Neandertal genome. Science 328 (5979): 710-722. (Online)
Krings M. et al. 1997. Neanderthal DNA sequences and the origins of modern humans. Cell 90: 1930. (Online)
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* Luca Cavalli-Sforza L., Menozzi P. & Piazza A. 1994. The History and Geography of Human Genes.
Princeton, NJ, Princeton University Press. (Arch: BB 1 CAV)
Mitchell J. F. & M. F. Hammer 1996. Human evolution and the Y-chromosome. Current Opinion in
Genetics and Development 6: 737-742. (Online)
Ruvolo M. 1997. Genetic diversity in hominoid primates. Annual Review of Anthropology 26: 515-540.
(Online)
Templeton A.R. 2005. Haplotype trees and modern human origins. Yearbook of Physical Anthropology
48: 33-59. (Online)
10. Evolution of Human Life History (14 Dec) – Christopher Dean
Humans are long-lived primates who give birth to highly dependent infants and have an extended
period of childhood. Determining when the modern human life history pattern emerged sheds light on
the evolution of human behaviour and social organisation. In this session we review current evidence
for these changes and the methods by which they are studied in the fossil record.
* Dean M.C. 2006. Tooth microstructure tracks the pace of human life-history evolution. Proceedings
of the Royal Society Series B 273: 2799-2808. (Online)
Dean M.C. & Smith B.H. 2009. Growth and development in the Nariokotome Youth, KNM-WT 15000.
In: F.E. Grine, J.G. Fleagle & R.E. Leakey (eds) The First Humans: Origin of the Genus Homo.
New York, Springer: 101-120. (Arch: BB 1 GRI)
* Kaplan H., Hill K., Lancaster J. & Hurtado A.M. 2000. A theory of human life history evolution: Diet,
intelligence, and longevity. Evolutionary Anthropology 9: 156-185. (Online)
Kelley J. 2004. Life history and cognitive evolution in the apes. In A.E. Russon & D.R. Begun (eds.)
The Evolution of Thought: Evolutionary Origins of Great Ape Intelligence. Cambridge,
Cambridge University Press. (Anthrop: B 34 RUS; Online see library catalogue)
Smith B.H. 1989. Dental development as a measure of life history in primates. Evolution 43: 683-688.
(Online)
* Smith B.H. & Tompkins R.L. 1995. Toward a life history of the Hominidae. Annual Review of
Anthropology 24: 257-279. (Online)
Stearns S. 1992. The Evolution of Life Histories. Oxford, Oxford University Press. (Biology: J 5 STE)
11. Stone Tool Technology and Analysis I (11 Jan) – Norah Moloney
The next two sessions explore the development of lithic technology through the Palaeolithic and the
analytical techniques and the methodological and interpretative issues involved in the study of stone
tool assemblages.The classes will be accompanied by practical handling sessions with archaeological
material from the Institute of Archaeology’s collections.
Andrefsky W. 2005. Lithics: Macroscopic Approaches to Analysis. Cambridge, Cambridge University
Press. (Arch: KA AND; Issue Desk AND 2)
Andrefsky W. 2009. The analysis of stone tool procurement, production and maintenance. Journal of
Archaeological Research 17: 65-103. (Online)
Debenath A. & Dibble H. L. 1993. Handbook of Palaeolithic Typology. Vol 1: Lower & Middle
Palaeolithic of Europe. University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. (Arch: BC 120 HAN; Issue
Desk HAN 1)
* Inizan M. L., Roche, H. & Tixier, J. 1992. Technology of knapped stone. Meudon, CREP. (Arch: KA
INI; Issue Desk INI)
Odell G.H. 2000. Stone tool research at the end of the millennium: procurement and technology.
Journal of Archaeological Research 8/4: 229-331.
Odell G.H. 2001. Stone tool research at the end of the millennium: classification, function and
behavior. Journal of Archaeological Research 9/1: 45-100.
Shea J.J. 2013. Stone tools in the Paleolithic and Neolithic of the Near East. Cambridge, Cambridge
University Press. (Arch: DBA 100 SHE; Issue Desk SHE 4)
Whittaker J.C. 1994. Flintknapping: making and understanding stone tools. Austin, University of
Texas Press. (Arch: KA WHI; Issue Desk WHI 8)
12. Stone Tool Technology and Analysis II (18 Jan) – Norah Moloney
Continuation of above.
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13. Evolution of Cognition (25 Jan) – James Steele
Cognition encompasses knowledge of the physical and of the social worlds. We will review some of
the main fields of study in primate cognition, and consider what methods might be used in
reconstructing evolutionary pathways towards human cognitive capacities. Recent work on embodied
cognition and on the cultural context of human cognition will also be briefly reviewed.
Anderson M.L. 2007. How to study the mind: an introduction to embodied cognition. In F. Santoianni &
C. Sabatana (eds.), Brain development in learning environments: Embodied and perceptual
advancements. Cambridge, Cambridge Scholars Press (Chapter by Anderson Online via
Google)
Herrmann E., Call J., Hernandez-Lloreda M., Hare, B., & Tomasello, M. 2007. Humans have evolved
specialized skills of social cognition: the cultural intelligence hypothesis. Science 317: 13601366. (Online)
Higuchi S., Chaminade T., Imamizu H. & Kawato M. 2009. Shared neural correlates for language and
tool use in Broca's area. NeuroReport 20: 1376-1381. (Online)
Sherwood C.C., Subiaul F. & Zawidzki T.W. 2008. A natural history of the human mind: tracing
evolutionary changes in brain and cognition. Journal of Anatomy 212: 426–454. (Online)
Stout D., Toth N., Schick K. & Chaminade T. 2008. Neural correlates of Early Stone Age toolmaking:
technology, language and cognition in human evolution. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal
Society of London. Section B Biological Sciences 363: 1939–1949. (Online)
Visalberghi E, & Tomasello M (1998) Primate causal understanding in the physical and psychological
domains. Behavioural Processes. 42: 189–203. (Online)
14. Application of Experimental Archaeology (01 Feb) – Ulrike Sommer
This session will look at the use of experimental archaeology to understand the procurement,
preparation, use and discard of organic materials in the Palaeolithic. Even though they would have
been of fundamental importance in daily life, this is a class of materials often ignored in this period
because of bad preservation. They include all foodstuffs, but also clothing, ropes and cordage, traps,
containers, building materials for habitations and shelters as well as paints and pigments and the
hafting materals for stone tools.The experiemental study of these materials is not as far advanced as
in later periods, and the examples are rather scattered in the literature. After a short introduction to the
principles of experimental archaeology, we will look at a variety of case studies and also discuss how
experimental archaeology can help to understand which materials and techniques are completely
missing from the archaeological record.
Conneller C. 2011. An archaeology of materials: substantial transformations in early prehistoric
Europe. London, Routledge. (Arch: DA 100 CON)
Ferguson, J.R. (ed.) 2010. Designing experimental research: examining technology through
production and use. Boulder, University of Colorado Press. (Arch: AH FER)
Hurcombe L. 2014. Perishable material culture in prehistory: investigating the missing majority.
London, Routledge. (Arch: K HUR)
Millson D.C.E. 2011. Experimentation and interpretation. The use of experimental archaeology in the
use of the past. Oxford, Oxbow. (Arch Issue Desk: MIL)
Paardekooper, R. 2009. Experimental archaeology. In: B.Cunliffe et al. (eds.) Oxford Handbook of
Archaeology. Oxford, Oxford University Press. (Arch: AH CUN)
Saraydar I. 2008. Replicating the past: the art and science of the archaeological experiment. Long
Grove, Waveland Press. (Arch Issue Desk: SAR)
15. Application of Ethnoarchaeology (08 Feb) – Todd Whitelaw
Archaeological interpretations are inevitably based on some form of analogy with the present. Such
analogies may simply reflect the researcher’s implicit and intuitive understandings of human nature
and the natural world or may derive from focused empirical studies and formalized behavioural
10
models. In this session there will be a consideration of the role of ethnoarchaeological (and
experimental) approaches for inspiring, making explicit, and testing fruitful analogies, and moving
beyond this to constructing models for interpreting past behaviour. The promise, pitfalls and special
challenges of applying analogies and models to the deep past will be considered.
General:
Binford, L. 2001. Constructing Frames of Reference. An analytical method for archaeological theory
building using hunter-gatherer and environmental data sets. Los Angeles: University of
California Press. (Arch: AH Qto BIN; Issue Desk BIN 9).
* Bird, D. and J. O’Connell. 2006. Behavioral ecology and archaeology. Journal of Archaeological
Research 14:143-88. (Online).
* Kelly, R.F. 1995. Hunter-gatherers and anthropology; Hunter-gatherers and prehistory. In, The
Foraging Spectrum. Diversity in Hunter-Gatherer Lifeways. Washington DC: Smithsonian
Institution Press:1-37, 333-34. (Arch: BB 6 KEL; Issue Desk KEL 2).
* O’Connell, J. 1995. Ethnoarchaeology needs a general theory of behaviour. Journal of
Archaeological Research 3:205-55. (Online).
Toth N. 1991. The importance of experimental replicative and functional studies in Palaeolithic
archaeology. In J.D.Clark (ed.) Cultural beginnings: Approaches to understanding early hominid
life-ways in the African savanna. Bonn, Dr. Rudolf Habelt GMBH:109-124. (Arch: DC 100 Qto
CLA; Issue Desk CLA 30; TC 3266).
Examples of application:
Binford, L. 1978. Dimensional analysis of behaviour and site structure: learning from an Eskimo
hunting stand. American Antiquity 43:330-61. (Online).
Binford, L. 1979. Organization and formation processes: looking at curated technologies. Journal of
Anthropological Research 35:255-73. (Online).
* Binford L. 1980. Willow smoke and dogs’ tails: hunter-gatherer settlement systems and
archaeological site formation. American Antiquity 45:4-20. (Online).
* Binford, L. 1987. Researching ambiguity: frames of reference and site structure. In S. Kent (ed.)
Method and Theory for Activity Area Research: an Ethnoarchaeological Approach. New York:
Colombia UP: 449-512. (Reprinted in L. Binford (1989) Debating Archaeology. New York:
Academic Press: 223-63). (Arch: HC KEN; AH BIN).
* Whitelaw, T. 1991. Some dimensions of variability in the social organization of community space
among foragers. In C.S. Gamble & W.A. Boismier (eds.) Ethnoarchaeological aproaches to
mobile campsites: hunter-gatherer and pastoralist case studies. Ann Arbor, Mich, International
Monographs in Prehistory: 139-188. (Arch: BD Qto GAM; PDF on Academia.edu).
Whitelaw, T. 1994. Order without architecture: functional, social and symbolic factors in huntergatherer settlement organisation. In M. Parker-Pearson and C. Richards (eds) Architecture and
Order. London: Routledge: 217-43. (Arch: AH PAR; Anth: E 15 PEA; PDF on Academia.edu).
16. Application of Isotope Studies (22 Feb) – Rhiannon Stevens
This lecture will introduce the application of isotopic analysis to Palaeolithic and Mesolithic
archaeological studies. Isotope of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and strontium will be introduced, along
with the mechanisms by which they vary in the biosphere. We will look at how stable isotopes ratios
are measured and the types of materials that can be sampled. A range of Palaeolithic and Mesolithic
archaeological case studies will show how isotope analyses can aid the reconstruction of past diets,
environments and mobility patterns.
Principles of stable isotopes in archaeology:
Ben-David, M., & Flaherty, E.A. 2012. Stable isotopes in mammalian research: a beginner's guide.
Journal of Mammalogy 93 (2), 312–328. (Online)
Bentley A. 2006. Strontium isotopes from the earth to the archaeological skeleton: a review. Journal of
Archaeological Method and Theory 13 (3):135-187 (Online)
Lee-Thorp J. 2008. On isotopes and old bones. Archaeometry 50: 925-950. (Online)
Montgomery, J. 2010. Passports from the past: Investigating human dispersals using strontium
isotope analysis of tooth enamel. Annals of Human Biology 37 (3): 325-346. (Online)
Pollard A.M. & Wilson L. 2001. Global biogeochemical cycles and isotope systematics - how the world
works. In D.R. Brothwell & A.M. Pollard (eds.) Handbook of Archaeological Sciences.
Chichester: John Wiley. (Arch: AJ BRO)
11
Case Studies:
Britton, K.H., Grimes, V., Niven, L., Steele, T. E., McPherron, S., Soressi, M., et al. 2011. Strontium
isotope evidence for migration in late Pleistocene Rangifer: Implications for Neanderthal hunting
strategies at the Middle Palaeolithic site of Jonzac, France. Journal of Human Evolution, 61 (2),
176–185.(Online)
Copeland, S R., Sponheimer, M., de Ruiter, D.J., Lee-Thorp, J.A., Codron, D., le Roux, P.J., et al.
2011. Strontium isotope evidence for landscape use by early hominins. Nature, 474 (7349), 76–
78. (Online)
Milner, N., Craig, O.E., Bailey, G.N. & Andersen, S.H. 2006. Touch not the fish: the MesolithicNeolithic change of diet and its significance - A response to Richards and Schulting. Antiquity
80: 456-458. (Online)
Richards, M.P. & Schulting, R, 2006. Touch not the fish: the Mesolithic-Neolithic change of diet and its
significance. Antiquity 80: 444-456. (Online)
Richards, M.P., & Trinkaus, E. 2009. Out of Africa: modern human origins special feature: isotopic
evidence for the diets of European Neanderthals and early modern humans. Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences 106 (38), 16034–16039. (Online)
Schoeninger, M.J. 2014. Stable Isotope Analyses and the Evolution of Human Diets. Annual Review
of Anthropology, 43 (1), 413–430. http://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-anthro-102313-025935
Stevens, R.E., Jacobi, R., & Higham, T. 2010. Reassessing the diet of Upper Palaeolithic humans
from Gough's Cave and Sun Hole, Cheddar Gorge, Somerset, UK. Journal of Archaeological
Science 37, 52–61. (Online)
Stevens, R.E., Hermoso-Buxán, X.L., Marín-Arroyo, A.B., González Morales, M.R., & Straus, L.G.
2014. Investigation of Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene palaeoenvironmental change at
El Mirón cave (Cantabria, Spain): Insights from carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses of red
deer. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 414, 46–60. (Online)
17. Reconstructing Subsistence Strategies (29 Feb to be confirmed) – Simon Parfitt
(at Natural History Museum 2-4 pm)
The reconstruction of subsistence strategies is central to understanding many aspects of early human
behaviour and has been the focus of some of the most-highly charged debates in contemporary
palaeoanthropology and Palaeolithic archaeology. In this session we will discuss the archaeological
and paleontological evidence used to reconstruct subsistence strategies, by examining faunal remains
from the Natural History Museum collections.
* Bello S.M., Parfitt S.A. & Stringer C.B. 2011. Earliest directly-dated human skull-cups. PloS One
6(2): e17026. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0017026 (Online)
* Dominguez-Rodrigo M. 2002. Hunting and scavenging by early humans: the state of the debate.
Journal World Prehistory 16 (1): 1-54. (Online)
Dominguez-Rodrigo M., Pickering T.R. & Bunn H.T. 2011. Experimental study of cut marks made with
rocks unmodified by human flaking and its bearing on claims of similar to 3.4-million-year-old
butchery evidence from Dikika, Ethiopia. Journal of Archaeological Science 39, 205–214.
(Online)
Marean C. & Assefa Z. 1999. Zooarchaeological evidence for the faunal exploitation behaviour of
neanderthals and early modern humans. Evolutionary Anthropology 8: 22-37. (Online)
McPherron S.P. et al. 2010. Evidence for stone-tool-assisted consumption of animal tissues before
3.39 million years ago at Dikika, Ethiopia. Nature 466, 857–860. (Online)
Richards M.P. 2002. A brief review of the archaeological evidence for Palaeolithic and Neolithic
subsistence. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 56: 1270-78. (Online)
* Sept J. 1992. Archaeological evidence and ecological perspectives for reconstructing early hominid
subsistence behaviour. Archaeological Method and Theory 4: 1–56. (Online)
Stahl A.B. 1984. Hominid dietary selection before fire. Current Anthropology 25: 151-168. (Online)
Stiner M. et al. 2000. The tortoise and the hare. Small game use, the Broad Spectrum Revolution and
Paleolithic demography. Current Anthropology 41: 39-73. (Online)
* Ungar P. (ed.) 2006. Evolution of the Human Diet. Oxford, Oxford University Press: (particularly
chapters by Bunn, Blumenschine) (Arch: Issue Desk UNG; BB 1 UNG)
Wrangham R.W. et al. 1999. The raw and the stolen: cooking and the ecology of human origins.
Current Anthropology 40: 567-94. (Online)
12
18. Contribution of Atapuerca to Hominin Evolutionary Studies (7 March) - Maria MartinonTorres
Personal Research Case Study
Arsuaga J.L. et al. 2014. Neanderthal roots: cranial and chronological evidence from Sima de los
Huesos. Science 344: 1358-63. (Online)
Carbonell, E. et al. 2008. The first hominin of Europe. Nature 452: 465-469. (Online)
de Castro J.M.B. et al. 2004. The Atapuerca sites and their contribution to the knowledge of human
evolution in Europe. Evolutionary Anthropology 13: 25-41. (Online)
de Castro J.M.B. & Martinon-Torres M. 2013. A new model for the evolution of the human Pleistocene
populations of Europe. Quaternary International 295: 102-112. (Online)
Dennell D.W., Martinon-Torres M., de Castro J.M.B. 2011. Hominin variability, climatic instability and
population demography in Middle Pleistocene Europe. Quaternary Science Review 30: 151124. (Online)
Lozano-Ruiz M. et al. 2004. Cutmarks on fossil human anterior teeth of the Sima de los Huesos site
(Atapuerca Spain). Journal of Archaeological Science 31: 1127-35. (Online)
Martinon-Torres M. et al. 2007. Dental evidence on the hominin dispersals during the Pleistocene.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 104: 13279-82. (Online)
19. Lower and Middle Palaeolithic in UK (14 March) – Nick Ashton
(At British Museum Franks House 2-4 pm)
Personal Research Case Study
Ashton N.M. & Lewis S.G. 2002. Deserted Britain: declining populations in the British late Middle
Pleistocene. Antiquity 76: 388-96 (Online)
Ashton N.M., Lewis S.G., Parfitt S.A. & White M. 2006. Riparian landscapes and human habitat
preferences during the Hoxnian (MIS 11) Interglacial. Journal of Quaternary Science, 21: 497505 (Online)
Ashton N.M. & Lewis S.G. 2012. The environmental context of early human occupation of northwest
Europe: The British Lower Palaeolithic Record. Quaternary International 271: 50-64. (Online)
McNabb J. 2007. The British Lower Palaeolithic: Stones in contention. London: Routledge. (Arch: DAA
120 MCN)
Parfitt S.A., Ashton N.M., et al. 2010. Early Pleistocene human occupation at the edge of the boreal
zone in northwest Europe. Nature 466: 229–233. (Online)
Parfitt S.A., Ashton N.M. & Lewis S.G. 2010. Happisburgh. British Archaeology 114, 12–21. (Online)
Parfitt S.A. et al. 2005. The earliest record of human activity in northern Europe. Nature 438: 1008-12.
(Online)
White M. 2000. The Clactonian question: on the interpretation of core and flake assemblages in the
British Isles. Journal of World Prehistory 14: 1-63. (Online)
20. Late Palaeolithic and Neolithic Landscape Project in Jordan (21 March) - Andrew Garrard
Personal Research Case Study
Bar-Yosef O. (1998) The Natufian Culture in the Levant, threshold to the origins of agriculture.
Evolutionary Anthropology 6 (5): 159-77. (Online)
Byrd B.F., Garrard, A. and Brandy P. (2015) Modeling foraging ranges and spatial organization of late
Pleistocene hunter-gatherers in the southern Levant – a least-cost GIS approach. Quaternary
International.(Online)
Garrard A., Colledge S. & Martin L. 1996. The emergence of crop cultivation and caprine herding in
the "marginal zone" of the southern Levant. In D. Harris (ed.) The origins and spread of
agriculture and pastoralism in Eurasia. London, University College: 204-226. (Arch: HA HAR)
Garrard A. & Byrd B. 2013. Beyond the Fertile Crescent. Late Palaeolithic and Neolithic Communities
of the Jordanian Steppe. The Azraq Basin Project Volume 1. Oxford, Oxbow. (Arch: DBE 100
Qto GAR)
Kuijt I. & Goring-Morris N. (2002) Foraging, farming and social complexity in the Pre-Pottery Neolithic
of the Southern Levant: a review and synthesis. Journal World Prehistory 16: 361-440. (Online)
13
Maher, L.A. et al. (2012) Twenty thousand-year-old huts at a hunter-gatherer settlement in eastern
Jordan. PLoS ONE 7 (2) e31447. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0031447. (Online)
Maher L.A., Richter T. & Stock J.T. (2012) The Pre-Natufian Epipaleolithic: Long-term behavioural
trends in the Levant. Evolutionary Anthropology 21: 69-81. (Online)
Martin L., Edwards Y. & Garrard A. (2013) Broad spectrum or specialized activity? Birds and tortoises
at the Epipalaeolithic site of Wadi Jilat 22 in the eastern Jordanian steppe. Antiquity 87: 649665. (Online)
Richter T., Garrard A., Allcock S. & Maher L. 2011. Interaction before agriculture: exchanging material
and sharing knowledge in the Final Pleistocene Levant. Cambridge Archaeological Journal 21
(1): 95-114. (Online)
14
ASSESSMENTS
The course will be assessed by two essays of between 3,800 – 4,200 words each (see Word-length
section below), one of which should be on a ‘Palaeoanthropological’ topic (see Group A essays below)
and one on a ‘Palaeolithic Archaeological’ topic (see Group B essays below). They can be written in
any order. It is very important to select essay topics which do not overlap closely with those being
written for other courses being undertaken as part of the degree. If you are uncertain, please check
with the Course Co-ordinator.
The deadlines for the essays will be:
-
Essay 1: Friday January 22
Essay 2: Wednesday May 4
WORD-LENGTH
UCL has very strict regulations relating to word-length. For work that exceeds the specified
maximum length by up to 10% the mark will be reduced by ten percentage marks; but the penalised
mark will not be reduced below the pass mark, assuming the work merited a pass. For work that
exceeds the specified maximum length by 10% or more, a mark of zero will be recorded. The following
should not be included in the word-count: title page, contents pages, lists of figure and tables,
abstract, preface, acknowledgements, bibliography, captions and contents of tables and figures, and
appendices. There is no penalty for using fewer words than the lower figure in the range.
CITING OF SOURCES
Coursework should be expressed in a student’s own words giving the exact source of any ideas,
information, diagrams etc. that are taken from the work of others. Any direct quotations from the
work of others must be indicated as such by being placed between inverted commas (with the
author, date and page number in brackets and the source in the bibliography). Plagiarism is
regarded as a very serious irregularity which can carry very heavy penalties. It is your
responsibility to read and abide by the requirements for presentation, referencing and avoidance of
plagiarism to be found in the IoA ‘Coursework Guidelines’ on the IoA website
http://wiki.ucl.ac.uk/display/archadmin
PRESENTATION
Essays and other assessed work must be word-processed (unless otherwise specified) and should be
printed on one or both sides of the paper, using 1.5-line spacing. Bibliographies may be in single line
spacing. Adequate margins should be left for written comments by the examiner. Students are
encouraged to use diagrams and/or tables where appropriate. These should be clearly referred to at
the appropriate point in the text, and if derived from another source, this must be clearly
acknowledged.
SUBMISSION OF COURSEWORK
Students are required to submit hard copy of all coursework to the course co-ordinators pigeon hole
via the Red Essay Box at Reception by the stated deadline. The coursework must be stapled to a
completed blue coversheet (available from the web, from outside Room 411A or from the library).
Please note that students should put their Candidate Number, not their name, on all coursework.
They should also put the Candidate Number and course code on each page of their work. (Your
candidiate number is a 5 digit alphanumeric code which will be found on portico).
Date-stamping will be via ‘Turnitin’ (see below), so in addition to submitting hard copy, students must
also submit their work to Turnitin by midnight on the day of the deadline.
TURNITIN
It is essential that students upload all parts of their coursework to Turnitin (ie including the
bibliography and images). This ensures that a complete electronic copy of all work is available in case
an essay goes astray. Please be assured that markers will not include these additional elements
when checking wordcounts. Please put your Candidate number at the start of the title line on Turnitin,
followed by a short title of the coursework.
15
Students who encounter technical problems submitting their work to Turnitin should email the nature
of the problem to ioa-turnitin@ucl.ac.uk in advance of the midnight deadline in order that the Turnitin
Advisers can notify the Course Co-ordinator that it may be appropriate to waive the late submission
penalty.
If there is any other unexpected crisis on the submission day, students should telephone or
(preferably) e-mail the Course Co-ordinator and Judy Medrington’s Office.
For this course, the Turnitin ‘Class ID’ is: 2971040 and the ‘Class Enrolment Password’ is:
IoA1516
Further information concerning Turnitin is given on the IoA website:
http://wiki.ucl.ac.uk/display/archadmin
Turnitin advisors will be available to help you via email: ioa-turnitin@ucl.ac.uk if needed.
LATE SUBMISSION
Late submission is penalized in accordance with UCL regulations, unless permission for late
submission has been granted. The penalties are as follows: i) A penalty of 5 percentage marks
should be applied to coursework submitted the calendar day after the deadline (calendar day 1); ii) A
penalty of 15 percentage marks should be applied to coursework submitted on calendar day 2 after
the deadline through to calendar day 7; iii) A mark of zero should be recorded for coursework
submitted on calendar day 8 after the deadline through to the end of the second week of third term.
Nevertheless, the assessment will be considered to be complete provided the coursework contains
material than can be assessed; iv) Coursework submitted after the end of the second week of third
term will not be marked and the assessment will be incomplete.
GRANTING OF EXTENSIONS
New UCL-wide regulations with regard to the granting of extensions for coursework have been
introduced with effect from the 2015-16 session. Full details will be circulated to all students and will
be made available on the IoA intranet. Note that Course Coordinators are no longer permitted to
grant extensions. All requests for extensions must be submitted on a new UCL form, together with
supporting documentation, via Judy Medrington’s office and will then be referred on for consideration.
Please be aware that the grounds that are now acceptable are limited. Those with long-term
difficulties should contact UCL Student Disability Services to make special arrangements.
TIMESCALE FOR RETURN OF MARKED COURSEWORK TO STUDENTS
You can expect to receive your marked work within four calendar weeks of the official submission
deadline. If you do not receive your work within this period, or a written explanation from the marker,
you should notify the IoA’s Academic Administrator, Judy Medrington.
KEEPING COPIES AND RETURN OF COURSEWORK TO COURSE COORDINATOR
Please note that it is an Institute requirement that you retain a copy (this can be electronic) of all
coursework submitted. When your marked essay is returned to you, you should return it to the course
co-ordinator within two weeks, so that it can be second-marked and is available to the Board of
Examiners. You may like to keep a copy of the comments if you are likely to wish to refer to these
later.
COMMUNICATION
If any changes need to be made to the course arrangements, these will normally be communicated by
email. It is therefore essential that you consult your UCL e-mail account regularly.
ATTENDANCE
A register will be taken at each class. If you are unable to attend a class, please notify the lecturer by
email. Departments are required to report each student’s attendance to UCL Registry at frequent
intervals throughout each term. A 70% minimum attendance at all scheduled sessions is required
(excluding absences due to illness or other adverse circumstances, provided that these are supported
by medical certificates or other documentation, as appropriate).
DYSLEXIA AND OTHER DISABILITIES
16
If you have dyslexia or any other disability, please make your lecturers aware of this. Please discuss
with your lecturers whether there is any way in which they can help you. Students with dyslexia are
reminded to indicate this on each piece of coursework.
FEEDBACK
In trying to make this course as effective as possible, we welcome feedback from students during the
course of the year. All students are asked to give their views on the course in an anonymous
questionnaire which will be circulated at one of the last sessions of the course. These questionnaires
are taken seriously and help the Course Co-ordinator to develop the course. The summarised
responses are considered by the Institute's Staff-Student Consultative Committee, Teaching
Committee, and by the Faculty Teaching Committee.
If students are concerned about any aspect of this course we hope they will feel able to talk to
the Course Co-ordinator, but if they feel this is not appropriate, they should the Academic
Administrator (Judy Medrington), or the Chair of Teaching Committee (Dr. Katherine Wright).
17
ESSAYS – GROUP A: PALAEOANTHROPOLOGY
A1. History of palaeoanthropology.
Write a synthesis of the history of interpretation of human evolution, focusing on a specific
time period of your choice (e.g. late C19 / early C20).
(N.B. If you choose this essay topic, you should not select essay B1 for your second assessment).
Useful references:
Bowler P.J. 1986. Theories of Human Evolution: A Century of Debate, 1844-1944. Baltimore, Johns
Hopkins University Press. (Anthrop: B 30 BOW; History of Science: RG 5 BOW)
Cartmill M. 1990. Human uniqueness and theoretical content in paleoanthropology. International
Journal of Primatology. 11: 173-192. (Online)
Darwin C.R. 1885. The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex. 2nd edn. London, Murray.
(For reprints see: History of Science: RG 4 DAR)
Delisle R. 2006. Debating Humankind's Place in Nature: The Nature of Paleoanthropology: 18602000. New York, Prentice Hall. (Arch: BB 1 DEL)
Keith A. 1916. The Antiquity of Man. London, Williams and Norgate. (Order from Library Stores)
Lewin R. 1987. Bones of Contention: Controversies in the search for human origins. London, Penguin.
(Arch: BB 1 LEW)
Reader J. 1981. Missing Links: The hunt for the earliest Man. London, Penguin. (Arch: BB 1 REA)
Tattersall I. 2000. Paleoanthropology: the last half century. Evolutionary Anthropology 9: 2-36. (Online)
A2. Adaptation and primate evolution.
Review and evaluate the methods for studying adaptation in the primate fossil record, focusing
your discussion on one of the major primate radiations.
Useful references:
Cartmill M. 1990. Human uniqueness and theoretical content in paleoanthropology. International
Journal of Primatology 11:173-192. (Anthrop: journal)
rd
Fleagle J.G. 2013. Primate Adaptation and Evolution. 3 ed. Academic Press, San Diego. (Anthrop: B
34 FLE)
Hartwig C. (ed.) 2002. The Primate Fossil Record. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. (Anthrop:
B 40 HAR)
Martin R.D. 1990. Primate Origins and Evolution. Princeton University Press, Princeton. (Anthrop: B
34 MAR)
Plavcan J.M., Kay R.F., Jungers W.L., & Van Schaik C.P. (eds). 2002. Reconstructing Behavior in the
Primate Fossil Record. New York, Kluwer Academic/ Plenum Publishers. (Arch: BB 3 PLA;
Anthrop: B 44 PLA)
Ravosa, M.J. & Dagosto, M. (eds). 2007. Primate Origins: Adaptations and Evolution. New York,
Springer. (Anthrop: B 34 RAV)
Rose M.R. & Lauder G.V. (eds.) 1996. Adaptation. San Diego, Academic Press. (Biology J 7 ROS)
Ross C.F. & Kay R.F. 2004. Anthropoid Origins: New Visions. New York, Springer. (Anthrop: B 34
FLO)
Soligo C (ed.). 2007. Primate Evolution and Environments. Folia Primatologica 78: 273-448. (Online)
Williams G.C. 1966. Adaptation and Natural Selection. Princeton, N.J., Princeton University Press.
(Science: Issue Desk WIL; Zoology: 22 e WIL)
A3. Hominin dispersals.
Discuss the biogeographic history of the hominin clade, focusing on possible reasons behind
the major dispersal events.
Useful references:
Antón S.C. & Swisher III C.C. 2004. Early Dispersals of Homo from Africa. Annual Review of
Anthropology 33: 271-296. (Online)
Arribas A. & Palmqvist P. 1999. On the Ecological Connection between Sabre-tooths and Hominids:
Faunal Dispersal Events in the Lower Pleistocene and a Review of the Evidence for the First
Human Arrival in Europe. Journal of Archaeological Science, 26: 571-585. (Online)
Carbonell, E., Mosquera, M., Rodríguez, X. P., Sala, R. & Van der Made, J. 1999. Out of Africa: The
Dispersal of the Earliest Technical Systems reconsidered. Journal of Anthropological
Archaeology, 18: 119-136. (Online)
18
Dennell R.W. 2003. Dispersal and colonisation, long and short chronologies: how continuous is the
Early Pleistocene record for hominids outside East Africa? Journal of Human Evolution 45: 421440. (Online)
Dennell R. W. & Roebroeks W. 2005. An Asian perspective on early human dispersal from Africa.
Nature 438, 1099-1104. (Online)
Gordon A.D., Nevell L. & Wood B. 2008. The Homo floresiensis cranium (LB1): Size, scaling, and
early Homo affinities. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 105 (12): 4650-4655.
(Online)
Langbroek M. 2004. Out of Africa. An investigation into the earliest occupation of the Old World.
Oxford, BAR 1244. (Arch: Issue Desk LAN; BB 1 LAN Qto)
Lordkipanidze D., Vekua A., Ferring R., Rightmire G.P., Zollikofer C.P.E., Ponce de Leon M.S., Agusti
J., Kiladze G., Mouskelishvili A., Nioradze M. & Tappen M. 2006. A fourth hominin skull from
Dmanisi, Georgia. The Anatomical Record, Part A, 288A: 1146–1157. (Online)
Turner A. 1999. Assessing earliest human settlement of Eurasia: Late Pliocene dispersions from
Africa. Antiquity, 73: 563-570. (Online)
A4. Neanderthals and Modern Humans.
Synthesise what we know of the evolution and biology of Neanderthals and modern humans,
focusing on the possible causes for the apparent demise of Neanderthals and the success of
modern humans.
Useful references:
Bocquet-Appel J. & Demars P.Y. 2000. Neanderthal contraction and modern human colonization of
Europe. Antiquity 74: 544-552. (Online)
Mellars P. 1996. The Neanderthal Legacy: an archaeological perspective from Western Europe.
Princeton, Princeton University Press. (Arch: DA 120 MEL; Issue Desk MEL 10)
Mellars P. 2005. The Impossible Coincidence. A Single-Species Model for the Origins of Modern
Human Behavior in Europe. Evolutionary Anthropology 14: 12-27. (Online)
Pettit P.B. 1999. Disappearing from the World: an archaeological perspective on neanderthal
extinction. Oxford Journal of Archaeology 18 (3): 217-240. (Online)
Smith F.H., Jankovic, I. & Karavanic, I. 2005. The assimilation model, modern human origins in
Europe, and the extinction of Neandertals. Quaternary International 137: 7-19. (Online)
Stringer C. (2002) Modern human origins - progress and prospects. Philosophical Transactions of the
Royal Society, London (B) 357: 563-579. (Online)
Stringer C. 2006. The Neanderthal-H. sapiens interface in Eurasia. In Harvati K. & Harrison T. (eds)
Neanderthals Revisited: New Approaches and Perspectives. New York, Springer. (Arch: BB 1
HAR)
Zilhao J. & d´Errico F. 1999. The Chronology and Taphonomy of the Earliest Aurignacian and Its
Implications for the Understanding of Neandertal Extinction. Journal of World Prehistory 13 (1):
1-68. (Online)
Zilhao J. 2006. Neandertals and Moderns Mixed, and It Matters. Evolutionary Anthropology, 15: 183195. (Online)
A5. Hominin adaptations.
Discuss the development and significance of the bipedal locomotor adaptation in human
evolution.
Useful references:
Aiello L.C. 1996. Terrestriality, bipedalism and the origin of language. In W.G. Runciman et al. (eds)
Evolution of social behaviour patterns in primates and man. Oxford, Oxford University Press:
269-89. (Arch: TC 1424; Anthrop: B 36 RUN)
Bramble D.M. & Lieberman D.E. 2004. Endurance running and the evolution of Homo. Nature 432:
345-352. (Online).
Crompton R.H., Vereecke E.E. & Thorpe S.K.S. 2008. Locomotion and posture from the common
hominoid ancestor to fully modern hominins, with special reference to the last common
panin/hominin ancestor. Journal of Anatomy 212 (4): 501-543. (Online)
Hunt K.D. 1994. The evolution of human bipedality: ecology and functional morphology. Journal of
Human Evolution 26 (3): 183-202. (Online)
Jungers W.L. 1988. Relative joint size and hominoid locomotor adaptations with implications for the
evolution of hominid bipedalism. Journal of Human Evolution 17: 247-265. (Online)
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Spoor F., Garland T., Krovitz G., Ryan T.M., Silcox M.T. & Walker A. 2007. The primate semicircular
canal system and locomotion. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 104 (26):
10808-812. (Online)
Tague R.G. & Lovejoy C.O. 1986. The obstetric pelvis of A.L. 288-1 (Lucy). Journal of Human
Evolution 15 (4): 237-255. (Online)
ESSAYS – GROUP B: PALAEOLITHIC ARCHAEOLOGY
B1. Changing paradigms in the history of Palaeolithic archaeology.
Review the history of research and theoretical agendas on the study of the earliest
paleoanthropological sites from Africa OR Asia.
(N.B. If you choose this essay topic, you should not select essay A1 for your second assessment).
Useful references:
Berger L.R. & Hilton-Barber B. 2000. In the footsteps of Eve: exploring the mystery of human origins.
Washington, National Geographic Society. (Arch: BB 1 BER; Anthrop: B 34 BER)
Blumenschine R.J. 1991. Breakfast at Olorgesailie: the natural history approach to Early Stone Age
archaeology. Journal of Human Evolution, 21: 307-327. (Online)
Clark J.D. 1990. A Personal Memoir. In P. Robertshaw (ed.) A History of African Archaeology. London,
James Currey: 189-204. (Arch: DC 100 ROB; Issue Desk ROB 4)
Dennell R.W. 2001. From Sangiran to Olduvai, 1937-1960: The quest for 'centres' of hominid origins in
Asia and Africa. In R. Corbey & W. Roebroeks (eds.) Studying human origins: Disciplinary
history and epistemology. Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Press: 45-66. (Arch: BB1 Qto
COR)
Gabel C. 1985. Archaeology in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1800-1960. The International Journal of African
Historical Studies, 18 (2): 241-264. (Online)
Howell F.C. 1954. Hominids, Pebble Tools and the African Villafranchian. American Anthropologist 56:
378-386. (Online)
Leakey L.S.B. & Goodall V.M. 1969. Unveiling Man's Origins. Ten Decades of Thought about Human
Evolution. London, Methuen. (Arch: BB 1 LEA)
Lewin R. 1987. Bones of Contention. University of Chicago Press, Chicago. (Arch: BB 1 LEW)
Nilsson E. 1949. The Pluvials of East Africa. An Attempt to Correlate Pleistocene Changes of Climate.
Geografiska Annaler 31: 204-211. (Online)
Torre, I. de la 2013. The origns of stone tool technology in Africa: a historical perspective. In A. Whiten
et al. (eds.) Culture Evolves. Oxford, Oxford University Press: 159-175.
Walker A. & Shipman P. 1996. The Wisdom of Bones. London, Weidenfeld & Nicolson. (Arch: BB 1
WAL)
B2. Evolution of diet.
Review and critique the various lines of evidence for the evolution of hominin diet prior to the
emergence of modern humans. Discuss the potential importance of plant versus animal foods
and the impact of the development of cooking.
Useful references:
Aiello L. & Wheeler P. 1995. The expensive tissue hypothesis. Current Anthropology 34: 199-221.
(Online)
Bunn H.T. 2001. Hunting, power scavenging, and butchering by Hadza foragers and by PlioPleistocene Homo. In C.B. Stanford and H.T. Bunn (eds.). Meat Eating and Human Evolution.
Oxford, Oxford University Press: 199-218. (Arch: BB 1 STA; Issue Desk STA 3)
Dominguez-Rodrigo M. 2002. Hunting and scavenging by early humans: the state of the debate.
Journal World Prehistory 16 (1): 1-54. (Online)
Lee-Thorp J.A., Sponheimer M. & van der Merwe N.J. 2003. What do stable isotopes tell us about
hominid dietary and ecological niches in the Pliocene? International Journal of Osteoarchaeology
13:104-113. (Online)
Marean C. & Assefa Z. 1999. Zooarchaeological evidence for the faunal exploitation behaviour of
neanderthals and early modern humans. Evolutionary Anthropology 8: 22-37. (Online)
Sept J.M. 1994. Beyond bones: archaeological sites, early hominid subsistence and the costs and
benefits of exploiting wild plant foods in east African riverine landscapes. Journal Human
Evolution 27: 295-320. (Online)
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Speth J.D. & Tchernov E. 2001. Neandertal hunting and meat-processing in the Near East. In C.B.
Stanford & H.T. Bunn (eds.) Meat eating and human evolution. Oxford University: 52-72. (Arch:
BB 1 STA; Issue Desk STA 3)
Stahl A.B. 1984. Hominid dietary selection before fire. Current Anthropology 25: 151-168. (Online)
Teaford M.F. & Ungar P.S. 2000. Diet and the evolution of the earliest human ancestors. Proceedings
of the National Academy Sciences of USA 97: 13506-13511. (Online)
Ungar P. (ed.) 2006. Evolution of the Human Diet. Oxford, Oxford University Press: 167-190.
(particularly chapters by Bunn, Blumenschine) (Arch: Issue Desk UNG; BB 1 UNG)
Wrangham R.W. et al. 1999. The raw and the stolen: cooking and the ecology of human origins.
Current Anthropology 40: 567-94. (Online)
B3. Earliest technology.
Using all evidence you find relevant (fossil, lithic, environmental, etc.) assess the nature of
variation in the Oldowan Industry (2.6-1.5 Ma). Is it essentially uniform across time and space,
or is there meaningful evidence of chronological and/or regional variation? Does the record
imply the presence of more than one tool-making species or “culture” in the Oldowan, and how
valid are named variants like the “pre-Oldowan”, “Developed Oldowan” and “Karari Industry”?
Useful references:
Blumenschine R.J., Masao F.T., Tactikos J.C. & Ebert J.I., 2008. Effects of distance from stone source
on landscape-scale variation in Oldowan artifact assemblages in the Paleo-Olduvai Basin,
Tanzania. Journal of Archaeological Science 35(1): 76-86. (Online)
Ludwig B.V. & Harris J.W.K. 1998. Towards a technological reassessment of East African pliopleistocene lithic assemblages. In M. Petraglia & R. Korisetter (eds.) Early Human Behavior in
the Global Context: The Rise and Diversity of the Lower Paleolithic Period. New York,
Routledge: 84-107. (Arch: BC 120 PET)
Plummer T. 2004. Flaked stones and old bones: biological and cultural evolution at the dawn of
technology. Yearbook of Physical Anthropology 47: 118-164. (Online)
Schick K.D. & Toth N. 2006. An overview of the Oldowan Industrial Complex: The sites and the nature
of the evidence. In N. Toth & K.D. Schick (eds.) The Oldowan: Case studies into the earliest
Stone Age. Gosport, IN, Stone Age Institute Press: 3-42. (Arch: TC 3531; DCD Qto TOT)
Semaw S. 2000. The world’s oldest stone artifacts from Gona, Ethiopia: Their implications for
understanding stone technology and patterns of human evolution between 2.6-1.5 million years
ago. Journal of Archaeological Science 27: 1197-1214. (Online)
Stout D., Quade J., Semaw S., Rogers M. & Levin, N. 2005. Raw material selectivity of the earliest
stone toolmakers at Gona, Afar, Ethiopia. Journal of Human Evolution 48 (4): 365-380. (Online)
Torre, I. de la 2004. Omo Revisited. Evaluating the Technological Skills of Pliocene Hominids. Current
Anthropology 45 (4): 439-465 (Online)
Torre, I. de la 2013. The origns of stone tool technology in Africa: a historical perspective. In A. Whiten
et al. (eds.) Culture Evolves. Oxford, Oxford University Press: 159-175.
Toth N. 1985. The Oldowan reassessed: a close look at early stone artifacts. Journal of
Archaeological Science 12: 101-120. (Online)
B4. Origin of Modern Humans.
The origin of modern humans is a major area of current interest in human evolutionary studies,
with many important new contributions in recent years. How do archaeologists define and
identify “behavioural modernity” and what does the most current evidence indicate regarding
the potential cause(s), nature, timing, and location of its emergence? What is the importance of
archaeological evidence in relation to fossil and genetic evidence in understanding modern
human origins?
Useful references:
Bar-Yosef O. 1998. On the nature of transitions: the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic and the Neolithic
Revolutions. Cambridge Archaeological Journal 8 (2): 141-63. (Online)
D’Errico F. et al. 2003. The search for the origins of symbolism, music and language: a
multidisciplinary endeavour. Journal World Prehistory 17: 1-70. (Online)
Gamble C. 2007. Origins and Revolutions. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press (chapter 2) (Arch:
BC 140 GAM; Issue Desk GAM 3)
Henshilwood C.S. & Marean C.W. 2003. The origin of modern human behavior. Critique of the models
and their test implications. Current Anthropology 44 (5): 627-651. (Online)
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McBrearty S. & Brooks A 2000. The revolution that wasn’t: a new interpretation of the origin of modern
human behaviour. Journal Human Evolution 39: 453-563. (Online)
Mellars P., Boyle K., Bar-Yosef, O & Stringer C. (eds.) 2007. Rethinking the Human Revolution.
Cambridge, McDonald Institute. (Arch: BB 1 MEL; Issue Desk MEL 14)
Mithen S. 1996. The Prehistory of the Mind. London, Thames & Hudson. (chapters 8-10). (Arch: BB 1
MIT; Issue Desk MIT 3)
Pearson O.M. 2004. Has the combination of genetic and fossil evidence solved the riddle of modern
human origins? Evolutionary Anthropology 13: 145-159. (Online)
Shennan S. 2001. Demography and cultural innovation: a model and its implications for the
emergence of modern human culture. Cambridge Archaeological Journal 11: 5-16. (Online)
Stringer C. 2002. Modern human origins: progress and prospects. Philosophical Transactions of the
Royal Society of London Series B, 357: 563-579. (Online)
B5. Taphonomy and site formation processes.
Interpreting the hominin activity areas uncovered in Palaeolithic excavations requires a
detailed understanding of the taphonomic and diagenetic processes which may have occurred
since site abandonment. With reference to sites from the Lower and Middle Palaeolithic,
evaluate the methods used in unravelling site formation processes and reconstructing activity
areas.
Useful references:
Andrews P. 1990. Owls, Caves and Fossils. Chicago, University of Chicago Press. (Arch: DAA 410
S.4. AND)
Blumenschine R.J. et al. 2003. Late Pliocene Homo and hominid land use from western Olduvai
Gorge, Tanzania. Science 299: 1217-1221. (Online)
Binford L. 1980 Willow smoke and dogs' tails: hunter-gatherer settlement systems and archaeological
site formation. American Antiquity 45: 4-20. (Online)
Denys C. 2002. Taphonomy and experimentation. Archaeometry 44 (3): 469–484. (Online)
Goldberg P. & Bar-Yosef O. 1998. Site formation processes in Kebara and Hayonim Caves and their
significance in Levantine prehistoric caves. In T. Akazawa et al. (eds) Neandertals and Modern
Humans in Western Asia. New York, Plenum. (Arch: BC 120 AKA; Issue Desk AKA)
Henry D.O. 2003. Neanderthals in the Levant. Behavioural organization and the beginnings of human
modernity. London, Continuum. (chapters 8-9) (Arch: DBA 100 HEN)
Pettitt P.B. 1997. High resolution neanderthals? Interpreting Middle Palaeolithic intrasite spatial data.
World Archaeology 29: 208-224. (Online)
Pickering T., Schick K., and Toth N. (eds.) 2007. Breathing Life into Fossils: Taphonomic Studies in
Honor of C.K. (Bob) Brain. Gosport, IN, Stone Age Institute Press. (Arch: Issue Desk PIC; BB 3
PIC).
Schick K.D. 1987. Modeling the Formation of Early Stone Age Artifact Concentrations. Journal of
Human Evolution 16: 789-807. (Online)
Soligo C. & Andrews P.J. 2005. Taphonomic bias, taxonomic bias and historical non-equivalence of
faunal structure in early hominin localities. Journal of Human Evolution 49: 206-229. (Online)
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