Miocene Hominoid Distribution, From Fossils
Thus Far Discovered
Miocene Hominoid Fossils
1. These hominoids are more closely related to the
ape-human lineage than Old World monkeys.
2. Mostly large-bodied hominoids, more akin to the
lineages of orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, and
humans.
3. Most of the Miocene forms discovered are so
derived that they are probably not ancestral to any
living form.
Miocene Fossil Hominoids
African forms (23–14 mya)
–
Especially from western Kenya, these
hominoids are, in many ways, primitive.
–
Proconsul
Miocene Fossil Hominoids
European forms (16–11 mya)
–
From scattered localities in France, Spain, Italy,
Greece, Austria, Germany, and Hungary, most are
quite derived.
–
Dryopithecus and Ouranopithecus
Miocene Fossil Hominoids
Asian forms (16–7 mya)
–
The largest and most varied group from
Turkey through India/Pakistan and east to
southern China, most are highly derived.
–
Sivapithecus
Sivapithicus
Sivapithecus (from Turkey and Pakistan) shows
facial features similar to the modern orangutan,
suggesting a fairly close evolutionary link.
Orangutan
chimpanzee
•
Sivapithecus
Note the dished face, broad cheekbones, and projecting upper jaw and incisors
on both Sivapithecus and the Orangutan
From Primate ancestors to…
Hominins
Hominins (us) review…
• Defined by dental features, bipedal
locomotion, large brain size, and tool making
behavior
• Characteristics that developed at different
rates, called mosaic evolution
Biocultural Evolution: The Human
Capacity for Culture
• All aspects of human adaptation, including
technology, traditions, language, religion, marriage
patterns, and social roles.
• Culture is a set of learned behaviors; it is transmitted
from one generation to the next through learning
and not by biological or genetic means.
• Material culture is part of the cultural complex…
Oldowan Tool Industry
• The Oldowan is the first known industrial
complex in prehistory. It takes its name
from Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania
Chopping tool
• Oldowan tool use is estimated to have
begun about 2.5 million years ago (mya),
lasting to as late as 0.5 mya.
• It is thought that Oldowan tools were
produced by several species of hominids
ranging from late Australopithecus to
early Homo.
Biface tool
Anthropologists who study this stuff…
• Paleoanthropologists. They study early humans.
• Paleoanthropologists reconstruct the anatomy,
behavior, and ecology of our ancestors:
• It is a diverse multidisciplinary pursuit seeking to
reconstruct every bit of information possible
concerning the dating, anatomy, behavior, and
ecology of our hominin ancestors.
• Locate early hominin sites, collect faunal remains
and artifacts
Dating (relative)
• Relative dating methods. These tell you that
something is older or younger than something else
– Stratigraphy- based on the law of superposition,
which states that a lower layer is older than a
higher one
– Flourine analysis, used to date remains of bone
– Biostratigraphy
– paleomagnetism
Dating (absolute)
• Absoulte dating methods
– Chronometric (Absolute) dating methods are based on
calendar years
– K/Ar, or potassium argon method used to date materials
in the 5-1 mya range
– Carbon-14 method used to date organic material
extending back to 75,000 years
– Thermoluminescence
– Uranium series dating
– Electron spin resonance (ESR)