Test 2 study guide
Human evolution
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Human evolution is the process of change and development, or evolution, by which
human beings emerged as a distinct species.
Process of evolving from a different species into what we are today both inside and
outside.
The process and things to remember: Australopithecine- homo Habilis- homo erectus- homo
Neanthertalis- Homo Sapiens
Homo habilis (handy-man)
- skull with a brain volume of about 680 cubic centimeters
- Larger than the Australopithecines
- First to handle tools
Homo erectus- Java man, Peking man
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Shape of the skull suggested that it could talk, Rounded jaw, Could walk
Spread in Africa quickly within 1 million years they migrated to Europe and Asia
Hunted large animals, butchered them using flint and bone tools, and cooked them over
fires—the site in China contains the remains of horses, bears, elephants,etc.
Homo Neanthertalis- Probably not a direct ancestor - but another offshoot from H. erectus
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Shorter, stockier, stronger than modern man. Adapted to ice age.
Homo sapiens- Also known as Cromagnum
-developed in Africa and populated the rest of the world
Ancient Africa
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John reader stated that human evolved in Africa- Fossils found in East Africa and at other
scattered location in the north and south.
Australopithecine found in the Serengeti plains adults and a juvenile
Extensive trails of fossils have been found in Africa- Hadar, Ethiopia, Lake Turkana,
Kenya, Tugen hills, and olduvai Gorge.
Environmental circumstances in Africa led to the development of upright stance and
bipedalism
Humans lived in Africa until 100,000 then they started to move out
They Hunted and gathered for food and when climatic changes occurred competition for
resources began.
Africa the birthplace of humanity
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Reasons for not finding fossils in west and Central Africa- high humidity and
Acidity- lack of interest by researchers
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Tools uncovered in west Africa are referred to as oldowan- c. 3 million and 0.5
million
Scientist believe that humanity evolved in Africa and are presently living in the rest
of the world- archeological discoveries support the out of Africa theory (hominids) –
over 5 million years ago.
The great rift valley- break in the earth 3,500 kilometers long and 300 feet deep
(dated over one half and two million years)
Homo erectus- 500,000 and 1.5 million years- organized hunting - Olduvai GorgeTanzania
Tool making first emerged in the East African savannah- long dry season
The most common tools found were choppers- tools were made from lava pebble or
chunk of quartz and have a sharp edge for cutting
Australopithecine fossils found in Omo valley in the Great Rift Valley
Biological and cultural diversity
-1mya humans migrated out of Africa-moved out because they were hunting for food and
because of environmental and climatic changes.
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Routes- Cheikh Anta Diop- 1) Migrated through the Sahara into the Iberian Peninsula
(Europe), 2) Isthmus separating the Mediterranean Sea from the red sea.
Humans both inside and outside of Africa reacted to geographical and environmental
changes which led to natural selection and adaptation (Human biological and cultural
evolution continued).
Movements from Africa caused biological mutations and cultural diversity
Due to environment and geographical location- peoples language changed, and skin
pigmentation changed (evolution was not only genetic change).
Humans first evolved in Africa in 150,000 years ago- resembling the Twa- (Pigmy)
and the San (Bushmen) of central and southern Africa.
40,000- homo sapiens were trapped in the frigid temperature (almost no sun)
Caucasoid developed during the ice-age
Caucasions- Melanin- dark brown pigment that is naturally present to varying degrees
in the skin, hair etc (purpose to screen out the unnecessary sunlight). Since there was
almost no sunlight in the ice age environment it became a liability- it was screening
out sunlight- the body needs sunlight to produce Vitamin D. Because the Melanin was
screening the limited sun in the ice age environment the melanin was harmful to the
humans so then white skin became the asset. Genetic mutation came about in the
form of albinism (albino) and also facial morphology changed (narrow nose).
Read pages: 199- 204 please read and understand and remember the last test was not easy expect
the same level of testing.
Watch the video: you are to also review what you saw on the video “the real eve”.