ANTHROPOLOGY 205-01:
HUMAN EVOLUTION/ PALEOANTHROPOLOGY
Grinnell College – Fall 2008
Instructor: Charles E. Hilton
Office: Goodnow 307
Phone: 641.269.4305
email: hiltonch@grinnell.edu
Classroom: Goodnow 105
Class time: MWF 10-10:15am
Office Hrs: MW 3-5pm or by appt.
Description:
This class explores the field of paleoanthropology and provides an overview of human
evolutionary history. Paleoanthropology is holistic and multidisciplinary. It includes contributions from
human paleontologists, paleolithic archaeologists, geologists, zoologists, botanists and geneticists. The
work of primatologists, ethnographers and ethnoarchaeologists are also used to provide insight into the
lifeways of our hominid ancestors. The course will focus primarily on the hominid fossil record but
integrates information from these other sources. Additionally, we will be concerned with how
paleoanthropologists know what we know and how we can resolve some of the ongoing controversies in
field.
While I have my own biases and opinions, I do attempt to provide a balanced view for a number
of ongoing debates in paleoanthropology. I expect you to be able to learn and articulate the various
viewpoints of any current debate in the field (especially for your research papers). Thus, it is necessary
for you to learn how to critically evaluate, assess, and present the ideas of researchers, even those who
may not hold the same viewpoint as you.
Requirements:
Students will acquire a basic knowledge of the human musculo-skeletal system and become
familiar with the names of some of the different fossil hominid species but not necessarily with the
individual specimens associated with each species.
Grading:
Two exams (midterm; final each will be worth 33% of your grade; Midterm Exam 15 Oct.). The
exams are each worth 100 points. Exams will come from lectures and the texts. Exams consist of essay
style questions and short identifications. Make-up exams are not given.
Research paper (33% of your grade). The research paper should be approximately 12-15 pages. A
typewritten abstract (<250 words) of your intended project is due 23 October. The abstract should list
at least 6 references from legitimate peer-review journals (most of these now have web sites). The paper
itself is due at the beginning of the Final Exam.
Your research paper should focus on a particular topic (of your choice but approved by me) relevant to
paleoanthropology. This paper should review and analyze a specific problem related to fossil hominoids
and/or hominids. For this project you should become familiar with the pertinent archaeological,
orthopaedic, biomechanical, anatomical and evolutionary biology journals. The text of your paper should
be at least 12 double-spaced pages but no longer than 15 (12pt font; 1 inch margins). Length does not
include references, figures or tables. Please follow the “Guide to authors” in the American Journal of
Physical Anthropology (www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/28130/home/forauthors.html).
Textbooks and Readings:
Required textbooks: G. C. Conroy (2005) Reconstructing Human Origins, 2nd Ed. This book
discusses the broad patterns associated with human evolution.
Johanson, D.E. and Edgar, B. (1996) From Lucy to Language, 2nd Ed. Simon and Schuster. This
book can be considered a coffee-table type book but it contains many excellent actual-size photographs of
fossil specimens with good information on the discoveries of the type specimens. The text is not bad and
contains only a few minor mistakes here and there.
A. Walker and P. Shipman (2005) The Ape in the Tree. Good description of paleontological
work on an early Miocene fossil primate series.
J. Weiner (1994) The Beak of the Finch. A really great book that helps to illustrate elements of
micro- and macro-evolution from the long-term studies of finches of the Galapagos Islands.
Useful reference/source books:L. Aiello and C. Dean (1990) An Introduction to Human Evolutionary
Anatomy. Academic Press. This book is a must for reviewing hominoid comparative morphology. It has
excellent discussions of the skeletal morphology seen in fossil hominids and similarities found in the
apes. It can be a great resource for your research papers.
R. G. Klein (1999) The Human Career: Human Biological and Cultural Origins. This book covers
many of the same topics as Conroy but is somewhat more detailed. It also has a excellent reference
section that you can take advantage of for doing your research paper.
J. Fleagle (1999) Primate Adaptation and Evolution, 2nd Ed. A very useful book covering many basic
aspects of primate and human evolution.
LECTURE OUTLINE
I. Background to the study of Human Evolution --- Concepts in Geology and Evolutionary Biology
Some functional anatomy for primate and human evolution
Geology and “Deep Time”
Looking for fossils
Readings: Conroy Chap. 1, 2, 3; Begin Ape in the Tree (to be finished by mid-term exam)
II. Taxonomic and Phylogenetic Frameworks
How many species?
Arranging the samples: cladistic, phenetic and populational approaches
Readings: Conroy, Preface (pp xxii-xxv); Chap. 4
III. Miocene Hominoids
Africa and Eurasia
The comparative and molecular clock
Late Miocene/Early Pliocene mandibles and maxillae
Readings: Conroy Chap. 5
III. Identifying the Earliest Hominids
What makes a hominid?: neontological and paleontological perspectives
The comparative and molecular framework
Readings: Conroy Chap. 6, 7
IV. Early Hominin Behavioral Ecology:
Locomotion and posture: the feet to the crania
Manipulation: tool using versus tool making
Heads, dentition and diet
Life history variables
Readings: Conroy Chap. 8 (Midterm Exam 15 Oct.)
V. The Emergence of the Genus Homo
What’s up with all of those species?
Australopithecus/Paranthropus versus Homo
Anatomy for a behavioral shift
What is the Oldowan and who is responsible?
Readings: Conroy Chap. 9; Begin Beak of the Finch (complete by the Final Exam)
VI. H. ergaster and the first migration of hominids out of Africa
The emergence of a new lineage
WT15000
The relationship to the early Acheulean/Developed Oldowan
Readings: Conroy Chap. 10
VII. Middle Pleistocene Hominids and Adaptations
Biological trends through time: brains and bodies
The Acheulean complex
The identification of regional lineages
Adaptive shifts into the later Middle Pleistocene
Readings: Conroy Chap. 11
VIII. Late Archaic Hominids: The Neandertals, their contemporaries, and the emergence of
anatomically modern humans
Behavioral questions:
Locomotion, manipulation, diet, intelligence, life history, thermal adaptations
Replacement vs. Multiregional vs. Evolutionary Biology
Anatomically Modern Humans versus Behaviorally Modern Humans: What really changed
and when?
Readings: Conroy Chap. 12, 13
Final Exam: Friday, 19 December 9am