Instructor Shara Bailey
Department of Anthropology
25 Waverly Place, Rm. 901A
New York University
Department of Anthropology
T-R 11:00-12:15, Cantor 102
Office hours: W 1:30-2:30
(and by appointment)
PH: 212.998.8576, Email: sbailey@nyu.edu
TAs
Overview
Eleanor Farber
Elissa Ludeman
Kinley Russel
Catalina Villamil
901 TBA
901 TBA
901 Tuesday 8:45-10:45
904 Thursday 12:30-2:30
As one of the four major subdisciplines of anthropology, physical anthropology (or biological anthropology) is the study of human biological evolution and variation. This course will examine the evidence for past and present human physical and behavioral adaptations from an evolutionary perspective. The study of human evolution brings together research from many different areas of natural science, including genetics, evolutionary theory, systematics, geology, comparative anatomy, paleontology, primate behavior, ecology, forensic anthropology, and archaeology. We begin the course with the history of evolutionary thought, including a background in genetics and evolutionary processes. We move on to the relationship of humans to the rest of the natural world, focusing on the biology and behavior of the primates, the group of mammals that includes humans and our closest living relatives, the apes. Finally we examine the fossil evidence for human evolution, focusing on major events such as the origin of bipedalism and evolution of larger brains.
At the end of this course students should be able to discuss the key concepts, findings and terminology in physical anthropology and understand the diverse approaches and methods used by physical anthropologists to investigate the origins and evolutionary history of our species. In addition, students will be expected to understand, organize and present coherent arguments for or against various debates in anthropology. Emphasis is on critical thinking and active learning. Laboratories emphasize hands-on activities through experiments, computer programs and simulations, and working with skeletal material and fossil casts.
Required Texts:
Stanford C, Allen J and Antón S. Biological Anthropology. 3rd edition. Pearson
Blackboard
§ The syllabus, supplemental readings, laboratory grades, and exam grades will all be posted on Blackboard.
§ Hand-outs will be posted on Blackboard after each class. Be sure to download them if you miss a class.
ANTH UA2: Human Evolution Bailey– Fall 2013 1

§ Each week there is laboratory that examines in greater detail some of the concepts, techniques and materials that we have discussed in class.
§ The relevant chapters of the lab manual are posted on Blackboard. You must come to the lab fully prepared by reading the relevant lab chapter and assigned readings *before* coming to lab.
§ Lab Attendance is required . There will be no make-up labs or quizzes, no extensions on lab assignments. If you miss a lab you must contact your TA as soon as possible to find out what work you have missed.
§ It is important to remember that each lab has a written assignment or quiz associated with it. All written assignments are due by the next lab date. Lab reports must be handed to your TA ( not emailed).
REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS
§ Attendance: This course and its labs are heavily based upon lectures and class discussions. To do well you must attend lecture, listen, participate and take useful notes. Attendance counts towards your participation grade.
§ One-minute essays: Throughout the semester I will ask students to write very short essays on a variety of topics: it could be about some new thing learned from the assigned readings, a question about the readings/lecture material or your opinion on a particular debate .
These one-minute-essays count towards your participation grade .
§ Courtesy : Come to class on time. Turn off your mobile phones before entering labs and classrooms. Do not text during class. You may use your laptop to take notes, HOWEVER if we find that you are surfing the internet, emailing, chatting online, etc. this privilege will be taken away. There are no second chances
§ Reading materials : All of the assigned reading material is required. You must complete the readings for each week before attending class and/or lab. Supplemental readings are available as .pdfs on Blackboard.
§ Academic dishonesty : Cheating is unethical and WILL NOT BE TOLERATED . Rewording an assignment/article/lab report and turning it in as your own is considered plagiarism and is not acceptable. If you are found to be plagiarizing someone else’s work you and the other person will receive a “0” for the assignment . Students charged with academic dishonesty are subject to the procedures outlined by the
College of Arts and Sciences (http://www.nyu.edu/cas/Academic/Bulletin0204/Policies.html)
GRADING
§ Exams: There will be three exams. Each exam comprises objective (memory) questions, short answer
(problem solving) questions and short essay-type (thinking) questions. Makeup exams for the exams will be scheduled only for students with official excuses (generally medical) and must be approved prior to the exam.
Make up exams (when approved) will be of a different format and may be made up of entirely short answer/essay questions .
§ Laboratory: Quizzes, written assignments, attendance/participation all contribute to your final lab grade.
See me regarding DOCUMENTABLE , extraordinary personal circumstances affecting your academic performance.
Your final grade consists of: And is based on the following breakdown
Three exams @ 100 pts
Participation
Lab reports/quizzes
TOTAL
300
30
135
465
A
B
C
D
F
90-100%
80-89%
70-79%
60-69%
<60%
ANTH UA2: Human Evolution Bailey– Fall 2013 2

* All Chapters refer to Standford et al., see also Accessory Readings list and folder on Blackboard
CLASS LECTURE TOPIC
WEEK 1 Introduction
Sept 3 What is anthropology?
Scientific method
Sept 5 History of evolutionary thought
Intelligent Design, Evolution
READ
Introduction: 1-11
Ch. 1
LAB
NO LAB THIS WEEK
WEEK 2
Sept 10 What Darwin didn’t know:
Genetics: DNA, protein synthesis, replication
Ch. 2
LAB 1: Orientation/human skeleton
.
Sept 12 Genetics and inheritance
Genes and behavior
WEEK 3
Sept 17 Forces of evolution
Evolution in action
Ch. 3, Ch 17
Ch. 4
LAB 2: Human genetic traits and variation
Ch. 4 Sept 19 Origin and evolution of species
Mode and tempo of evolution
WEEK 4
Sept 24 Human variation
Sept 26 Human adaptability
WEEK 5
Oct 1 Humans as primates
Ch. 5
Ch. 5
Ch. 6
LAB 3: Human Skeleton Quiz,
Anthropometry Lab
LAB 4: What is Race?
Oct 3 EXAM 1 – chapters 1-5
(Jan 24-Feb 16 Labs 1-4)
WEEK 6
Oct 8 Survey of primates
Oct 10 Primate diets and ecology
WEEK 7
Oct 15 FALLBREAK
Ch. 6
Ch. 6
Ch. 7
LAB 5: Comparative anatomy:
Humans as peculiar primates
LAB 6: Social organization of living primates
Oct 17 Primate social organization and behavior
WEEK 8
Oct 22 Reconstructing the past: dating and evolutionary relationships
Ch. 8
LAB 7: Primates Social
Behavior
ANTH UA2: Human Evolution Bailey– Fall 2013 3

CLASS LECTURE TOPIC
WEEK 8
Oct 24 Primate evolution
WEEK 9
Oct 29 Trends in hominin evolution: brains, bipedalism
READ
Ch. 9
LAB 8: Phylogenetic
Ch. 10 & p. 448-458 relationships
Oct 31 Contenders for ‘earliest’ hominin
WEEK 10
Nov 5 EXAM 2 Chapters 6-10
(L abs 4-8 )
Ch. 11
Nov 7 Genus Australopithecus
WEEK 11
Nov 12 Paranthropus and Hominin relationships
Ch. 11
Ch. 11
Nov 14 early Homo , Oldowan Ch. 12
WEEK 12
Nov 19 Homo erectus : biological and cultural innovations
Ch. 12
Ch 12 Nov 21 Early hominin dispersals
WEEK 13
Dec 3 Neandertal ancestors
Nov 28 NO CLASS - THANKSGIVING
Ch. 13
WEEK 14
Dec 3 Neandertals: their rise and demise Ch. 13
Dec 5 Emergence and dispersal of
WEEK 15
H. sapiens
Ch 14
Dec 10 What does it mean to be ‘modern’
Dec 12 Wrap up, review for final exam
DEC 17 FINAL EXAM 10:00 – 11:50
LAB
LAB 9: Bipedalism
LAB 10: The human fossil record I: early hominins
LAB 11: The human fossil record II: early
NO LABS
Homo
LAB 12: The human fossil record III: later Homo
ANTH UA2: Human Evolution Bailey– Fall 2013 4