~ PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY ~
Examines the evolution of humankind over the
last few million years and compares the
genetic characteristics of humans with other
biologically similar animals
Paleoanthropology
Primatology
Human Variation
PALEOANTHROPOLOGY: “BONES AND STONES”
Study of human ancestors, known as hominins, based on evidence
from the past
Most evidence is the form of fossils (preserved remains of biological
matter):
* skeletal remains
*ancient tools
Famous Paleoanthropologists:
*animal bones
Donald Johanson
Louis and Mary Leakey
Raymond Dart
1974 “Lucy” discovered in Ethiopia
Part of Australopithecs afarensis –member of
human family that walked 3.2 million years ago
Complete handout “Paleoanthropologists” using
pp. 38-43 of the textbook
PRIMATOLOGY
Study the anatomy and behaviours of living primates
(Primatologists are not always anthropologists – may be trained in
biology or zoology but research is always relevant to anthropology)
Study primates by observing them in both their natural habitats and in
laboratories
Famous primatologists:
Jane Goodall (Chimpanzees in Tanzania)
Dian Fossey (Gorillas in Rwanda)
Birute Galdikas (Orangutans in Borneo)
PRIMATES AND HUMANS
Genetic make up of primates and human beings varies
by only 1-2%
Because humans and primates share physical and social
characteristics, physical anthropologists look to
primates for clues to the evolution of humans and
their behaviour
SIGNIFICANT SHARED FEATURES
Opposable thumbs
3D/binocular vision (judgment of distance)
Highly developed brain with large capacity to learn &
think
Children remain dependent for long periods of time and
require a lot of care in order to learn and develop into
independent adults
Social, depends on group for survival
Capacity for aggression and defense of territory
DISTINCTIVE HUMAN FEATURES
Bipedalism
Complex system of morality and spirituality that
influence and motivate behaviour
Ability to communicate complex & abstract ideas
through language
Teach the young
Develop and share ideas
Pass ideas to the next generations
Some anthropologists believe that it is the
human capacity for language that separates
humans from all other species
HOW DID WE BECOME HUMAN?
- the
development of our complex brain resulting from a
combination of:
- development and use of tools and hunting in groups
- development and use of language
More likely.....
- social skills required to get along in groups resulted in
more complex brain functioning
- learning to share
ACTIVITY: OPPOSABLE THUMBS
• Get into groups of two
• Take a copy of the instructions
• Each member needs a copy of the worksheet
to complete
• Do all activities with thumbs free
• Repeat all activities with thumbs taped down
HUMAN VARIATION
Study of genetic differences between people and populations to
understand differences between people
how and why human beings are different
understand differences from evolutionary perspective
Why are we different? (Charles Darwin and Natural Selection)
1. Variation
2. Heritability (traits passed to offspring)
3. Environmental fitness (individuals who are better adapted to
their environment will produce more offspring and pass their
traits to the next generation)
The Leakey Family (Louis and Mary)
 Rejected theory of Asian human origin and traveled to
Africa where they (Louis and Mary) discovered fossilized
human remains 2 million yrs BP
 Reconstructed a series of human civilizations from
100 000 yrs BP to over 2 million years BP
 Experimented with Stone Age tools to discover how our
ancestors hunted for food
Raymond Dart
 Discovered a skull in South Africa in 1924
 Skull represented the transitional stage between apes
and humans
Donald Johanson
 Discovered Lucy in 1974 in Ethiopia
Humans walked upright 3.2 million years ago
Jane Goodall
 Worked with Leakey’s in Tanzania recording life of
chimpanzees
 Discovered chimps used tools to bore holes in trees to get
ants to feed on; chimps have a highly developed social
structure
Dian Fossey
 Studied Rwanda’s mountain gorilla community
 Learned to imitate their habits and sounds in order to
gain acceptance by community
 Observed them demonstrating affection toward family and
aggression toward outsiders
Birute Galdikas
 Employed by Louis Leakey to study orangutans (who
share98% of its genetic material with humans)
 1968 set up camp in Borneo, Indonesia
 Became a foster parent to Surgito, a male 1 year old
orangutan that was kept in cage