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From Deepest, Darkest Africa: Hominin Evolution and Fossil Discoveries, Study notes of Physical anthropology

An overview of hominin evolution during the plio-pleistocene period, focusing on key fossil discoveries in east and south africa. The hominin timeline, the locations of fossil finds, and the characteristics of various hominin species, including ardipithecus ramidus, australopithecus anamensis, australopithecus afarensis, australopithecus africanus, paranthropus aethiopicus, paranthropus boisei, paranthropus robustus, and lesser-known hominins. The document also discusses the mosaic nature of hominin evolution and the timeline of changes in physiological systems, bipedal adaptations, and dental trends.

Typology: Study notes

Pre 2010

Uploaded on 08/16/2009

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1From Deepest, Darkest Africa: The Plio-Pleistocene
Hominins
Anth 1013 Lecture
8 November 2004
2Hominin Evolutionary Timeline
3Where Are the Fossils Found?
nEastern Africa
qStretches ca. 1,200 miles from Red Sea to Serengeti Plain
qYears of geologic activity have exposed Miocene, Pliocene, and P leistocene deposits
4Ardipithecus ramidus
nEast Africa (Ethiopia)
n5.8-4.4 mya
nMosaic of characteristics
qPrimitive traits
nLarge anterior dentition, relative to posterior teeth
nThin enamel
qDerived traits
nForwardly positioned foramen magnum
nBroader lower molars
nLocomotion (?)
qPart-time bipedal and arboreal
5Australopithecus anamensis
nEast Africa (Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania)
n4.17-4.07 mya
nMosaic of characters
qPrimitive
nHighly prognathic face
nLarge canines; parallel dental arcade
qDerived
nProximal tibia
nRelatively thick enamel and wider (than longer) molars
nLocomotion (?)
qPart-time bipedal and arboreal
6Australopithecus afarensis
nEast Africa (Ethiopia and Tanzania)
n4-3 mya
nMosaic of characteristics
qPrimitive traits
nLong, curved metatarsals and pedal phalanges
nPrognathic face
nRelatively large canines with diastema
qDerived traits
nMorphology of the pelvis and femur
qLocomotion
nAll clues point to obligate bipedalism
nArboreal for sleeping, shelter, and protection
7I’m Walking…The Laetoli Footprints
8Australopithecus africanus
nSouth Africa (Makapansgat and Sterkfontein)
n3-2.3 mya
nMosaic of characteristics
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Download From Deepest, Darkest Africa: Hominin Evolution and Fossil Discoveries and more Study notes Physical anthropology in PDF only on Docsity!

1 From Deepest, Darkest Africa: The Plio-Pleistocene

Hominins

Anth 1013 Lecture

8 November 2004

2 Hominin Evolutionary Timeline

3 Where Are the Fossils Found?

n Eastern Africa

q Stretches ca. 1,200 miles from Red Sea to Serengeti Plain

q Years of geologic activity have exposed Miocene, Pliocene, and P leistocene deposits

4 Ardipithecus ramidus

n East Africa (Ethiopia)

n 5.8-4.4 mya

n Mosaic of characteristics

q Primitive traits

n Large anterior dentition, relative to posterior teeth

n Thin enamel

q Derived traits

n Forwardly positioned foramen magnum

n Broader lower molars

n Locomotion (?)

q Part-time bipedal and arboreal

5 Australopithecus anamensis

n East Africa (Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania)

n 4.17-4.07 mya

n Mosaic of characters

q Primitive

n Highly prognathic face

n Large canines; parallel dental arcade

q Derived

n Proximal tibia

n Relatively thick enamel and wider (than longer) molars

n Locomotion (?)

q Part-time bipedal and arboreal

6 Australopithecus afarensis

n East Africa (Ethiopia and Tanzania)

n 4-3 mya

n Mosaic of characteristics

q Primitive traits

n Long, curved metatarsals and pedal phalanges

n Prognathic face

n Relatively large canines with diastema

q Derived traits

n Morphology of the pelvis and femur

q Locomotion

n All clues point to obligate bipedalism

n Arboreal for sleeping, shelter, and protection

7 I’m Walking…The Laetoli Footprints

8 Australopithecus africanus

n South Africa (Makapansgat and Sterkfontein)

n 3-2.3 mya

n Mosaic of characteristics

2 q Primitive traits

n Prognathic face and some postorbital constriction

q Derived traits

n Smaller canines, no diastema, and wider molars (than afarensis )

n Forwardly positioned foramen magnum

n Thick enamel

n Pelvic morphology

(^9) Oh, Bipedal One…The Pelvis of A. africanus (^10) Paranthropus aethiopicus n East Africa (Ethiopia and Kenya) n ~ 2.5 mya n Mosaic of characteristics q Primitive

n Cranial capacity (about 410 cc)

n Marked postorbital constriction

q Derived

n Foramen magnum position

n Thick enamel

n Small anterior dentition, large molars

n Parabolic dental arcade

q Other

n Large sagittal crest

n Broad malars (cheek bones)

n “Dish-shaped” face

(^11) Paranthropus boisei n East Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania) n 2.3-1.2 mya n Mosaic of characteristics

q Primitive

n Cranial capacity similar to apes

n Marked postorbital constriction

q Derived

n Foramen magnum position

n Thick enamel

n Small anterior dentition, large premolars and molars

q Other

n Large sagittal crest

n Broad malars (cheek bones)

n Very large mandible

n “Dish-shaped” face

(^12) Paranthropus robustus n South Africa (Swartkrans and Kromdraai) n 2-1 mya n Mosaic of characteristics

q Primitive

n Cranial capacity similar to apes

n Marked postorbital constriction

q Derived

n Foramen magnum position

n Thick enamel

n Small anterior dentition, large molars

q Other

n Large sagittal crest

n Broad malars (cheek bones

n Very large mandible

n “Dish-shaped” face

(^13) Lesser-Known Hominins n All from Africa; little material available q Kenyanthropus platyops q Australopithecus garhi

n Dated to about 2.5 mya