11.1: Hominin Review- Evolutionary Trends

Hominin Review: Evolutionary Trends

Format: In-person or online

Artistic reconstruction of a Paranthropus boisei, male, by John Gurche.

Author: Perash, Rose L., and Broehl, Kristen A.

Modified from labs by Henry M. McHenry, University of California, Davis, and Beth Shook, California State University Chico.

Time needed: 30 minutes

Supplies Needed

• Worksheet (provided)

Readings

•  
• Yoshida-Levine, Bonnie. Chapter 10: Early Members of the Genus Homo. Explorations.
• Warren, Kerryn, et. al. Chapter 9: Early Hominins. Explorations.

Introduction

This is a review/synthesis of trends in hominin evolution designed for after students have completed Explorations chapters 9, 10, and 11. For this activity, students match the descriptions of anatomical changes or behavioral traits with the number that corresponds to the correct hominin species on the phylogenies (one for anatomy and one for behavior/culture).

Steps

1. Summarize anatomical and behavioral developments among hominin groups.
2. Handout the student worksheet and ask students to answer each question, using the phylogeny charts as reference.
3. Upon completion, review the correct answers with the class and summarize.

Tips and Suggestions

This exercise works well as group work. It is often helpful for students to look for the most unique descriptors first (rather than proceed with descriptors in the order listed). For example, “mental eminence” is often a straightforward one that can help students get started.

Adapting for Online Learning

1 Not adaptable 2 Possible to adapt 3 Easy to adapt

References

Paskey, Amanda Wolcott; Beasley Cisneros, AnnMarie. 2019. “Chapter 11: Archaic Homo”. In Explorations: An Open Invitation to Biological Anthropology, edited by Beth Shook, Katie Nelson, Kelsie Aguilera, and Lara Braff. Arlington, VA: American Anthropological Association. http://explorations.americananthro.org/

Warren, Kerryn, et. al. 2019. “Chapter 9: Early Hominins. Explorations” In Explorations: An Open Invitation to Biological Anthropology, edited by Beth Shook, Katie Nelson, Kelsie Aguilera, and Lara Braff. Arlington, VA: American Anthropological Association. http://explorations.americananthro.org/

Yoshida-Levine, Bonnie. 2019. “Chapter 10: Early Members of the Genus Homo”. In Explorations: An Open Invitation to Biological Anthropology, edited by Beth Shook, Katie Nelson, Kelsie Aguilera, and Lara Braff. Arlington, VA: American Anthropological Association. http://explorations.americananthro.org/

Image Attributions

Paranthropus boisei, male. Reconstruction based on OH 5 and KNM-ER 406 by John Gurche by Smithsonian [exhibit: Reconstructed Faces, What does it mean to be human?] is copyrighted and used for educational and noncommercial purposes as outlined by the Smithsonian.

Hominin Review: Evolutionary Trends

Step One: Anatomical Developments

Match the following anatomical developments (A-J) with the number where they occur on the Hominin Anatomy Phylogeny (below).

_____ A. decreased prognathism, moderate sized molars, phalanges not curved (derived), Found in South Africa, still relatively small brain (~450cc)

_____ B. canine reduction, lower jaw tooth row shape intermediate between parallel and parabolic, have footprints explicitly displaying bipedal patterns, curved phalanges

_____ C. further brain expansion, decrease in teeth size, decrease in brow ridges, flattening of the face, mental eminence, vertical forehead

_____ D. megadontia complex (huge molars, jaws, and chewing muscles), slight increase in cranial capacity (410-530cc)

_____ E. femur and pelvis indicate capable of bipedalism

_____ F. brain expansion, megadontia reduction, smaller less projecting face, smaller jaws

_____ G. occipital bun common, retromolar space, robust postcrania, relatively short limbs

_____ H. further brain expansion, reduction in teeth, face, and jaws, increased brow ridges, increased body size

_____ I. loss of honing complex, obligate bipedalism, curved phalanges (primitive), parallel tooth row shape

_____ J. foramen magnum position indicates likely capable of bipedalism

Hominin Anatomy Phylogeny

Step Two: Behavioral Developments

Match the following behavioral developments (A-G) with the number where they occur on the Hominin Behavior Phylogeny (below).

_____ A. Mixture of arboreal and bipedal lifestyle, as seen in hand and foot anatomy. Likely due to a patchy savannah environment.

_____ B. Traditionally seen as the first hominin to also live outside the African continent. Used stone tools, including handaxes (Acheulean tool tradition).

_____ C. Used stone tools (Mousterian tool tradition). Likely had intentional burials and made symbolic objects. Lived in Europe and the Near East.

_____ D. Evidence of meat scavenging, but no evidence of stone tools or hunting.

_____ E. Used a variety of tool technologies, including harpoons, barbs, and traps. Lived on all continents.

_____ F. Ate a diet mainly of tough plant foods like nuts, seeds, grasses, and tubers.

_____ G. Traditionally seen as the first users of stone tools (Oldowan tool tradition).

Hominin Behavior Phylogeny