Biological Anthropology: Hominin Evolution Project Overview

Studocu is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university Anthro Project RD Introduction To Anthropology (University of Georgia) Studocu is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university Anthro Project RD Introduction To Anthropology (University of Georgia) Downloaded by anshu patel (lbop0mo5lg@enhancedzoom.com) lOMoARcPSD|34042166

Biological Anthropology Hominin Evolution Project Rough Draft Introduction/ Background Information : This project, the Biological Anthropology Hominin Evolution Project, intends to cover a variety of material discussed within the framework of this class thus far. In this particular project, I will emulate a physical anthropology doctoral student operating under a professor who passes away unexpectedly in the field. In lieu of these hypothetical circumstances, my character has been tasked with completing the late professor’s research and interpreting her findings without descriptors. The aforementioned professor had discovered a series of fossil skulls and attached a few notes with each one. From this information, I am to decipher the cranial capacity of each skull, the location from which they came, and the archaeological research techniques that provided their finding. After finishing thesen tasks, I am to finish a report and submit it to the National Science Foundation. The information provided beforehand includes photos of each hominid skull and complimentary fossil notes as well. These fossil notes include the cranial capacity, generalized location (example East Africa), and subsequent artifacts found in the same archaeological deposit as the skulls themselves. Simply put, it is my character's mission to identify the genus and species of each skull, organize them in chronological evolutionary age order, and provide the required information to properly understand the environments from which the skills came. In the last section of this project, I will give three anatomical characteristics, estimate the age of each skull, interpret their evolutionary relationships, and must discuss the evidence for and against each of the three origins of modern human models. Summary Presentation of data: Skull #1: (cranial capacity: 695 cm^3, location: East Africa, artifacts: pebble tools) Downloaded by anshu patel (lbop0mo5lg@enhancedzoom.com) lOMoARcPSD|34042166

1. What is the genus and species names for each skull? Genus: Homo, species: H. Habilis 2. Give at least three anatomical characteristics for each cranium that suggests which genus and species it belongs to. Discuss each characteristic in the evolutionary changes, especially in regards to the four trends of hominin evolution Skulls are large and rounded. Skulls do not have heavy crests and projecting browbridges, the underside of the cranium is shortened. 3. What are the approximate ages for these skulls? 1.4-15 million years old. 4. Place these skulls in your interpretation of their evolutionary relationships (you should provide a tree or diagram), and explain and defend your interpretation, using information on the age, characteristics of the skull/skeleton, and the location in the world. 5. Discuss the evidence for and against each of the three origins of modern humans models (Multiregionalism, Recent Single Origins, and Assimilation). Information about these models should come primarily from the background guide, but feel free to search for up to date recent scholarly articles about this topic. In your description, refer to the hominin species represented in this collection. You may decide to support one explanation more than another. Skull 2: (cranial capacity: 1505 cm^3, location: Western Europe, artifacts: projectile points) 1. What is the genus and species names for each skull? Downloaded by anshu patel (lbop0mo5lg@enhancedzoom.com) lOMoARcPSD|34042166

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Homo, H. Neanderthalensis 2. Give at least three anatomical characteristics for each cranium that suggests which genus and species it belongs to. Discuss each characteristic in the evolutionary changes, especially in regards to the four trends of hominin evolution Neanderthals had a relatively long and low skull in comparison to modern humans. Neaderthals had a characteristic prominent brow ridge. Another facial feature that contributes to the distinction of Neanderthals is a large, protruded wide nose. 3. What are the approximate ages for these skulls? Anywhere between 130,000 and 40,000 years ago. 4. Place these skulls in your interpretation of their evolutionary relationships (you should provide a tree or diagram), and explain and defend your interpretation, using information on the age, characteristics of the skull/skeleton, and the location in the world. 5. Discuss the evidence for and against each of the three origins of modern humans models (Multiregionalism, Recent Single Origins, and Assimilation). Information about these models should come primarily from the background guide, but feel free to search for up to date recent scholarly articles about this topic. In your description, refer to the hominin species represented in this collection. You may decide to support one explanation more than another. Skull 3: (cranial capacity: 425 cm^3, location: S. Africa, artifacts: none) Skull 4: (cranial capacity 1408 cm^3, location: S. Europe, artifacts: projectile points, blade Downloaded by anshu patel (lbop0mo5lg@enhancedzoom.com) lOMoARcPSD|34042166

technology and cave art) Skull 5: (cranial capacity: 978 cm 3, location: China, artifacts: Acheulian hand axes, bone digging sticks) Skull 6:(cranial capacity: 537 cm 3 location: East Africa artifacts: none) Skull 7: (cranial capacity: 1205 cm location: Southeastern Africa (Zambia) artifacts: bone tools, paleolithic tools) Preliminary Analysis of Data (How Skull and Facial Features have Changed Over Time) The skill and facial changes that have been researched, analyzed, and discussed in this research project have defined modern human features. Prior to related research, it was considered that modern human skulls were entirely different from our hominid ancestors. However, it turned out that there are many similarities across generations of different evolutionary species. It is no secret that modern humans differ from our archaic ancestors in many respects. ● From here discuss trends over time in sequential order ○ How cranial size changed ● Discuss how the artifacts evolved as well, became more advanced etc. Conclusion: List of Sources: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2002/02/skull-and-face-changes-define-modern-humans/ Downloaded by anshu patel (lbop0mo5lg@enhancedzoom.com) lOMoARcPSD|34042166

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