Antro 201 Critical Reading Quiz

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School

Eastern Kentucky University *

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201

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Anthropology

Date

Dec 6, 2023

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docx

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Uploaded by juliannebowling2005

Part A 1. Based on Reading A, in 2-3 sentences, describe the main point of this article. The article was about the first found adult hominid skull, skull 5, that was well preserved from the early Pleistocene. The article goes on to compare the similarities and differences between skull 5 and other skulls found in different regions, as well as comparing it to different species of the modern world, like chimpanzees. 2. Based on Reading A, in 3-4 sentences, explain the significance of the date and location of the Dmanisi fossil site. The space has only been partially excavated so far, however it is proving to be extremely useful in comparing physical traits of various human ancestors that existed in relatively the same time and space. With the significant differences observed in the remains, it has been suggested that, within the region where the remains are being excavated, there is actually “variation among members of a single, evolving lineage,” the homo erectus. However, despite the variation in physical traits present among the remains, skull 5 can still be compared to other fossils unearthed in Africa (around 2.4 million years ago) and parts of Asia and Europe (1.8 and 1.2 million years ago). 3. Five years after Article A came out, researchers reported that the Shangchen (in China) stone tools go back 2.1 million years. Given this information, in 3-4 sentences, modify and revise your stated significance of the date and location of the Dmanisi skulls. This means that the previously-thought 1.8 million year old similarities in remains and fossils most likely spans even longer. The presence of tools found indicates that those who used them were most likely of the same species of homo erectus, and therefore the remains likely have either not been uncovered yet, or have been lost to time due to poor preservation or regional differences in climate, natural disaster, etc. 4. Based on Reading A, in 5-6 sentences, compare and contrast the braincase and the jaw of Skull 5 (the one on the far right of the image of all five skulls) versus the brain and the jaw of one other Dmanisi skull in the drawing (be sure to say which cranium in the drawing you are comparing). To begin, skull 5 has a long, wide shape, as well as a prominent brow bone ridge, smaller teeth, elongated braincase, and closely set together eyes. This can be contrasted from other skulls in the images, as in all other skulls shown, skull 5 has a lower top of the skull, but a similar set in eyes and, in most skulls, a prominent brow ridge. Teeth vary in most of the skulls present, ranging from small like in skull 5, to longer and larger in skull 3. All skulls display a similar eye socket shape and nose shape as well, however. Although, there are noticeable differences in all skulls’ mandibles and maxillae. This ranges from long and narrow (skull2), to short and wide (skull 4). 5. Based on Reading A and relevant course material, in 4-5 sentences, evaluate whether the Dmanisi skulls are more like Homo habilis in Africa or more like Homo erectus material in Asia. I believe the skulls shown are most similar to Homo erectus materials in Asia. This is differentiated most easily in the mandible and maxilla differences displayed between habilis and erectus. The skulls show more low and flattened shapes, as well as a more prominent brow ridge than the homo habilis skulls.

Part B 1. 3-4 sentences: Based on Reading B’s abstract and the first full paragraph of p482, briefly describe the significance of finding a basalt layer and a sandy silt layer. Explain why finding evidence of a rapid burial is so important to understanding the Dmanisi hominins. The basalt and sandy silt layers, along with the rapid burial and other factors (like those described about the gully they resided) helped preserve the bones well. The gully experiencing different layers was due to the piping being built and collapsing. The reason for a rapid burial was extremely difficult for me to ascertain, but, from my understanding, it was due to a mass-grave type of thing. To expand, they figured a quicker, less complex burial allowed for the gravesite to be revisited and used again in the future to help save work. “The fossils were accumulated in an extremely brief period of time.” 2. 5-6 sentences: Review the right three paragraphs on page 482. Compare and contrast two features total of the braincase, face, and mandibles of Homo habilis (KNM- ER 1813) and Homo rudolfensis (KNM-ER 1470). Please use sketchfab.com and/or africanfossils.org to get 3D rotational views. Based on these features, evaluate whether or not you feel they are the same species. Based on the differences in zygomatic bones being much larger and longer in the rudolfensis, a more pronounced brow ridge in habilis, what can be observed in teeth being much larger and longer in habilis, differences in ethmoid/nose bone in shape, and a flatter side profile of the mandible in the rudolfensis, I think they are of different species. Unless this is the same case from the first article where they look extremely different but are from the same species, but these skulls look very different. 3. 4-5 sentences: Review the images and discussion of the mandibles of three Dmanisi individuals (pages 490-491). The authors discuss the mandibular ramus (ascending ramus), corpus (i.e., mandibular body or horizontal ramus), teeth, and more. Compare and contrast two mandibular/dental features across the three individuals. Describe how age-related differences may explain the variation in these features. The article describes that it was previously believed that corpus height is what set the skulls apart so greatly, but the authors of the mentioned article did not account for damage done to the skulls. After more research and study, it was decided that the skulls’ mandibular form differences could have just been individual and were not very large. Within the differences between teeth specifically, age may have a greater effect. The older the individual, the more wear the teeth have sustained. 4. 5-6 sentences: Review the discussions/cranial evidence section (p489-490), and the conclusions (p492) in Reading B. Describe one example from Dmanisi of age or sex variation in the skull/cranial evidence. Is the variation reported at Dmanisi similar to the variation we see in either Homo sapiens or Homo erectus ? Then evaluate whether age/sex variation of skulls supports or fails to support their hypothesis that the five Dmanisi skulls represent one species.

5. 4-5 sentences: Apply our earlier discussions of race and subspecies to address whether the Dmanisi population represents two or more biological subspecies.

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Antro 201 Critical Reading Quiz

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