Hominin Evolution Flashcards
Dating, classification, evolutionary processes (107 cards)
1
Q
What are the 2 main types of dating in archaeology?
A
relative and absolute
2
Q
define relative dating
A
gives a sequence of “older” and “younger” without absolute times/dates
3
Q
define absolute dating
A
provides calendar dates for sites
4
Q
what is another name for absolute dating?
A
chronometric
5
Q
what are the 2 types of relative dating?
A
stratigraphy and seriation
6
Q
define stratigraphy
A
using the law of assumption
7
Q
define seriation
A
based on the how much or how little we see patterns in artifact styles over time
8
Q
what type of dating is based on the how much or how little we see patterns in artifact styles over time
A
seriation
9
Q
what type of dating uses the law of assumption
A
stratigraphy
10
Q
what are the 4 types of absolute dating?
A
-dendrochronology
-archaeomagnetism
-paleomagnetism
-radiometric
11
Q
describe dendrochronology
A
using tree rings; the most precise method of absolute dating
12
Q
describe archaeomagnetism
A
a type of absolute dating; study of remnant magnetism in artifacts
13
Q
describe paleomagnetism
A
study of the changes in the earth’s magnetic field over time
14
Q
describe radiometric dating
A
calculates age based on radioactive decay
15
Q
what type of absolute dating is the most accurate?
A
dendrochronology
16
Q
define half life (radiocarbon) dating
A
measuring the rate of decay in organic materials
17
Q
measuring the rate of decay in organic materials is called what?
A
half life
18
Q
define thermoluminescence dating
A
dating used when radiocarbon dating cannot be used (ceramic, stone)
19
Q
Half life and thermoluminescence dating are examples of what type of dating?
A
radiometric
20
Q
how far back can you use radiometric dating?
A
up to 50,000 years, after that it isn’t considered reliable
21
Q
what does “BC’ stand for?
A
before christ
22
Q
what does “AD” stand for?
A
anno domini- after Christ was born
23
Q
what does “CE” mean?
A
common era
24
Q
Is CE the same as AD in dating?
A
YES
25
what years are included in the "BC" period?
1 day after christ up to 5000 years ago
26
what does 'bP' mean and what does it signify?
before present; signifies the commencement of the dating scale, 1950 being the "standard" year
27
what does it mean for a period to be calibrated vs uncalibrated?
calibration represents evidence found in the form of radiocarbon concentration, which is then converted into years.
28
define uncalibrated dating
a rough estimate that still needs to be proven with carbon levels
29
define natural selection
"survival of the fittest"; acts on variation within populations
30
what is gene flow?
exchange of genetic information from one population to another
31
what is genetic drift?
small random changes in isolated populations
32
what is mutation?
main source of genetic variation
33
what is a hominin?
any creature believed to be in the direct line of evolution with humans
34
what is the one characteristic that separates hominins from other species?
Bipedal locomotion
35
what are some characteristics of primates?
-tendency for erect posture
-opposed thumb
-nails (not claws)
-stereoscopic vision (brain can create 3D images)
-live in groups/pairs with permanent males
-brachiation (branched on both sides)
-prehensile (able to grasp)
36
what does it mean to have stereoscopic vision?
your brain can create 3D images
37
what does brachiation mean?
to be branched on both sides (arms that are able to swing- form of locomotion)
38
what does it mean to be prehensile?
you are able to grasp with your hands
39
what is non-honing chewing?
grinding your food (molars) rather than slicing (incisors, canines)
40
what is an extinct species that was included in the early hominins?
austrolipiths
41
how were early hominins classified?
-bipedal locomotion
-bigger brain to body ratio
-generalized dentition
-non honing chewing
42
describe phylogeny
the evolutionary history of a species, using DNA & paleoanthropology, that involves comparing some genetic similarities of species
43
the evolutionary history of a species, using DNA & paleoanthropology, that involves comparing some genetic similarities of species is defined as what?
phylogeny
44
LCA means what?
chimp-human last common ancestor
45
between what years did the LCA exist?
6.3 and 5.4 AD
46
Cretaceous Period
90-65mya, Purgatorius (shrew like animals)
47
Euocene-Ogliocene Extinction
55-23mya; Aegyptopithicus (earliest possible ancestor of the old world monkey)
48
Aegyptopithicus
predates the divergence of old world monkeys and hominoids (apes); found in the euocene-ogliocene period
49
Fayum Depression
oldest/richest records of mammal fossils **found in Egypt** during the Miocene period
50
Why is the Miocene period significant for archaeology, specifically referring to the Fayum Depression?
it holds the oldest/richest sites for mammal fossils in the world
51
oldest/richest records of mammal fossils **found in Egypt** during the Miocene period..what place is this?
Fayum Depression
52
What did the Miocene period mean for early primates?
they moved from forest to savanna and there was a huge expansion in the hominoids superfamily
53
when did the Miocene period occur?
23-5mya
54
when was there a lack of fossils during the Miocene period?
11-5mya
55
All members of the human lineage after it splits to chimp lineage are called what?
Australopiths
56
What are some extinct hominin generas?
sahelanthropus, ardipithecus, australopithecus, paranthropus
57
what was the hominin that was first discovered to have been the closest in anatomy to modern humans?
Sahelanthropus tchadenisis
58
what was the one outstanding characteristic of Sahelanthropus tchadenisis that set him apart from other hominins?
the position of the foramen magnum (where the spinal cord enters the cranium)
59
what was significant about the foramen magnum in Sahelanthropus tchadenisis?
it sat more underneath the skull and was not at an angle like other hominins. This signified a more erect posture (bipedalism) and a need to balance the skull (something not seen in other apes aside from humans)
60
what was the name of the hominin that came after Sahelanthropus tchadenisis?
Ardipithecus Ramidus
61
what hominin was closely related to Sahelanthropus tchadenisis?
Ardipithecus Ramidus
62
what hominin likely evolved into the earliest Australopithicines?
Ardipithecus Ramidus
63
which hominin was as much in the trees as it was on the ground?
Ardipithecus Ramidus
64
what are some of the key characteristics of Ardipithecus Ramidus?
-smaller canines
-opposed toe with no arches
-prognathism (protruding jaw)
-bipedal over short distances
65
where did Ardipithecus Ramidus live?
Ethiopia
66
what hominin lived during the middle of the Pilocene period?
Australopithecus
67
what are some characteristics of Australopithecus?
-small brains
-bipedal
-smaller canines
-small stature (just over 1m tall)
68
Who had features similar to both apes and humans but was more human like?
Australopithecus
69
what species of hominin was separated into robust & gracile forms?
Australopithecus
70
what genus of hominids had/has a prognathous jaw?
almost all members of the hominidae family (the great apes)
71
what is the family of great apes referred to as?
Hominidae
72
what is the super family of all species of apes and humans called?
Hominoidea
73
Hominoidea refers to what members of the human lineage?
all apes, their ancestors and humans
74
what are the members of the Hominiae?
gorillas, chimps, humans & their ancestors
75
what is the tribe called that contains gorillini & panini?
Hominini
76
what are the species included in the "great apes"?
gorillas, orangutans, gibbons, chimps bonobos, humans & their ancestors
77
Australopithecines Include what members of early hominins?
Australopithecus Africanus, Australopithecus Afarenisis, Australopithecus Sebidia
78
Approximately how tall were the early Australopithecines?
between 3.5 and 5 feet tall
79
what were key features of the early Australopithecines?
-human like dentition
-smaller canines
-steeper forehead
-prognathous
-smaller temporal fossa
-less prominent sagittal crest
-lest robust zygomatic arch
80
what is a sagittal crest?
bone running lengthwise on the skull
81
what is a zygomatic arch?
cheekbone
82
what area of the skull is called the zygomatic arch?
cheekbone
83
what area of the skull is called the sagittal crest?
the bone that runs lengthwise down the middle of the skull
84
what is the temporal fossa?
a depression on either side of the skull
85
what are the depressions on either side of the skull called?
the temporal fossa
86
Paranthropus is also called what?
Robust Australopithecines
87
Robust Australopithecines are part of what genus?
Paranthropus
88
Paranthropus had what features?
-flatter forehead
-larger temporal fossa
-large zygomatic arches
-thicker skull & bones
-massive molars & muscles
-more pronounced sagittal crest
-510cc avg brain size
89
what genus of hominoids have a flatter forehead?
Paranthropus
90
what genus of hominoids have a larger temporal fossa & zygomatic arches?
Paranthropus
91
what genus of hominoids have thicker skulls/bones, massive molars & muscles?
Paranthropus
92
what does bipedal mean?
using lower/rear limbs for locomotion
93
what else evolved along with bipedalism?
larger brains
94
Bipedalism is restricted to what tribe?
hominins
95
what are some advantages of bipedalism?
-hands are free to carry & manipulate
-posture exposes less skin to sunlight & helps see further (see more land/protect self from predators)
-efficient function
96
what are traits of the bipedal skeleton?
-pronounced lumbar curve
-foramen magnum is centered
-pelvis is bowl shaped
-shift in body mass distribution
-enlarged ankle bones/arches
-no opposable toe
97
-pronounced lumbar curve
-foramen magnum is centered
-pelvis is bowl shaped
-shift in body mass distribution
-enlarged ankle bones/arches
-no opposable toe
...these are all traits of what?
bipedal skeleton
98
"Lucy" is what species of hominin?
Australopithecus Afarenisis
99
why were the footprints in Laetoli, Tanzania significant to learning about early hominins?
they had big toes in line with the rest of their foot (like humans) and they walked heel-strike first, then toe-off..this meant they were not only bipedal but also more human like than ape.
100
"Lucy" was found at what Australopithecine archaeological site and how long ago?
Hadar, Ehtiopia 3.18mya
101
What was the child found in South Africa in 2mya called?
Tuang child
102
the Tuang child was a part of what genus of hominoid?
Australopithecus Africanus
103
who comes first in the Hominini branch? Australopithecus Africanus, Australopithecus Afarenisis, Sahelanthropus tchadenisis or Ardipithecus Ramidus?
Sahelanthropus tchadenisis
104
who came second in the hominini branch?
Australopithecus Africanus, Australopithecus Afarenisis, or Ardipithecus Ramidus?
Ardipithecus Ramidus
105
who came 3RD in the Hominini branch? Australopithecus Africanus or Australopithecus Afarenisis?
Australopithecus Afarenisis
106
who was the last out of these 4 in the Hominini branch:
Australopithecus Africanus, Australopithecus Afarenisis, Sahelanthropus tchadenisis or Ardipithecus Ramidus?
Australopithecus Africanus
107
what species lived at the same time as the Australopiths?
Homo Habilis
