Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 9th ed ., p. 215

Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 9th ed., p. 215

“Early Homo” -- The First Humans

Neandertals and Other ArchaicsNeandertals and Other Archaics

“Early” Homo

and

“Archaic” Homo?

What’s the difference between


“Early” Homo

=

Homo habilis

2.4 mya



“Archaic” Homo

=

Neandertals and others

ca. 300,000 ybp



“Archaic” Homo

=

“Premodern Human”

ca. 300,000 ybp



“Early” Homo

=

Homo habilis

2.4 mya


Source: Humankind Emerging, 7th ed., p. 33

“Early Homo”

1. Homo rudolfensis . . .

(e.g., KNM ER 1470)

2. Homo habilis . . .

Some people think there are two species:

EarlyEarly Homo Homo

“We agree that more than one species is probably represented, but for simplicity suggest referring to all the [Plio-pleistocene human] specimens as ‘early Homo.’”

“The species names Homo habilis and Homo rudolfensis are the ones most commonly used for designating two different species of early Homo.”

Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology,8th ed., p. 252 (cf., pp. 215-217, 9th ed.:



Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 8th ed., Fig. 10-30



EarlyEarly Homo Homo

“We agree that more than one species is probably represented, but for simplicity suggest referring to all the [Plio-pleistocene human] specimens as ‘early Homo.’”

“The species names Homo habilis and Homo rudolfensis are the ones most commonly used for designating two different species of early Homo.”

Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology,8th ed., p. 252 (cf., pp. 215-217, 9th ed.:

Australopithecines - HomoAustralopithecines - Homo

Genus

• Australopithecus

• Paranthropus

• Homo

Species

• ramidus• afarensis• africanus• aethiopicus• boisei• robustus• habilis ( “early” )

• rudolfensis ( “early” )

• erectus• sapiens

TraitsTraits

1. Are the first humans (Homo) . . .

“Early Homo”

TraitsTraits


“Early Homo”

2. Are (sometimes called)Plio-Pleistocene hominids . . .

TraitsTraits


“Early Homo”


3. Are the earliest lithic tool makers . . .

TraitsTraits


“Early Homo”



4. Had big brains


Cranial Capacity


Time 23 July 2001

Time 23 July 2001

Smithsonian Institution

TraitsTraits


“Early Homo”



4. Had big brains

GlossaryGlossary

•Homo rudolfensis . . .

•Homo habilis . . .

“Early Homo” =

GlossaryGlossary



“Early Homo” =

(e.g., KNM ER 1470)

Time 23 July 2001

Major SpeciesMajor Species

• one of two species of “Early Homo”

• inhabited South and East Africa– 2.4 – 1.6 mya

Homo rudolfensis –(KNM ER 1470)

GlossaryGlossary



“Early Homo” =

Major SpeciesMajor Species

• one of two species of “Early Homo”

• inhabited South and East Africa– 2.0 – 1.6 mya

Homo habilis –(Olduvai, Koobi Fora . . .)

Selected Major Discoveries / Events, ca. 1850 - PresentSelected Major Discoveries / Events, ca. 1850 - Present

• Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania

• 700 cc brain

• tool manufacture

• 1.85 - 1.6 mya

Homo habilis –(Olduvai, Koobi Fora . . .)

Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 9th ed. p 185

Time 23 July 2001

TraitsTraits


“Early Homo”



Began (m.y.a.)

Holocene 0.01 (Villafranchian) 1.6

Pleistocene 1.8

Pliocene 5

Miocene 23

Epochs: Epochs: Tertiary / QuaternaryTertiary / Quaternary

began (m.y.a.)

Holocene 0.01

Pleistocene 1.8

Pliocene 5

Miocene 23

Oligocene 34

Eocene 55

Paleocene 65

TraitsTraits


“Early Homo”



4. Had big brains

www.amnh.org/exhibitions/atapuerca/africa/branches.php

TraitsTraits


“Early Homo”



4. Had big brains

Major Trends: Brain DevelopmentMajor Trends: Brain Development

1. size . . .

2. the ratio of brain weight to

overall body weight . . .

3. complexity . . .

Brains develop in


1. size . . .

Brains develop in




1. size . . .



Brains develop in



1. size . . .



3. complexity . . .

Brains develop in


• increases in area

the cerebral cortex(neocortex)

Introduction to Physical Anthropology, 8th ed., Fig. 7-3

“Early Humans”

Interpretations

Time 23 July 2001

Smithsonian Institution


Humankind Emerging, 7th edition, p. 259


Time 23 July 2001


“Early Homo”

Interpretations__________________

And, usually, early Homo

are men, heading East . . .

Time 23 July 2001


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7132794.stm

“Early Homo”

Next:

Homo erectus . . .


Genus


• Paranthropus

• Homo

Species

• ramidus• afarensis• africanus• aethiopicus• boisei• robustus• rudolfensis ( “early” )

• habilis ( “early” )



“Early Homo”

And after Homo erectus:

Homo sapiens . . .


Genus


• Paranthropus

• Homo

Species

• ramidus• afarensis• africanus• aethiopicus• boisei• robustus• rudolfensis ( “early” )

• habilis ( “early” )



“Early Homo”

Caution!

Note that . . .


“Archaic” Homo sapiens

“Early” Homo

is not the same as


• Homo habilis

• Homo rudolfensis

“Early” Homo

Time 23 July 2001


• are members of the species Homo sapiens (including Neandertals)

• preceded “anatomically modern Homo sapiens” (Qafzeh and Cro-Magnon)

• are different from Homo erectus . . .• but lack the full set of characteristics

diagnostic of modern Homo sapiens . . .


Time 23 July 2001



• post - Erectus humans in – Africa– Asia (India and China)– Europe




• 400,000 - ca. 130,000 y.b.p.



• Swanscombe• Steinheim• Fontechevade• Atapuerca• Arago• Vértesszöllös• Broken Hill (Kabwe)• and others• Neandertal, BUT . . .

“Archaic” Homo sapiens include



Neandertals are a special case of “Archaic” Homo

sapiens

More on that latter

Homo erectus . . ..

Next:

The End

Documents

Understanding Physical Anthropology and Archaeology, 9th ed ., p. 215