Early HominidsEarly Hominids

The Fossil RecordThe Fossil Record

Two Stories to Tell:Two Stories to Tell:1. How hominids evolved1. How hominids evolved2. How interpretations change2. How interpretations change

Insight into Insight into processprocessPast & future changesPast & future changesInteracting elements...Interacting elements...

Interplay of Three ElementsInterplay of Three Elements

““HardHard”” evidenceevidenceFossilsFossilsArcheological associationsArcheological associationsDatesDates

Reconstructions Reconstructions AnatomyAnatomyBehaviorBehaviorPhylogenyPhylogeny

Explanatory FramesExplanatory FramesWhy did it happen?Why did it happen?What does it mean?What does it mean?

Mutual InfluenceMutual Influence

EvidenceReconstruction

Explanation

Where to start?Where to start?

South Africa, 1924South Africa, 1924

Raymond Dart, 1924Raymond Dart, 1924TaungTaung, South Africa, South Africa

Why did Dart call it a Hominid?Why did Dart call it a Hominid?

Taung ChildTaung Child

Raymond Dart, 1924Raymond Dart, 1924TaungTaung, South Africa, South AfricaAustralopithecusAustralopithecus africanusafricanus2.52.5 myamyaFourFour--year old with an apeyear old with an ape--sized sized

brain, humanlike small brain, humanlike small canines, and foramen magnum canines, and foramen magnum shifted forwardshifted forward

Taung ChildTaung Child

Neanderthal Homo sapiens neanderthalensisNeander Valley, Germany, 1856Neanderthal Homo sapiens neanderthalensisNeander Valley, Germany, 1856

Age: 40Age: 40--50,00050,000Significance: First human Significance: First human

fossil acknowledged fossil acknowledged as such, and first specimen of as such, and first specimen of Neanderthal. First dismissed as Neanderthal. First dismissed as a freak, but a freak, but Doctor J. C.Doctor J. C.Fuhlrott Fuhlrott speculated that speculated that it was an ancient it was an ancient human.human.

Trinil 1: “Java Man”Homo erectusTrinil 1: “Java Man”Homo erectus

EugeneEugene Dubois, 1891Dubois, 1891TrinilTrinil, Java, Indonesia, Java, IndonesiaAge: 500,000Age: 500,000 yrsyrs

Significance: The Java hominid, Significance: The Java hominid, originally classified as originally classified as Pithecanthropus erectusPithecanthropus erectus, was , was the controversial the controversial ““missing missing linklink”” of its day. Since then, of its day. Since then, many other specimens of many other specimens of erectuserectus have been found, have been found, including several in Java (e.g.,including several in Java (e.g.,Sangiran Sangiran 4, shown).4, shown).

Opposition to TaungOpposition to TaungPiltdown ManPiltdown Man

EnglishEnglishBig brainBig brain

Prejudice against AfricaPrejudice against AfricaJava finds Java finds ““Brain FirstBrain First”” theorytheory

Scientific ObjectionScientific Objection

Taung Taung specimen was specimen was youngyoungYoung hominoids Young hominoids more similar than more similar than adultsadultsIs it a matter of age?Is it a matter of age?How to resolve?How to resolve?

South Africa, 1940’s:Australopithecus comes of ageSouth Africa, 1940’s:Australopithecus comes of age

Adult specimens Adult specimens similar tosimilar to TaungTaungAdults skulls show Adults skulls show hominid traitshominid traits

Small caninesSmall caninesAnterior placement of Anterior placement of foramen magnumforamen magnum

Postcranial bones Postcranial bones confirm hominid statusconfirm hominid status

Pelvis, spine, and long Pelvis, spine, and long bonesbones

Chimp Australopithecus Human

STS 5, “Mrs. Ples”Australopithecus africanusSTS 5, “Mrs. Ples”Australopithecus africanus

Robert Broom and John Robert Broom and John Robinson, 1947Robinson, 1947

SterkfonteinSterkfontein, S. Africa, S. Africa

Age, 2.3Age, 2.3--2.8 million years2.8 million years

Cranial capacity, 450 ccCranial capacity, 450 cc

An adult An adult A.A. africanusafricanus; ; may may actually be a male.actually be a male.

Two Kinds of AustralopithecusTwo Kinds of Australopithecus

How are they different?How are they different?

Gracile vsGracile vs. robust. robust

Teeth and JawsTeeth and Jaws

Sagittal Sagittal crestcrest

Zygomatic Zygomatic archarch

Why??Why??

Swartkrans 48Australopithecusrobustus

Swartkrans 48Australopithecusrobustus

Robert Broom, 1950Robert Broom, 1950SwartkransSwartkrans, S. Africa, S. AfricaAge: 1.5Age: 1.5--2 my2 myCranial capacity: 500 cc.?Cranial capacity: 500 cc.?Significance: Classic South AfricanSignificance: Classic South African robustusrobustus

(With Swartkrans

23 mandible)

1950’s: Australopithecus accepted1950’s: Australopithecus accepted

Two kinds:Two kinds:Gracile Gracile Human Human AncestorAncestorRobust Vegetarian Robust Vegetarian dead enddead end

South African cave deposits: Confusing stratigraphy, poor datesSouth African cave deposits: Confusing stratigraphy, poor dates

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The The LeakeysLeakeys