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