Hominid Origins IntroductionHominid Origins Introduction
I. Definition of HominidII. Dating MethodsIII. East African Sites IV. South African SitesV. Origins of BipedalismVI. Major Plio-Pleistocene Hominids
I.Definition of HominidI.Definition of Hominid
Several characteristics are significant in defining hominids:
Large brain sizeTool making behaviorBipedal locomotion
II. Dating MethodsII. Dating Methods
Paleoanthropologists use two types of dating methods to tell us the age of sites and fossils: A. Relative dating determines only whether an object
is older or younger than other objects.B. Chronometric (absolute) dating provides an
estimate of age in years based on radioactive decay (usually).
II A. Relative Dating TechniquesII A. Relative Dating Techniques Stratigrapy is based on the law of superposition, that a
lower stratum (layer) is older than a higher stratum. Fluorine analysis applies to buried bones and
groundwater seepage. Bones incorporate fluorine during fossilization.
Biostratigraphy is related to changes in the dentition of animals.
Paleomagnetism is based on the shifting of the geomagnetic pole.
II B. Chronometric Dating TechniquesII B. Chronometric Dating Techniques1. The age of an object can be determined by measuring
the rate of disintegration: Potassium/argon (k/Ar) dating involves the decay of potassium into argon gas. K/Ar has a half-life of 1.25 billion years.Carbon-14 is a radiometric method commonly used by archaeologists. Carbon 14 has a half-life of 5730 years.
2. The age can also be determined through techniques such as dendrochronology (tree-ring dating)
III. East African SitesIII. East African Sites
Great Rift Valley (+/- 7mya)May have led to hominid differentiation due to environmental changeVolcanic sediments make it possible to chronometrically date the sites. Desert and open rift provide access to deep sedimentsProvides crucial chronology of human evolution.
III. East African SitesIII. East African Sites
Lothagam – 5.7 mya (protohominid) Aramis – 4.4 mya (Ardipithecus ramidus) Laetoli – 3.7 mya (footprints) Olduvai Gorge - tools, numerous fossils Hadar – 3.5 mya Lucy et al. (A. afarensis) Koobi Fora – 2-3 mya many (100+) individuals
IV. South African SitesIV. South African Sites
Mostly limestone caves and quarries Difficult to date because volcanism is lacking Mostly dated by faunal correlation/biostratigraphy The first australopithecine, a “the missing link”
between apes and humans, was at Taung.
V. The Bipedal Adaptation V. The Bipedal Adaptation
Seems to originate in East Africa, associated with the Great Rift Valley
Some Suggestions:Energy Efficiency (over long distances)Predator IdentificationCarrying AbilityProvisioning of FemalesHeat Dissipation
VI. Plio-Pleistocene Hominids VI. Plio-Pleistocene Hominids Specimens recovered represent close to 200
individuals from South Africa and more than 300 from east Africa.
The specimens have been divided into four broad groupings:
Set I Basal Hominids.Set II Early Primitive Australopithecus.Set III Later, more derived Australopithecus.Set IV Early homo.
Set I. Basal Hominids (ca 4.4 m.y.a.)Set I. Basal Hominids (ca 4.4 m.y.a.)
The earliest and most primitive remains are those from Aramis.
They have been classified as Ardipithecus ramidus, a different genus from all other Plio-Pleistocene forms.
Set II. Early Primitive Australopithecus (4.2-3.0 m.y.a.)
Set II. Early Primitive Australopithecus (4.2-3.0 m.y.a.)
The hominids from Laetoli and Hadar are assigned to Australopithecus afarensis.
A. afarensis is so primitive in the majority of dental and cranial features that if it were not for evidence of bipedalism, this primate would not be classified as a hominid.
Set III. Later, More Derived Australopithecus (2.5-1.0 m.y.a.)
Set III. Later, More Derived Australopithecus (2.5-1.0 m.y.a.)
Two subsets: Robust Australopithecines (aka Paranthropus)
Larger body sizeSmall cranial capacitiesVery large, broad facesMassive back teeth and lower jaws
Gracile Australopithecines (Australopithecus)Most of the differences between the two types of australopithecines is in the face dentition
Paranthropus robustusParanthropus robustus
Australopithecus africanusAustralopithecus africanus
Set IV. Early Homo (2.4-1.8 m.y.a.)Set IV. Early Homo (2.4-1.8 m.y.a.)
The earliest appearance of our genus, Homo may be as ancient as the robust Australopithecines.
Leakey named these specimens Homo habilis ("handy man") for Olduwan tools
Differs from Australopithecus in cranial cavity and dental
proportions.
Homo habilisHomo habilis