Chapter 9

Based on the extraction and analysis of fossil DNA, scientists now estimate that the common ancestor of Neandertals, Denisovans, and AMHs lived between

765,000 and 550,000 B.P.

Among the anatomical contrasts that distinguish H. erectus from modern humans are

a large brow ridge. thicker skull bones.

The species known as Homo habilis was first discovered and identified by which famous team of paleoanthropologists in 1960?

L. S. B. and Mary Leakey

multiple choice How is Homo erectus is like modern humans?

Both share a similar height and body shape.

Which of the following statements best describes the earliest migration of human ancestors out of Africa?

Homo erectus was the first species to range out of Africa for hunting and gathering.

Which of the following statements about the Denisovans are true?

They lived in Asia from roughly 400,000 to 50,000 years ago. The split between ancestral Neandertals and Denisovans happened when Neandertals spread to the west and the Denisovans headed east.

The Neandertal-like fossils found at Sima de los Huesos cave in Spain had

Denisovan mtDNA.

H. rudolfensis overlapped in time with which of the following hominins?

H. habilis H. erectus

Which of the following ancestral human species had an average cranial capacity of around 900 cm3?

Homo erectus

Which of the following statements is true about the skeletons of Homo erectus and modern humans?

The skeleton of H. erectus (below the head) was similar to that of modern humans.

Which of the following statements best describes the time period during which Homo habilis and Homo erectus overlapped?

The species overlapped between 1.9 m.y.a. and 1.4 m.y.a., but after that only Homo erectus endured to perhaps 5 m.y.a. (or 500,000 years ago).

Which of the following correctly describe the hominins who lived at Terra Amata?

There were hearths within their shelters. They used tree saplings to support huts. Their tools were made from local materials.

Which of the following statements best describes the group that was ancestral to anatomically modern humans (AMHs)?

They evolved from Africa and spread from there throughout the world.

The species Homo erectus is associated with which of the following important archaeological sites?

Zhoukoudian

Key hominin fossil discoveries announced in 2015 included

a jaw fragment found in Ethiopia, dating to 2.8 m.y.a., that appears to be the earliest known member of the genus Homo. finds at South Africa's Rising Star cave of more than 1,500 bones, which have been assigned to the species H. naledi.

Which of the following are characteristics of H. naledi?

a small brain apelike shoulders adapted to climbing curved fingers on an otherwise humanlike hand

What does the name Homo habilis mean?

able man

The current prevailing view among scientists is that H. erectus

split into separate groups, one ancestral to the Neandertals and the other ancestral to anatomically modern humans (AMHs).