test 2 anthropology

Using your knowledge from the textbook and lecture, discuss why race is a discredited idea in biology. Use examples to make your points.

Highly problematic definitions because it is assumed subdivision of species, based on common ancestry and biological traits 1. clinal differences overlap between groups 2. greater biological variation within the races than between

Discuss two biological traits that are shared by humans and other apes and that are distinct from monkeys and other primates.

-Body size tends to be larger -Larger life span -Longer interval between birth of infants -tendency toward upright posture -Larger brain -muzzle less projecting -No tail

What explains the biological variation between human populations today? Explain why different groups of people share certain physical traits that makes them different from others. In addition, provide an example of one of these traits.

-explaining the human phenotype -adpating to specific eco-niches large long nose- cold weather short flat nose- warm weather

How did domestication of plants OR animals occur? What physical/morphological changes happened and how were people thinking about it?

-human interference with reproduction of another species plant domestication -opportunistic (most productive plants get selected for ) -intentional (purposefully planted and selecting traits) AFTER DOMESTICATION : larger, grains stay on, outside normal environment, changes in pollen animal domestication -opportunistic -earliest were dogs -intentional is a mobile food source AFTER DOMESTICATION: -smaller -outside natural environment -morphological -increased population -abnormal sex/age ratio

Briefly discuss the three different paths of hominin evolution. Describe each path separately by discussing where it was happening and how the evolving species are marked by the four hominin evolutionary trends (make sure you name as many species as you can).

1) -occurs in East Africa (4.3 mya) -gracile body types -move towards more robust body types EX: A. anamensis, A. afarensis, A. boisei 2) -occurs in South Africa (3.8 mya) -light skeletal build still selected for EX: A. africanus, A. robustus 3) -East Africa (3 mya) -more adept bipedalism -smaller teeth and face -increased cranial capacity -language EX: homo habilis, homo erectus, homo sapiens

What is the significance of bipedalism in terms of hominin evolution and human attributes. Think about what you learned in class as well as the textbook. Give 3 biological changes and 2 behavioral explanations for its evolutionary advantage.

1) 2) 3) 1)grassland movement 2)cooling off 3) see predators

Discuss the importance of the two methods of dating used by archaeologists to understand the past. Provide an example for each of the methods.

1) Absolute dating -molecular MtDNA dating *counting mutations 2) Relative Dating -stratigraphy *how earth sediments are deposited over time

What are the four trends of hominin evolution? Discuss which trends happen and when (not necessarily specific dates, but relative to each other in chronological order). Use species names as examples.

1) Bipedalism- walking upright on two feet (ability increased throughout time) EX: Ardipithecus 2) Dental Changes- jaw reduces size and alters shape and teeth change due to changing diets EX: Australopithecines 3) Cranial Capacity- expanding area in hominin cranium (brain/body ratio increased over time) EX: Homo genus 4) Material Culture- complexity of human made objects increasing over times EX: homo floresienies

What are the two primary factors that best explain the Neolithic changes leading to domestication and sedentism as a global phenomenon and how did they shape the direction of these cultural changes?

1) Environmental determinants -receding ice age -warming climates 2) Social determinants -population size -social network oppurtunities

Discuss and describe two of the six primate biological tendencies/traits that were considered in the lecture and your textbook. For each, be sure to detail the evolutionary advantages of each of the tendencies.

1)GRASPING 2)NOSE TO HAND

List each of the five australopithecines discussed in the class lectures. Note: you do not have to describe each one; it is sufficient to provide a list.

A. anamensis A. afarensis A. boisei A. africanus A. robustus

What are some of factors (the consequences and the benefits) that various people around 10-12,000 years ago throughout the world could have reacted to when deciding to both create and adopt new adaptive strategies of domestication and sedentism?

CONSEQUENCES 1)population change- large population increase 2) environmental degradation-agriculture changes the environment 3) insecure food supply- greater susceptibility to disasters BENEFITS 1)Farmers needed less land than a hunter-gatherer 2)Farmers have a more predictable food source 3)Farming was less damaging to the body (less violent deaths and longer life-spans)

Why do biological anthropologists study non-human primates from the past? Who are the living primates who are most closely related to us and how do they inform us about human evolution?

Chimpanzees Anthropologists study living primates because by learning about species similar to us, we can learn about ourselves. Studying the behavior, anatomy, social structure, and genetic code of primates can reveal key differences and similarities between other primates and humans. From this, we can learn what it means to be human as opposed to being a primate and further as opposed to other mammals or animals in general.

Think about how we put fossil primates and hominins into evolutionary order. What is the difference between homologies and analogies and what are the dating techniques used?

Homologies- assign fossils to a taxon like species Analogous structures have different evolutionary ancestries but they have the same function. Examples of these types of structures are the wings of birds, bats and insects. Homologous structures are the opposite; they have similar ancestries and common traits but maybe not have the same function in an organism.

Given the discussion we had in class, how does thinking about species hybridization help us better understand hominin evolution?

It allows us to understand that animals from the genus can mate and produce offspring, despite not being of the same species. This is how evolution has allowed us to create new traits over time that are more efficient in the environments we live in.

Archaeologists have given at least five different explanations about why and how complex societies arose. Please briefly describe and name one of those explanations and provide a name of a culture or region from the lectures or your readings that fits the theory.

Long distance trade- societies like Egypt became far more complex as they began monopolize on natural resources for trade in multiple middle eastern nations

What is the eco-niche that Homo erectus first adapted to? Discuss at least 4 environmental, adaptive, anatomical, or behavioral factors that may be relevant to being successful in this eco-niche.

first homonins outside Africa -more efficient bipedalism -more complex behavior -changing diets and behavior -larger more rebust

Discuss one of the key attributes of the primary state that were discussed in your textbook and class. Briefly describe why you think that the particular attribute is unique to states as opposed to egalitarian and ranked societies

regional territory