Warm UpWarm Up

►Who:Who: You + a few of your friendsYou + a few of your friends

►Where:Where: Savannah of Africa Savannah of Africa

(far from civilization) (far from civilization)

►Equipment:Equipment: Absolutely nothingAbsolutely nothing

►What daily activities would take up What daily activities would take up the bulk of your time and energy?the bulk of your time and energy?

Prehistory & Human OriginsPrehistory & Human Origins

PrehistoryPrehistory

► ““PrePre”” means means ______ ______► History History Invention of writing Invention of writing

Beginning of the universe to c. 5000 years agoBeginning of the universe to c. 5000 years ago► c. = Circa means c. = Circa means _____ _____

► Where does our information come from?Where does our information come from? From the fields of From the fields of

a.a. ArchaeologistsArchaeologistsi.i. Artifacts Artifacts human made objects human made objects

b.b. AnthropologistsAnthropologistsi.i. CultureCulture

c.c. PaleontologistsPaleontologistsi.i. FossilsFossils

d.d. GeologistsGeologistse.e. BiologistsBiologistsf.f. Etc…Etc…

Natural Selection Natural Selection ►Humans come from a long line of Humans come from a long line of

ancestorsancestors►20 million yrs ago20 million yrs ago

Our ancestors evolved from small primatesOur ancestors evolved from small primates►6 -7 million yrs ago6 -7 million yrs ago

Opposable thumb Opposable thumb thumb can cross the palm thumb can cross the palm ►Benefits?Benefits?

Pick up objectsPick up objects Make toolsMake tools

► Out of 250 species of primates, how many Out of 250 species of primates, how many can walk on two legs?can walk on two legs?

Bipedalism Bipedalism ► Bi means Bi means _______ _______► Ped means Ped means _______ _______► Two feetTwo feet► Benefits? Benefits?

Travel distances more easilyTravel distances more easily Spot food or threatening animalsSpot food or threatening animals Carry food & offspring Carry food & offspring

► Key defining feature of being human Key defining feature of being human Some say the large brainSome say the large brain 2 mil. yrs ago, long after we were 2 mil. yrs ago, long after we were

► Upright & using toolsUpright & using tools

Hominids Hominids

►Humans & closest relatives Humans & closest relatives Ardipithecus ramidusArdipithecus ramidus AustralopithecinesAustralopithecines Homo habilisHomo habilis Home erectusHome erectus NeanderthalNeanderthal Cro-Magnon Cro-Magnon

Ardi’s HandArdi’s Skeleton

Ardipithecus ramidus (Ardi)

►little foot bone medial cuneiform

►Humans & other hominids big toe lines up with the others

►Benefits = bipedal stride

►In apes & Ardi points different direction

►grasp against the other toes ►to grip tree limbs

Ardi ►Both

Biped & quadruped

►Teeth male canines reduced shift in social behavior

►away from male-male aggression

►cooperation between males