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University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education, Madingley Hall, Cambridge, CB23 8AQ
www.ice.cam.ac.uk
A Journey Back: A Walk through Human Evolution
Start date 17 December 2010 End date 19 December 2010
Venue Madingley Hall
Madingley
Cambridge
Tutor Alex Piel Course code 1011NRX143
For further information on
this course, please contact
Linda Fisher, Academic Programme Manager on 01223 746218
Sandy Haylock, Administrative Secretary on 01223 746227
To book See: www.ice.cam.ac.uk or telephone 01223 746262
Tutor biography
Mr Piel has been studying wild primates for almost a decade, and has conducted research in four
different African countries, from Madagascar to Senegal. His current research centres on savanna
chimpanzees living in an open habitat in W. Tanzania, one that closely resembles that in which early
human ancestors evolved. His teaching style reflects a desire to share with students his passion for
Biological Anthropology as a subject, but also to engage them in the continually developing puzzle
that is our species rich and complex history.
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Course Programme
Friday 17 December 2010
Please plan to arrive between 4:30 and 6:30. You can meet other course members in the bar which
opens at 6:15. Tea and Coffee making facilities are available in the study bedrooms.
7.15 pm Dinner
8.30 pm 10.00 pm Lecture: introduction to course, important terms
10.00 pm Terrace bar open for informal discussion
Saturday 18 December 2010
8.00 am Breakfast
9.00 am 10.30 am Lecture: meeting the primates, just who ARE our closest relatives? (video)
10.30 am Coffee
11.00 am 12.30 pm Lecture: standing up and early hominins
1.00 pm Lunch
2.00 pm Free
4.00 pm Tea
4.30 pm 6.00 pm Lecture: Ardi, Lucy and the other Australopithecines...controversies and
criticisms
7.15 pm Dinner
8.30 pm 10.00 pm Lecture: the transition to Homo and ultimately, human
10.00 pm Terrace bar open for informal discussion
Sunday 19 December 2010
8.00 am Breakfast
9.00 am 10.30 am Lecture: Neandertals to lump or split?
10.30 am Coffee
11.00 am 12.30 pm Lecture: Language and complex culture... the defining of the human?
1.00 pm Lunch
The course will disperse after lunch
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Course syllabus
Aims:
This course offers an introduction to human evolution from the perspective of biological anthropology,
including evolutionary theory and the evolution of the primates, hominins (humans and their
ancestors, chimpanzees, and gorillas), and modern humans. Emphasis is placed on evidence fromarchaeological sites and fossil remains as well as behavioural reconstruction based on studies of
extant primates. The course investigates what it means to be an anthropoid, a primate, a hominin, a
human, etc. and examines the evolution of the Order Primates within a bioanthropological context.
Content:
A central question to biological anthropologists concerns the history of our species and its adaptation
to our current environment. Understanding human evolution begins with a consideration of the
fundamentals of evolutionary processes, from those at the cellular and genetic level, to those macro-
geographical processes that shape landscapes and species physical and behavioural adaptations.
This course will address these levels, by examining the intersection of the fossil and archaeological
evidence with what we know from living primates to ask questions about our own evolution.
In doing so, we will rely on our own (and others) interpretations of the evidence to reconstruct theforces (environmental, behavioural, cultural) that shaped the changes in our and other lineages over
the last few million years. The influence of contemporary times on interpretations will also be
addressed, as will the usefulness of models (e.g. chimpanzees) to better understand paleo-
anthropological conditions. Combined, we will attempt to answer the question of what it means to be
human.
Presentation of the course:
The course will be presented through lectures and class discussions. We will also draw on other
media (DVDs) to help describe and expand on class material. Students will have a chance to
respond to the issues and discuss, for example, the usefulness of extant (currently living) primates to
inform our understanding of the past, as well as interpretations and implications of early hominin
finds. I also hope to bring to class casts of bones (crania) from early hominins which we can use for
practice in identifying the anatomical features that distinguish them and to help refine our own
thoughts on humanness.
Outcomes:
Students will be challenged to practice and improve upon several important academic skills during
the course. Critical features for any scientist are the ability to assimilate and analyze scientific
theories and data, such as evolutionary processes and fossil evidence; to integrate information from
lectures and various readings; and to communicate understanding of the materials in class
discussions. Consequently, at the conclusion of the course, students should be able to demonstrate
the following skills:
Identify and describe the major finds in human evolution and the theories and methods thatsupport relevant interpretations of their importance;
Argue persuasively and cite appropriate evidence that supports an understanding of evolutionaryprocesses and patterns;
Use anatomical features of (crania and post-crania) casts and cultural artefacts in thearchaeological record to place specimens in specific time periods and/or contexts.
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Reading and resources list
Listed below are a number of texts that might be of interest for future reference, but do not need to be
bought (or consulted) for the course.
Author Title Publisher and date
Lewin, R. and Foley,
R.A
Principles of Human Evolution, 2nd Ed.Blackwell, 2003
Bramble, D.M. and
Leiberman, D.E.
Endurance running and the evolution of Homo. Nature, 432, 2004
Lovejoy, O.Re-examining Human Origins in Light ofArdipithecus ramidus
Science, 326, 2009
Aarssen, L.W.Some bold evolutionary predictions for the
future of mating in humansOikos, 2007
Hauser, M.D.,
Chomsky, N., Fitch,
W.T.
The faculty of language: What is it, who has it,
and how did it evolve?Science 298, 1569157
Note Students of the Institute of Continuing Education are entitled to 20% discount on books
published by Cambridge University Pres (CUP) which are purchased at the Press bookshop, 1 Trinity
Street, Cambridge (Mon-Sat 9am 5:30pm, Sun 11am 5pm). A letter or email confirming
acceptance on to a current Institute course should be taken as evidence of enrolment.
Information correct as of 13 September 2010
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