Question 1

The Acheulean tradition is characterized by core choppers that were made by removing flakes from one end of a core.

Accepted Answer

The Acheulean tradition is characterized by handaxes that were made by bifacially flaking a core. Core choppers were part of the earlier Oldowan tradition.

Question 2

What is the name of the stone-tool tradition associated with Neandertals?

Accepted Answer

The Mousterian stone-tool tradition is associated with Neandertals, characterized by the production of flake tools rather than the earlier core tools.

Question 3

The Paleolithic tool tradition associated with H. erectus is the Acheulean.

Accepted Answer

The Acheulean tool tradition, characterized by bifacial stone tools, is associated with Homo erectus and was widespread during the Lower Paleolithic period.

Question 4

Several different kinds of hominin lived in Africa before and after the advent of Homo.

Accepted Answer

The hominin lineage includes various species that existed in Africa before and after the emergence of Homo, such as Australopithecus, Paranthropus, and early members of the genus Homo.

Question 5

At the site of Terra Amata, in southern France, archaeologists have documented human activity dating back some 300,000 years. What do findings there indicate?

Accepted Answer

The findings at Terra Amata indicate that the site's inhabitants led a lifestyle that is considered essentially human, showcasing early forms of human behavior and social organization.

Question 6

In addition to their stocky bodies, adapted to conserve heat, Neandertals made clothes, developed elaborate tools, and hunted reindeer, mammoths, and woolly rhinos in order to adapt to the cold climate in Europe during the Würm glaciation.

Accepted Answer

Neandertals adapted to the cold climates of Europe during the Würm glaciation by developing various survival strategies, including making clothes, creating elaborate tools, and hunting large mammals such as reindeer, mammoths, and woolly rhinos, alongside their physical adaptations like stocky bodies to conserve heat.

Question 7

The recent hominin fossil finds from Ileret, Kenya, negate the conventional view held since 1960 that H. habilis and H. erectus evolved one after the other. Instead, they lived side by side in eastern Africa for perhaps half a million years.

Accepted Answer

The statement accurately reflects the findings of recent hominin fossil discoveries from Ileret, Kenya.

Question 8

The discovery of the jaw of a H. heidelbergensis near Heidelberg, Germany, proves that H. sapiens evolved in Europe.

Accepted Answer

The discovery of the jaw of H. heidelbergensis near Heidelberg, Germany, does not prove that H. sapiens evolved in Europe. It indicates the presence of ancient human relatives in Europe, but the current consensus is that H. sapiens evolved in Africa before dispersing to other continents.

Question 9

One of the most surprising aspects of the recent discovery of H. floresiensis is the

Accepted Answer

The most surprising aspect of the discovery of H. floresiensis, often referred to as the "Hobbit" due to its small stature, was their disproportionate feet relative to their body size, which was unexpected given their overall anatomy and has been a subject of interest and study.

Question 10

The Acheulean hand ax, shaped like a teardrop, represents a predetermined shape based on a template in the mind of the toolmaker. Evidence for such a mental template in the archaeological record suggests a cognitive leap between earlier hominins and H. erectus.

Accepted Answer

The statement is true as the Acheulean hand ax, with its teardrop shape, is believed to have been created based on a mental template or predetermined design in the mind of the toolmaker. This suggests a higher level of cognitive ability and planning in H. erectus compared to earlier hominins.

Question 11

What group was found to have a pronounced brow ridge, stocky build, and massive nasal cavities, characteristics that were adaptations to cold weather?

Accepted Answer

Neandertals (Neanderthals) are known for their pronounced brow ridges, stocky builds, and large nasal cavities, which are adaptations to living in cold climates. These features helped them warm and moisten cold, dry air, contributing to their survival in Ice Age Europe and parts of Asia.

Question 12

Although the Neandertals are remembered more for their physiques than for their manufacturing abilities, their tool kits were sophisticated. In fact, the Mousterian technology with which Neandertals are associated

Accepted Answer

The Mousterian technology associated with Neandertals included a variety of categories of tools designed for different jobs, showcasing their sophisticated tool-making abilities.

Question 13

Which of the following cold-weather adaptations predates the appearance of Neandertals?

Accepted Answer

The use of fire is a cold-weather adaptation that predates the appearance of Neandertals. It was used by earlier hominins for warmth, cooking, and protection, indicating its development before Neandertals evolved.

Question 14

Which of the following traits does NOT characterize a Neandertal skull?

Accepted Answer

Neandertals are known for having large front teeth, a broad face, a large brow ridge, and an average cranial capacity that is larger than that of modern humans, but not for having particularly huge molars.

Question 15

Biological and cultural changes enabled H. erectus to exploit a new adaptive strategy-gathering and hunting.

Accepted Answer

H. erectus developed anatomical and behavioral adaptations such as improved stone tool technology, increased brain size, and the ability to walk long distances which allowed them to hunt and gather food more efficiently. This new adaptive strategy provided a reliable source of nutrition and allowed for increased mobility and expansion of their range.

Question 16

Who were the Denisovans?

Accepted Answer

The Denisovans are recognized as distant hominin cousins of the Neandertals, sharing a common ancestor and diverging from the lineage that led to modern humans. They are known from genetic evidence and a few fossil remains found in Denisova Cave in Siberia.

Question 17

The recent Dmanisi fossil finds suggest a rapid spread, by 1.77 m.y.a., of early Homo out of Africa into Eurasia.

Accepted Answer

The recent Dmanisi fossil finds provide evidence of early Homo spreading out of Africa and into Eurasia by 1.77 million years ago.

Question 18

The earliest (1.76 m.y.a.) Acheulean tools associated with H. erectus come from a site near Lake Turkana in Kenya. What are the characteristics of these tools?

Accepted Answer

Acheulean tools are characterized by their symmetry, uniformity, and evidence of planning, indicating a cognitive leap in tool-making techniques compared to earlier Oldowan tools.

Question 19

From where does mitochondrial DNA come?

Accepted Answer

Mitochondrial DNA is located in the mitochondria, which are found in the cytoplasm of cells. Unlike nuclear DNA, which is inherited from both parents, mitochondrial DNA is typically inherited from the mother, as the mitochondria in the sperm are usually destroyed after fertilization.

Question 20

With the movement of H. erectus out of Africa, H. erectus eventually colonized Europe and Asia.

Accepted Answer

H. erectus is believed to have migrated out of Africa about 1.8 million years ago, eventually spreading across Europe and Asia. This is supported by fossil evidence found in these regions.

Quiz 7: The Genus Homo