Question 1

The recent discovery of H.floresiensis has captivated scientists and the general public alike.Why? What is so surprising about this find? Based on what you have learned so far about human evolution,what seems to you the more plausible explanation for H.floresiensis?

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Question 2

In this chapter we learn how the Acheulean hand ax represents a predetermined shape based on a template in the mind of the toolmaker.How might have scientists analyzing these tools made that assessment? What are the implications of such a finding?

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Question 3

Compared to anatomically modern humans,Neandertals exhibit a greater degree of sexual dimorphism.

Accepted Answer

Sexual dimorphism refers to differences between males and females of a species, and Neandertals are known to have shown significant differences in body size and musculature between males and females, indicating a greater degree of sexual dimorphism than is typically seen in modern humans.

Question 4

In addition to their stocky bodies,which were 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

The statement accurately describes the adaptations of Neandertals to the cold climate during the Würm glaciation in Europe.

Question 5

What are the main morphological differences between Neandertals and anatomically modern humans? How have these differences been interpreted?

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Question 6

How do biological changes in H.erectus reflect new cultural adaptive strategies? How do these relate to H.erectus's capacity to extend the hominin range beyond Africa to Asia and Europe?

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Question 7

The stone-tool tradition associated with Neandertals is called the Mousterian.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. The Mousterian is a stone-tool tradition associated with Neandertals, characterized by the development of distinct flake tools, including Levallois points, scrapers, and denticulates.

Question 8

Recently,a team uncovered a 1.2-million-year-old jawbone fragment from a species known as Homo antecessor in the Atapuerca Mountains of Spain.The oldest hominid fossil ever found in western Europe,it provides conclusive evidence that Neandertals interbred with archaic modern humans.

Accepted Answer

The 1.2-million-year-old jawbone fragment from Homo antecessor does provide important insights into human evolution, but it does not provide conclusive evidence that Neandertals interbred with archaic modern humans. The interbreeding evidence comes from other findings, primarily genetic data from later periods.

Question 9

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 Dmanisi fossil finds, discovered in Georgia, suggest that early Homo spread out of Africa into Eurasia as early as 1.77 million years ago, which supports the theory of an early and more gradual dispersal of hominins out of Africa.

Question 10

One of the most surprising aspects of the recent discovery of H.floresiensis,a species of tiny people who lived,gathered,and hunted on the Indonesian island of Flores from about 95,000 B.P. until at least 13,000B.P., is the specimens' very large skulls; yet they lacked behaviors associated with anatomically modern humans.

Accepted Answer

The statement is incorrect. The specimens of H. floresiensis had small skulls, not large skulls, which is one of their defining characteristics. Additionally, they exhibited some behaviors associated with anatomically modern humans, such as using tools and hunting.

Question 11

Drawing on biological and cultural evidence,discuss the major similarities and differences in the cultural adaptive strategies employed by Australopithecus and H.erectus.

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Question 12

Given the potential for language-based communications in activities such as cooperative hunting and the manufacture of complicated tools,and given brain size within the low H.sapiens range,it seems plausible to assume that Au.boisei had rudimentary speech.

Accepted Answer

Au. boisei, a species of Australopithecus, is not generally believed to have had the capability for rudimentary speech, especially given its brain size and structure, which were significantly different from those of Homo sapiens. The development of speech is more closely associated with later hominins, particularly those within the genus Homo, such as Homo sapiens, who have a more complex brain structure and larger brain size conducive to language skills.

Question 13

Summarize the fossil evidence for the evolution of H.erectus out of australopithecine ancestors.Make sure to identify major trends and how they correlate with different uses of the environment.

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Question 14

Discuss the major anatomical differences between the australopithecines and H.erectus.What are the major anatomical differences between H.erectus and modern human anatomy?

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Quiz 9: Archaic Homo