million years ago. They originally thought that these tools were made by the Australopithecus, but later determined that they were made by the Homo Habilis . The first tools found were classified as lower paleolithic tools. These tools belong to the Oldowan tool tradition. These tools which were opportunist in nature were characterized by an all-purpose generalized chopping tool. These were produced by removing a few flakes from a stone either by using another stone as a hammer or by striking a pebble
tradition belief that complex cognition began as a result of the ability of knapping stone into tools. The field of psychology has proven that it requires complex motor skills to knap stones into flints and sharp stones that were associated with Oldowan and Acheulean Traditions during a pilot study on positron emission tomography (PET). (Wynn 2002, Pg. 391) This is because the application of bilateral, three dimensional, rotational and broken symmetry all aspects which required planning beforehand
Homo Erectus In the quest to explain human origins it is necessary to find a species that bridges modern man (Homo sapiens) with the apes. To fill this gap evolutionists have set forth Homo erectus, who lived approximately 400,000 to 1.6 million years ago (Johanson and Shreeve1989). Although the distinctions are somewhat vague, below the neck, Homo sapiens and Homo erectus are practically Identical and Homo erectus was responsible for pioneering the use of standard tools (such as the hand axe)
today (Relethford, 2010). Post cranial skeleton show similarities to Austrapiths and an evidence to bipedalism however, they retained climbing abilities ( McHenry 1992). The simple stone tools found associated with Homo habilis were referred to as Oldowan tools. There is still no clear evidence whether these species relied on scavengers left by the carnivores or did they associate themselves in hunting by the use of the stone tools ( Relethford, 2010). Apart from Homo habilis, Homo erectus was also
The partial remains of a skeleton belonging to a tiny female hominid that lived around 95K to 17Kya, was found in the Liang Bua cave on the island of Flores in Indonesia in 2003. This skeleton has unique traits. It has small body approximately 3’6” in length and an estimated body weight of 66 lbs. The 426 cc brain capacity led scientists to taxa the skeleton to a new species they called Homo floresiensis. Since the initial find, teeth and bones from as many as twelve H. floresiensis remains have
Since the 1800’s, anthropologists and archaeologists constantly try to uncover the mystery of the intelligence and skills of our ancestral humans to survive the wonders of the world hundreds of thousands of years before us. Material culture, the physical representation of the current society’s technology and beliefs, is one of the most effective ways to study and investigate these questions. Researchers try to unearth artifacts of previous societies, like their tools, weapons, and art to examine
Origins of Early Hominins Humans know or understand the theory of evolution and how they evolved from apes, but there is always talk of a missing link between apes and modern humans. Apes did not just suddenly evolve into modern day humans. Apes evolved into another species that fall into the relation of modern humans. This is what the missing link is referring to; we call the species hominins. Hominins comprised of many species actually, including but not limited to, Australopithecus afarensis and
Our hands are of immense importance as they are one of the prime differences between humans and the other species of primates on this planet. The formation of the human hand has allowed the human species to prosper and evolve in many ways. The complex engineering behind the five digits on our hands, including fingers and thumb that work together, are what allows our species to carry out imperative tasks such as specific gripping, communication, and defense among further manipulative capabilities
The central purpose of this essay is to critically discuss the importance of understanding human evolution and the history of psychology for the modern psychologist. For the human evolution, the essay will be addressing on how we and other species descended from our ancestors and how the different environment has helped to us to become more adaptable. Regarding the history of psychology, the essay will be discussing on how psychology branched off from the philosophy approach to become its own science
This era of early tool development took place during the Lower Paleolithic, and was known as Oldowan tool tradition. Anthropologists suspect that a feedback loop between brain size, behavior, and language began to develop during the time of Homo habilis, due to a proposed correlation between the gradual increase in brain complexity and size as well
Sheer Fiol Mr. Pfister Biology CP 4/7/14 Homo Erectus Throughout the long winding road that is human evolution; many species have helped shape who we are today. There was the early Australopithecus africanus which began to walk bipedally-upright with two feet and the Homo habilis which drastically developed the construction of handmade tools. But there is one species who is to be credited for the most critical advancements in human evolution; Homo erectus. Not only did Homo erectus advance
Technology has evolved in many ways in the human past, which has been suggested through the archaeological records and evidence. Some of the technologies that have evolved include the lithic tools, such as the cores, flakes and Acheulean hand-axe. There have been case studies done on Tasmanian tools, which suggest how their technology has evolved in the human past. The human past played a role in evolving these technologies through cultural transmission, genetic transmission, info-copying and many
Stretching 2.6 million years ago to 10 thousand years ago, the most drastic transformation in the way we live today occurred. An adjustment and improvement in climate, tool production and use, as well as hunting small to large prey with a variety of techniques develops. The Paleolithic Age was the birth of growth for the world today. Beginning with the Lower Paleolithic age and ending with the Upper Paleolithic period, the drastic diversity will be demonstrated. Lower Paleolithic Era The beginning