Modern Human Origins

Key Questions When and where modern humans first appeared? What does it mean to be a ‘modern human’? Are we talking about modern human-being or modern traits?

Chin = mental eminence

Artifacts of Africa & Upper Paleolithic in Europe

Upper Paleolithic Technology and Art Europe, 40,000 ya Stone tool technologies Chatelperronian Aurignacian Gravettian Solutrean Magdalenian burin Solutrean blade Atlatl spear thrower

The Punch Blade Technique A core is selected, the top portion is removed by use of a hammerstone. A flat surface called a striking platform is created.

The Punch Blade Technique The core is struck by use of a hammer and punch (bone or antler) to remove the long narrow flakes (blades)

The Punch Blade Technique Or the blades can be removed by pressure flaking.

The Punch Blade Technique Highly consistent sharp blades can be used as knives or modified (retouched) to make a variety of other tools (such as burins, scrapers, and awls).

Burial Skeletons of two teenagers, a male and a female, from Sungir, Russia, 24,000 ya, a bed of red ochre thousands of ivory beads and engravings mammoth tusk spears jewelry

Modern Human Morphological Traits

Modern Humans in Africa Omo Kibish, Ethiopia 195,000 ya Omo 1 - presence of chin and modern cranial characteristics, compared to Omo 2 which is more robust and less modern in morphology

Morphology and Variation in H. sapiens

Herto Ethiopia 160,000–154,000 ya Complete and incomplete craniums older than other equally modern H. sapiens elsewhere 1450 cm3 cranial capacity Heavy skull, arching browridge Large, projecting occipital protuberance “near modern” (White et al., 2003) H. sapiens idaltu Support African origin of modern humans

Modern humans in the Near East Skhūl Cave, Mt. Carmel, 130,000 – 1000,000 ya Qafseh Cave, Mt Carmel, 120,000 – 92,000 ya Tabun Cave, Mt. Carmel, 120,000 ya Vault height, forehead, and lack of prognathism Skhūl 5. Qafzeh 6.

Modern Humans in Asia Upper Cave at Zhoukoudian, China, 27,000 ya Tianyuan, China, 40,000 ya Niah Cave, Borneo 45,000 – 40,000 ya

Modern Humans in Australia Lake Mungo, 60,000 ya (previously dated 30,000 – 25,000 ya) Kow Swamp, 14,000 – 9,000 ya receding foreheads heavy supraorbital tori thick bones

Anatomically Modern Homo sapiens Asia and Australia

Modern Humans in Central Europe Oase Cave, Romania 35,000 ya robust chin and canine fossa present

Modern Humans in Central Europe Mladeč, Czech Republic, 31,000 ya Dolní Věstonice, Czech Republic, 26,000 ya

Anatomically Modern Humans in Europe

Modern Humans in Western Europe Cro-Magnon, 28,000 ya associated with Aurignacian tool industry no “typical” Upper Paleolithic western European

“The Little People” Homo floresiensis

Liang Bua Cave, Flores, Indonesia Called “hobbits” by press Small body, 3 feet tall Small brain, 417 cm3 Hand and foot anatomy resembling H. erectus from Dmanisi 18-13 kya, stone tools dating 1 mya May derive from early migration of early Homo to SE Asia Represent isolated island population showing considerable dwarfing Pathology?