THE HOMINIDS © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS

Australopithecus afarensis © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS

Australopithecus afarensis 3.9 – 2.9 Ma Climate changing. Antarctic ice cap advance 5 Ma Distribution: Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania Cranial capacity: 380 – 450 cm3 Height: 1.07m Bipedal (footprints 3.6 Ma old) /climber U-shaped dental arcade but reduced canines Arboreal / terrestrial herbivore © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS

Australopithecus africanus © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS

Australopithecus africanus 3 – 2.25 Ma Cooling of climate reduced rainfall Further advance of Antarctic ice Appearance of Arctic ice 2.4Ma Development of scrubland and savannah Forest cover retreats © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS

Australopithecus africanus Distribution: Southern and Eastern Africa Cranial capacity: 500 cm3 (Chimp = 400cm3) Bipedal 20 – 35 kg Rounder skull Parabolic dental arcade Longevity: 40 years maximum Scavenger of bone marrow/brain cases Used simple tools © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS

Australopithecus (Paranthropus) robustus © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS

Australopithecus (Paranthropus) robustus 2 – 1 Ma Cooling of climate reduced rainfall Development of scrubland and savannah Forest retreats Distribution: S. Africa Diet: Roots and tough fibrous vegetable matter Cranial capacity: 500 cm3 (Chimp = 400cm3) Bipedal 40 –70 kg Sexual dimorphism (males twice as bulky as females) Large cheek teeth Heavy muscular skull © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS

Homo habilis - the handy man © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS

Homo habilis 2.6 -1.4 Ma E. Africa Scavenging significant part of the diet Cranial capacity: 600 – 800 cm3 Height: 1.20 – 1.35m Simple fashioned tools – choppers (Oldowan culture) © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS

Homo erectus – the upright man © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS

Homo erectus 1.8 to 0.5 Ma 0.9 Ma beginning of the Pleistocene ice age Oscillations between cold and warm periods Spread out of Africa (1.6Ma) throughout the old world Scavenging to hunting Use of a home base © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS

Homo erectus Cranial capacity: 850 – 1100 cm3 (H. sapiens = 1350 cm3) Use of fire Height 1.55 to 1.8m Extended childhood 1st molar at 4.6 years old (H. sapiens = 5.9y) Greater longevity  52 years Speech? (Brain says: yes; spine says: no) Improved tools: Hand axes (Acheulian culture) © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS

Homo neanderthalensis © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS

Homo neanderthalensis 250 000 to 28 000 years ago Europe, Middle East, into Central Asia Evolved from H. erectus populations perhaps via H. heidelbergensis, then became extinct Adapted to the ice-age conditions of temperate zone Large nose may have warmed cold air The enigma of its extinction is not explained © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS

Homo neanderthalensis Cranial capacity: 1400 cm3 (H. sapiens = 1350 cm3) Brow ridge, long low skull Height: 1.67m Stocky build Improved sophisticated tools (Mousterian culture) Sometimes buried their dead Made simple jewellery © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS

Homo sapiens © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS

Homo sapiens From 150 000 years ago to present Originating in Southern Africa then went worldwide Reached Europe about 50 000 years ago Cooling of the climate during the last glacial period from about 50 000a led to their predominance over other species (e.g. H. neanderthalensis) Omnivore Alters environment Domestication of species, farming © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS

Homo sapiens Cranial capacity: 1350 cm3 (range 1000 to 2000 cm3) 20% of the body’s energy consumption for 5% of body mass Speech Art Extensive tool kit including new materials (bone, ivory, antler) Symbolic thought 1st molar tooth 5.9 years old Longevity 66 years © 2016 Paul Billiet ODWS