Origin and Dispersal of Modern Humans

Homo sapiens Approximately 200 kya the first Homo sapiens evolved in Africa Approximately 200 kya the first Homo sapiens evolved in Africa Earliest dates Earliest dates Within 100,000 years, descendents dispersed across most of the Old World, even as far as Australia Within 100,000 years, descendents dispersed across most of the Old World, even as far as Australia

Important Questions When (approximately) did modern humans first appear? When (approximately) did modern humans first appear? Where did the transition take place? Did it occur in just one region or in several? Where did the transition take place? Did it occur in just one region or in several? What was the pace of evolutionary change? How quickly did the transition occur? What was the pace of evolutionary change? How quickly did the transition occur? How did the dispersal of modern humans to other areas of the Old World take place? How did the dispersal of modern humans to other areas of the Old World take place?

3 Approaches to Understanding Modern Human Origins Complete Replacement Model (“Out of Africa”) Complete Replacement Model (“Out of Africa”) Based on origin of modern humans in Africa and later replacement of populations in Europe and Asia Based on origin of modern humans in Africa and later replacement of populations in Europe and Asia Does not take into account any transition from pre- modern forms Does not take into account any transition from pre- modern forms Support of genetics Support of genetics

3 Approaches to Understanding Modern Human Origins Partial Replacement Model Partial Replacement Model African origin, followed by expansion into areas of the Old World African origin, followed by expansion into areas of the Old World Interbreeding occurred between migrating Africans and resident pre-modern populations Interbreeding occurred between migrating Africans and resident pre-modern populations

3 Approaches to Understanding Modern Human Origins Regional Continuity Model (Multiregional Evolution) Regional Continuity Model (Multiregional Evolution) Local populations (not all) in Europe, Asia and Africa continued their indigenous evolutionary development Local populations (not all) in Europe, Asia and Africa continued their indigenous evolutionary development Denies earliest modern H. sapiens arises in Africa Denies earliest modern H. sapiens arises in Africa Gene Flow Gene Flow Prevention of Speciation Prevention of Speciation

Modern Homo sapiens Morphology Cranial capacity cc (avg cc) Cranial capacity cc (avg cc) Canine fossa Canine fossa Definite chin Definite chin Pyramidal mastoid process Pyramidal mastoid process Relatively low browridges Relatively low browridges Vertical forehead Vertical forehead Small Face Small Face

Expansion Out of the Old World Global population grew rapidly around kya Global population grew rapidly around kya Migrate into regions not previously occupied Migrate into regions not previously occupied Movement into far north coincides with last major ice age Movement into far north coincides with last major ice age Australia 60 kya and 46 kya Australia 60 kya and 46 kya kya move into Northern Siberia kya move into Northern Siberia

Paleolithic Stage of Development Beginning (years ago) Cultural Tradition Upper Paleolithic17,000 Magdalenian 21,000 Solutrean 27,000 Gravettian 33,000 Aurignacian/ Chatelperronian Middle Paleolithic75,000 + Mousterian Lower Paleolithic700,000 + Acheulian

Culture/Technology Upper Paleolithic (40-12 kya) Tool Technique Upper Paleolithic (40-12 kya) Tool Technique Basis was blade flake Basis was blade flake Punch Flaking Punch Flaking Pressure Flaking Pressure Flaking Bone and antler used to make tools and as tools Bone and antler used to make tools and as tools

Magdalenian Period kya kya More advanced technology More advanced technology Atlatl-spear thrower Atlatl-spear thrower Barbed (toggled) harpoon Barbed (toggled) harpoon Bow and Arrow Bow and Arrow Burins-chisels Burins-chisels Borers Borers Serrated knives Serrated knives

AWL

Burin

Symbolic Representation ~ Art

Symbolic Representation ~ Art Symbolic Representation ~ Art

More Elaborate Burials

Upper Paleolithic ~ Social Changes Increased life expectancy Increased life expectancy Population growth Population growth Cultural innovations Cultural innovations

Other Migrations

Climate Change 10,000 year ago Temperatures slowly rose and glaciers retreated Temperatures slowly rose and glaciers retreated Traditional prey animals depleted or disappeared Traditional prey animals depleted or disappeared More reliance on grinding hard seed or roots More reliance on grinding hard seed or roots Became more sedentary Became more sedentary Agriculture Agriculture

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