Anthropology test 2

argon-argon (40Ar/39Ar) method

Working on a similar basis as the potassium-argon method, this approach uses the ratio of argon-40 to argon-39 for dating igneous and metamorphic rocks; it offers precision and temporal range advantages for dating some early hominin sites.

artifacts

Objects created and used by humans.

biostratigraphy

Relative dating technique using comparison of fossils from different stratagraphic sequences to estimate which layers are older and which are younger

contexts

The spatial and temporal associations of artifacts and features in an archaeological site. Archaeologists distinguish between primary context, which simply means that it has not been disturbed since it was originally seposited, and secondary context, whic

cross-dating

relative dating method that estimates the age of artifacts and features based on their similarities with comparable materials from dated contexts

dendrochronology

the study of the annual rings of trees in determining the dates and chronological order of past events

ecofacts

Non-artifactual organic and environmental remains which have cultural relevance, e.g. faunal and floral material as well as soils and sediments.

ethnoarchaeology

The study of contemporary peoples to determine how human behavior is translated into the archaeological record.

experimental archaeology

ancient conditions are recreated so that an archaeologist can test a hypothesis

fission-track dating

an absolute dating method based on the measurement of the number of tracks left by the decay of uranium-238

haft

the handle of a weapon or tool

half-life

The time required for one half of the atoms of a radioisotope to emit radiation an decay products

home-based foragers

hominins that hunt, scavenge, or collect food and raw materials from the general locality where they habitually live and bring these materials back to some central or home base site to be shared with other members of their coresiding group

hominins

Member of a species on the human branch of the evolutionary tree; a species more closely related to humans than to chimpanzees

index fossils

distinctive fossil used to compare the relative ages of fossils

Lower Paleolithic

Old Stone Age beginning with the earliest Oldowan tools spanning from about 200,000 or 250,000 to 2.6 million years ago.

paleomagnetism

The study of the alignment of magnetic minerals in rock,specifically as it relates to the reversal of Earth's magnetic poles; also the magnetic properties that rock requires during formation

potassium-argon (K/Ar) method

another decay-based dating method. Used only on volcanic rocks (rocks that are heated to a very high temperature). Range: few billion years up to 100,000 BP.

principle of superpositioning

In a sequence of undisturbed rocks, the oldest rocks will be at the bottom and the youngest rocks at the top.

protohominins

the earliest members of the hominin lineage, as yet only poorly represented in the fossil record; thus, the reconstruction of their structure and behavior is largely hypothetical

radiocarbon dating

A chemical analysis used to determine the age of organic materials based on their content of the radioisotope carbon-14

radiometric decay

a measure of the rate at which certain radioactive isotopes disintegrate

seriation

Arranging objects in sequential order according to one aspect, such as size, weight, or volume

site survey

The process of discovering archaeological sites

stratigraphy

A site's physical structure produced by the deposition of geological and/or cultural sediments into layers, or strata.

stratum

Many thick, dead flattened cell layers, dead cells filled with keratin,protect against abrasions and penetration.

taphonomy

the study of what happens to the remains of an animal from the time of death to the time of discovery

thermoluminescence

A method of dating burnt flint by measuring electrons in it from 50,000-300,000 years ago, or of burnt pottery from the last 10,000 years.

Acheulian

Tool culture of Homo erectus and archaic H. sapiens. Pear-shaped hand axes.

australopiths

Humans that existed between 2 and 4 million years ago. were bipedal; human like hands and teeth; brain 1/3 of today's humans

bipedal locomotion

Walking on two feet. Walking on two legs is the single most distinctive feature of the hominins.

habitual bipedalism

Bipedal locomotion as the form of locomotion shown by hominins most of the time.

hard hammer percussion

a hammerstone is used to remove flakes from a core resulting in the removal of relatively large thick flakes

honing complex

Old World monkeys and apes, the lower jaw has a diastema to accommodate the very large upper canines.

large-bodied hominoids

Those hominoids including the great apes (orangutans, chimpanzees, gorillas) and hominins, as well as all ancestral forms back to the time of divergence from small-bodied hominoids (i.e., the gibbon lineage).

mosaic evolution

A pattern of evolution in which the rate of evolution in one functional system varies from that in other systems. For example, in hominin evolution, the dental system, locomotor system, and neurological system (especially the brain) all evolved at markedl

obligate bipedalism

Bipedalism as the only form of hominin terrestrial locomotion. Since major anatomical changes in the spine, pelvis, and lower limb are required for bipedal locomotion, once hominins adapted this mode of locomotion, other forms of locomotion on the ground

Plio-Pleistocene

Pertaining to the Pliocene and first half of the Pleistocene, a time range of 5-1 mya. For this time period, numerous fossil hominins have been found in Africa.

postcranial

Referring to all or part of the skeleton not including the skull. The term originates from the fact that in quadrupeds, the body is in back of the head; the term literally means "behind the head.

sagittal crest

ridge of bone running lengthwise down the center of the cranium where muscles used for mastication attach

hunter-gatherers

People who hunt animals and gather wild plants, seeds, fruits, and nuts to survive

nuchal torus

A projection of bone in the back of the cranium where neck muscles attach. These muscles hold up the head.

Pleistocene

1.8 million years ago to 10,000 ya

Chatelperronian

an upper paleolithic tool industry that has been found in association with later neandertals

composite tool

Minimally, a tool made of several pieces. For example, a prehistoric knife typically included a handle or shaft, a chipped stone blade, and binding materials such as glue or sinew to hold the blade firmly in place.

discoid technique

A prepared-core technique in which flakes are struck toward the center of the stone core; greater efficiency of raw material use than Levallois

flexed

The position of the body in a bent orientation, with arms and legs drawn up to the chest.

glaciations

a period of global cooling during which continental ice sheets and mountain glaciers expand

interglacials

Climatic intervals when continental ice sheets are retreating, eventually becoming much reduced in size. Interglacials in northern latitudes are associated with warmer temperatures, while in southern latitudes the climate becomes wetter.

Late Pleistocene

The portion of the Pleistocene epoch beginning 125,000 ya and ending approximately 10,000 ya

Middle Paleolithic

Cultural period that began about 200,000 ya and ended around 30,000-40,000 years ago. Roughly the same period in sub-Saharan Africa is called Middle Stone Age

Middle Pleistocene

780,000 ya and ending 125,000 ya.

Mousterian

A culture from the Middle Paleolithic ("Middle Old Stone Age") period that appeared throughout Europe after 250,000 and before 30,000 years ago. Mousterian artifacts are frequently associated with Neanderthal human remains.

prepared-core method

Pertaining to stone cores that a toolmaker shapes into a preplanned form before striking flakes from it; enables predicable flake shape and thickness; can be efficient in the use of raw materials.

Upper Paleolithic

A cultural period usually associated with modern humans, but also found with some Neandertals, and distinguished by technological innovation in various stone tool industries. Best known from western Europe, similar industries are also known from central a

The term 'hominin' refers to

modern humans and now extinct bipedal relatives

Protohominis lived approximately

5 - 7 mya

The overall study of fossil hominins is known as

paleoanthropology

Which of the following types of evidence of hominin behavior are most likely available for study?

material culture

The earliest artifact sites are from the Gona and Bouri areas, dating to

2.6 mya

Which one of the following is NOT one of the primary goals of archaeology?

determine the "when" and "where" of past cultures

Which of the following is a justification for conducting archaeological excavation?

data is needed about specific important questions or sites are threatened with destruction

The spatial and temporal relationships between artifacts and features is known as:

context

The archaeological record is typically contained within locations of past human activity, called

sites

Examples of relative dating includes:

determining whether an object is older, younger, or the same age as another

Which of the following is NOT an example of a radiometric dating technique?

paleomagnetism

If you were digging a hominin site that contains geological layers that resulted from volcanic activity, what dating technique would you most likely use?

potassium-argon

Radiometric dating techniques are based on what principle?

regular, known rate of isotopic decay

What is greatest contribution of Olduvai research?

establishment of a well documented sequence of hominin occupation

The home-based forager model of hominin behavior proposed that Olduvai Gorge reflected what behavior?

use as a multi-purpose campsite

The terms Sivapithecus, Proconsul, and Dryopithecus applied to different groups of Miocene hominoids, refer to a distinction made at what taxonomic level?

genus

When did the initial hominid divergence from the African hominoids most likely occur?

during the late Miocene

Hominins have been variably defined as having which of the following?

a large brain, toolmaking abilities, adaptations for bipedalism

The earliest hominin traces

are primarily dental and cranial pieces

The term hominin refers to a distinction made at what taxonomic level?

Tribe

Adaptive advantages of bipedalism include the following except

further refinements to capabilities used for swimming

Anatomical changes in hominins indicative of habitual bipedal locomotion include

shortening and broadening of the pelvis

Fossil evidence for early hominin foot structure

has come from South and East African sites

What have researchers concluded from the fossil remains of hominin feet from South Africa?

They indicate many forms of hominins spent considerable time in trees.

The current evidence indicates that hominins possessed all the major structural changes necessary for bipedalism by

4 million years ago

What is paleoanthropology?

It is defined as the study of early humans.

Which of the following methods are not used to identify hominin fossil sites?

water reside analysis

Dating methods indicating that something is older or more recent than something else

are called relative dating methods

What is the dating method that uses the principle that undisturbed underlying geologic deposits are older than overlying geologic deposits?

stratigraphic dating

Thermoluminescence can be used on which of the following?

Heated materials such as burned flint

Relative dating techniques

include biostratigraphy

Thermoluminescence dates

burned flint tools

When compared to large-bodied earlier Homo specimens, Homo erectus relative brain size is

about the same

Homo erectus appeared in East Africa between ________ million years ago.

2.0 and 1.8

There is a very late surviving H. erectus group in Java that apparently managed to survive there until less than ________ years ago.

100,000

Until recently, H. erectus sites outside of Africa all have shown dates later than the earliest finds of species in Africa. This has led paleoanthropologists to assume that

the hominins who migrated to Asia and Europe descended from earlier African ancestors

The Dmanisi site is notable for which of the following

One complete cranium is of an older adult with jawbones that show advance bone loss

The cranial remains from Dmanisi are characteristic of all of the following except

bear similarities to australopithecus specimens

The first Chinese H. erectus discoveries were the result of the focus on locating

Dragon bones" used as medicine and aphrodisiacs

Thus far, what do the postcranial remains of the Dmanisi hominins indicate?

The first hominins to leave Africa were possibly a very early form of H. erectus.

Hominin sites in the European regions of Spain and Italy evidence fossil material that is contemporaneous with Homo erectus. They include all of the following except

Hexian County

While many theorists stayed home and debated the merits of natural selection and the likely course of human evolution, this young Dutch anatomist enlisted in the Dutch East Indian Army, having decided to go find evidence of it.

Eugene Dubois

By far the largest collection of Homo erectus remains have been found at

Zhoukoudian

The Homo erectus remains from Africa are dated to ________ years ago.

1.7-1 million

The Nariokotome Homo erectus specimen

would have reached an adult height of around 6 feet

The most complete Homo erectus skeleton found to date is the Nariokotome specimen, which includes

facial bones, pelvis, most of the limb bones, ribs and vertebrae

The term Homo ergaster

was suggested to be used to refer to African Homo erectus specimens

Bifacially flaked tools characterize the ________ stone tool industry.

Acheulian

Evidence for animal butchering is

widespread in Homo erectus sites

Paleoanthropologists consider ________ to be the immediate predecessors to modern Homo sapiens.

...

The Middle Pleistocene began about ________ years ago and ended ________ years ago.

...

The ________ epoch has been called the "Ice Age.

...

During glacial periods, the climate in Africa became

...

Dating too about 850,000 years ago, human fossils from Gran Dolina are placed within Homo

...

Kabwe, Bodo, Florisbad, Elandsfontein and Laetoli are sites that evidence premodern Homo sapiens and are located in

...

Evidence of Premodern Homo sapiens crania that show possible evidence of cannibalism in the form of cut marks is represented at

...

Dated to approximately 500,000-400,000 years ago, the site of ________ has yielded a sample of 4,000 fossil fragments representing about twenty-eight premodern Homo sapiens individuals, more than 80% of all Middle Pleistocene hominin remains in the world.

...

African sites evidencing Neandertal fossils include

...

Upper Pleistocene premodern Homo sapiens that have their evolutionary roots in western Europe include

...

Neandertal brain size

...

Some Neandertal physical characteristics may have arisen as adaptations to a ________ environment.

...

The La Chapelle-aux-Saints skeleton is not a typical Neandertal

...

Upper Paleolithic stone tools were found at the French Neandertal site of St. C�saire, dated to ________ years ago.

...

Shanidar cave is extraordinary in that an individual in the burial

...