Module 12: Discussion ANTH 130 AO

Discussion Overview

Purpose: Deepen understanding of the material in Module 12 and Chapter 11

• Become increasingly familiar with Archaic Homo sapiens and Homo nandertalensis
• Understand the variations of form, cultural development and the percentage of DNA of Neanderthals currently
  Shared in many human populations.

Outcomes and Objectives

Student Learning Outcomes

• Summarize the major trends and issues in primate and human evolutionary history.
• Apply anthropology’s holistic perspective and bio-cultural approach to diverse human biological and social phenomena.
• Explain modern human biological diversity from an evolutionary perspective.

Objectives

• Were there any surprises for you?Understand human evolutionary history over the last twohundred thousand years.
• Take a deeper look at the roots of modern human diversity
• Utilize a biocultural and holistic approach to recent human evolutionary evidence.

Instructions

Initial Post:

1. Discuss things you learned in Chapter 11 and in Module 12 lecture notes.
2. Were there any surprises for you?
3. What do you think of Neanderthal DNA percentages in various modern human populations?
4. Share your reflections on another student's comments under their responses

NOTE: Copy/paste the questions and then answer them to be certain they are each numbered correctly and you responded to each. When ready to begin, hit the lower left BLUE button marked "REPLY"

Netiquette

As you read and respond to others' posts, keep in mind some basic rules for netiquette:

• • • Be kind and respectful to others
    • Use full sentences
    • Don't use too much jargon
    • Treat others online as you wish to be treated
    • Use language that supports others Module 12: Module Overview

      Module Overview

      OverviewIn this module, we will be examining the variation in fossil forms of Archaic Homo species. We will be looking at distinctive characteristics of variations some consider different species, approximate time periods in which they lived and with particular attention to Homo neandertalensis and Neanderthal DNA percentages found inamong various modern human groups.

      • Outcomes and Objectives

        Student Learning Outcomes

        • Summarize the major trends and issues in primate and human evolutionary history.
        • Apply anthropology’s holistic perspective and bio-cultural approach to diverse human biological and social phenomena.
        • Explain modern human biological diversity from an evolutionary perspective.

        Objectives

        After completing this module, you will:
        • Have a general awareness of the locations (continents) and approximate time period that archaic Homo sapiens fossils have been found.
        • Summarize the skeletal characteristics of archaic Homo sapiens fossils including body size and proportions, cranial capacity, tooth size, and any other distinctive characteristics. Be aware that the diversity of the fossils has resulted in debates as to whether that they all belong to the same species, but some anthropologists group them under the species name, Homo heidelbergensis.
        • Describe the distinctive skeletal characteristics of Neanderthals in the skull, face, and body proportions.
        • Summarize what is known about the culture of Neanderthals, including tool technology (Mousterian tool industry), habitat and diet. Pay particular attention to any evidence of symbolic behavior, including burial of the dead, decorations, and language.
        • Summarize what the recent genetic sequencing of Neanderthal DNA says about interbreeding between modern humans and Neanderthals.

      Activities

      To accomplish this module's learning objectives, we will complete the following activities:
      1. Read Chapter 11. Use the reading guide to help get the most out of the chapter.
      2. Complete Chap. 11 reading quiz
      3. Read the online lecture, Archaic Humans and Neanderthals.
      4. Post a contribution to the Module Discussion Module 12: Archaic Humans and Neanderthals online lecture Archaic humansNew forms of hominins start appearing in the fossil record of Africa, Asia and Europe around 700,000 years ago during the Middle Pleistocene epochLinks to an external site., a time of significant climate change; namely, fluctuating cold (glacial) and warm (interglacial) periods. This irregular climate required a strategy of real cultural flexibility to adapt to it. hominins probably had to rely on a variety of subsistence strategies, depending on the climate.These Middle Pleistocene hominins are quite variable and therefore difficult to classify. While some retain some Homo erectus traits, there is a trend toward increasing brain size. The cranial vault is thinner and the browridges are not as thick and projecting. Tooth size declines. However, they do not possess the distinctive cranial and dental features of anatomically modern Homo sapiens.

         Asian Homo erectus

         Archaic human from Europe

         Some paleoanthropologists have proposed separating these individuals into a distinct species named H. heidelbergensis. But others argue that the fossils are too variable and geographically dispersed to fall into a single meaningful species. They choose to refer to them generally as “archaic Homo sapiens” or “archaic humans”.Previously, the earliest European fossils dated to 800,000 years ago. Recently, new fossils from Spain were uncovered that push back the presence of hominins in Europe over 1.1 million years.
         Links to an external site.Spain has been a treasure trove of hominin fossils. Some of the most notable discoveries have come from caves in a region in northern Spain called Atapuerca. This includes the cave called Sima de los Huesos or “Pit of Bones that yielded spectacularly well preserved remains of over 30 individuals.
         
         NeandertalsThe Neandertals were the most well-known of the archaic humans. They were a relatively late population, from about 300,000 – 28,000 years ago. Although they are technically called archaic humans, it is more accurate to say that they were super-specialized, even more specialized than modern humans.Map showing location of Neandertal sites
         
         Neandertal remains have been found all over Europe and in a few places in the Near East and Asia Minor. Up until recently, they were not thought to occur anywhere else in the world. However recent finds in Siberia and Mongolia Links to an external site.may have extended their range much further east than previously assumed. They are best known from Western Europe, where they were first discovered in Germany in the mid 1800’s. They take their name from the Neander Valley in Germany (thal means valley). They initially attracted a lot of puzzlement—people weren’t sure what to make of them, thought that perhaps they were deformed people. (Incidentally, the word "Neandertal" can be correctly spelled two different ways--either with or without the "h" which is silent).Neandertal anatomyNeandetals had large brains – even slightly larger on average than modern human brains. They had curved brow ridges and a long skull with a low forehead. There is a tendency for the back of the skull (the occipital region) to puff out in the back, a feature called an occipital bun. The midfacial region projects forward somewhat and the nose is prominent and wide.
         
         View differences in the skull between a Neandertal and early modern human at this websiteLinks to an external site. (PBS Nova).
         Neandertal (left) and modern human
         Neandertals were on average shorter and stockier than modern humans with shorter distal elements meaning that their distal limb bones, their forearm bones (the radius) and lower leg (tibia) are proportionately shorter than modern humans. This type of body build seems to be an adaptation to a cold climate—a thick torso and short limbs is a good body type to have in the cold because it conserves heat. This is a contrast to the long and lean body build of the Homo erectus boy from Kenya. Contrary to the hunched over caveman stereotype, they probably stood as erect as we do. Both sexes were not only strong but apparently were quite flexible. The thickness and high density of their leg bones suggests that they did a great deal of walking and running. Neandertal skeletons show a high incidence of traumatic injury such as fractures and dislocations. Anthropologist Erik Trinkhaus has shown that Neandertals actually resemble rodeo riders in the pattern of their injuries. They especially had a high proportion of head and neck injuries. They weren’t riding bucking broncos, but their lifestyle exerted the same sort of toll on their bodies. Neandertal cultureThe tool industry associated with Neandertals is called the Mousterian. Mousterian tools are thinner and smaller than the previous Acheulean tools. They are constructed using what is termed the Levallois technique, characterized by prepared flake tools made from cores. The makers carefully prepare the sides of a core by removing small bits all around the edge of a side and then knocking off the flake. It’s undisputed that Neandertals did bury their dead. Hundreds of their deeply buried, well-preserved skeletons have been recovered. But whether Neandertals conducted their burial in a religious or ritual context is debatable. Some anthropologists believe that Neandertals had sophisticated ideas about death, while others think it was merely to dispose of dead bodies. How would you tell whether they had symbolic ideas about death? In every modern human society ever studied, death is attached to symbolic meaning. Every human society has a specific prescribed way(s) of interring or disposing of a dead body. Can you think of examples from our own society as well as from other cultures? How would these practices be reflected in the archaeological record? Frequently, people are buried with objects that were meaningful to them during life. They may be buried in a prescribed position or facing a certain direction. There may be specialized treatments like de-fleshing or rearranging the bones after death.Shanidar Cave, IraqOne archaeological claim for symbolic treatment of the dead comes from the Shanidar cave site in northern Iraq--the site of 9 Neandertal burials. At Shanidar, pollen remains from many types of flowers were found in at least one burial. There was speculation that the burial could have been a medicine man or shaman who was laid to rest on a bed of flowers. This received a lot of attention in the media in the 70’s and the Shanidar Neandertals were dubbed the first flower children. However, other archaeologists are critical of the Shanidar site. They noted that the graves were heavily disturbed by rodent burials; burrowing gophers and squirrels could have produced the pollen deposits.Clear-cut signs of art, music and elaborate decorations are largely absent in Neandertals. However, archaeologists have recently discovered evidence of Neandertal jewelry making (see above shell) and body paintingLinks to an external site.. This suggests that Neandertals did possess some symbolic capabilities.
         
         
         Recent genetic research on Neandertals
         
         Several recent studies using ancient DNA are providing exciting new insights into Neandertals. Perhaps the most remarkable achievement is the sequencing of the Neandertal genome. Previously, scientists had successfully extracted only Neandertal mitochondrial DNA which is inherited from the mother and does not code for traits. However, geneticists have now been able to extract nuclear DNA from Neandertal bones, and have begun sequencing the Neandertal genome. Preliminary findings have enabled comparisons between Neandertals and modern humans in hair color, lactose tolerance, and language ability. Particularly compelling is this evidence of interbreeding between Neandertals and modern humans (National Geographic News)Links to an external site..
         
         Much of this research was produced by scientists from the Department of Evolutionary Genetics at the Max Planck Institute in Germany. For anyone interested in exploring further, their Neandertal Genome Project WebsiteLinks to an external site. has a trove of information including the actual Neandertal genome sequence!
         
         For some great photos and reconstructions of what Neandertals might have looked like (this is the source for the above photo), check out the cover story from National Geographic MagazineLinks to an external site.. PreviousNext

Overview

This chapter covers the fossil evidence for archaic Homo sapiens--species that can be considered transitional between Homo erectus and modern Homo sapiens. Here are some key points to pay attention to in the chapter.

• Approximate time period and location of archaic Homo sapiens fossils.
• How they compare to H. erectus and modern H. sapiens in their physical features (summed up nicely in Fig. 11.3)
• Neanderthals--distinctive features of the skull, teeth, and body proportions.
• Neanderthals--cultural behavior such as stone tools (Mousterian tool industry), burial of the dead, speech, and possible symbolic behavior.
• Sequencing of ancient Neanderthal and Denisovan DNA and what it shows about genetic relationships with modern Homo sapiens.
• Homo naledi and Homo floresiensis--recently discovered species that show a puzzling mixture of primitive and more modern traits.
• Fail to number your responses = - 1 pt
  Each Response = 1 pts
  All 4 of the above (numbered) = 4 pts