HUMAN EVOLUTION

ANT 205.01 – Fall 2006

 

bentleyc@grinnell.edu                                                                                      Goodnow 307; Ph: 4305

V. Bentley-Condit                                                                                                   Office Hrs: T,Th 1p-5

DESCRIPTION:

An in-depth examination of our evolutionary history starting with the earliest primates and continuing through modern humans.

TEXTS:

1) Ciochon, R. & Fleagle, J. 2006. The Human Evolution Source Book, 2nd ed. Prentice Hall. (C&F)

2) Conroy, G. 2005. Reconstructing Human Origins, 2nd ed. Norton.

3) Blackboard Readings (BR)

OTHER:

You may find the following two websites of use: eskeletons.org and talkorigins.org.

REQUIREMENTS:

 

66%

 

 

24%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10%

 

 

Exams (3 @ 22%) – Three in-class exams; Approximate thirds of course – 26SEP, 31OCT, 13DEC

 

Final Paper (10-ish pages) - Papers will be due FRI, 08DEC.  For this paper, you are to choose one of the human evolution controversies to examine and take a stand by evaluating the evidence available.  Here are a couple of examples of topics you might deliberate. A) Were the early hominids knuckle-walkers?  B) Did the Neandertals have language?  C) Which is better supported: the multiple-origin or single-origin model?  D) Were the Australopiths tool users or makers?  There are lots of others out there; these are only a few examples.  While the paper is not due until DEC, you would be wise to be on the lookout for a good topic throughout the semester.

 

Class Participation

 

SYLLABUS

 

DATE

TOPIC

READING(S) AND OTHER

EVOLUTION

TH, 24AUG

Preliminaries & Theory

BR1: Mayr Ch 1

BR2: Mayr Ch 2

T, 29AUG

Geology, Time & Climate

Conroy  Preface pp xxii-xxv; 2

C&F 8

TH, 31AUG

Finding, Dating, & Naming Hominins

Conroy 3,4

 

PRIMATE EVOLUTION

T, 05SEP

Physiology In-Class Lab

Conroy 1

BR3: Fleagle 2

TH, 07SEP

Insectivores & Prosomians

BR4 & 5: Fleagle 11 & 12

T, 12SEP

Anthropoids

BR6: Fleagle 13

TH, 14SEP

Platyrrhines & Cattarhines

BR7: Fleagle 14

BR8: Fleagle 16

T, 19SEP

Miocene Overview & Miocene Apes

Conroy 5

TH, 21SEP

Hominoid/Hominin transition

C&F 9, 10, 11

T, 26SEP
EXAM 1

N/A

 

THE EARLIEST HOMININS/HOMINIDS AND THEIR ORIGINS

TH, 28SEP

Orrorin, Ardipithecus & Sahelanthropus

C&F 13, 14, 15

T, 03OCT

Australopith Paleobiology & Bipedalism

Conroy 8

C&F 21

TH, 05OCT

Brain and Diet

C&F 23,24

T, 10OCT

Australopiths of Southern Africa

Conroy 6

TH, 12OCT

Australopiths of Eastern Africa

Conroy 7

C&F 17, 18

14OCT – 22OCT

FALL BREAK!!!!

 

ORIGINS OF GENUS HOMO

T, 24OCT

The Emergence of Homo habilis

Conroy 9

TH, 26OCT

Early tool manufacture & use

C&F 27, 30, 31

T, 31OCT
Exam 2

N/A

EVOLUTION OF HOMO

TH, 02NOV

Homo erectus /ergaster overview

Conroy 10

T, 07NOV

Homo erectus/ergaster & Homo floresiensis

C&F 32, 34, 44

TH, 09NOV

Acheulean tools & culture

C&F 39, 40, 45

T, 14NOV

Archaic Homo sapiens

Conroy 11

TH, 16NOV

Homo antecessor & Homo heidelbergensis

C&F 46, 47, 49

T, 21NOV

Neanders

C&F 55, 56, 58

23NOV-26NOV

THANKSGIVING BREAK!!!

 

T, 28NOV

Modern human origins – mtDNA

Conroy 12

TH, 30NOV

Out of Africa vs. Multiregional

C&F 59, 68, 71

T, 05DEC

Modern human origins – fossils and Modern human races

Conroy 13

C&F 74

TH, 07DEC

Wrap-up

N/A

F, 08DEC

FINAL PAPER DUE, 5pm

W, 13DEC, 2p
Exam 3

N/A

 

 

HUMAN EVOLUTION

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF RESERVED READINGS

 

1) Mayr, E.  1999.  Ch 1 - Basic Concepts of Evolutionary Biology.  In: The Bio. Basis of Human Behav.: A Critical Review; R. Sussman, ed.; Prentice Hall.

 

2) Mayr, E. 1999. Ch 2 - The Evolution of Living Systems. In: The Bio. Basis of Human Behav.: A Critical Review; R. Sussman, ed.; Prentice Hall.

 

3) Fleagle, J. 1999.  Ch 2 - The Primate Body. In: Primate Adaptation and Evolution, 2nd ed, Academic Press.

 

4)  Fleagle, J. 1999.  Ch 11 - Primate Origins. In: Primate Adaptation and Evolution, 2nd ed, Academic Press.

 

5) Fleagle, J.1999.  Ch 12 - Fossil Prosimians. In: Primate Adaptation and Evolution, 2nd ed, Academic Press.

 

6)  Fleagle, J. 1999.  Ch 13 - Early Anthropoids. In: Primate Adaptation and Evolution, 2nd ed, Academic Press.

 

7) Fleagle, J. 1999.  Ch 14 - Fossil Platyrrhines.  In: Primate Adaptation and Evolution, 2nd ed, Academic Press.

 

8) Fleagle, J. 1999.  Ch 16 - Fossil Old World Monkeys. In: Primate Adaptation and Evolution, 2nd ed, Academic Press.