Human Evolution

Mr. H. Jones
 History of Human Evolution
 Human evolution is the theory that humans evolved from
primates or ape like creatures.
 The idea began in 1856, when a skull was found in the Neander
Valley in Germany that seemed half ape, half man.
 This fuelled the debate and the search for more skeletons stepped
up.
 In 1859, Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species which
theorised that all living things had a common ancestor.
 In 1863, Thomas Huxley argued strongly for human evolution
from apes but many did not support him including Alfred Russell
Wallace.
 In 1871, Darwin published The Descent of Man, applying the theory
of natural selection to human evolution.
 Since 1856, many hominid skeletons have been found all over the
world.
 A Common Ancestor
 It is believed by many
scientist that Apes and
Humans have a common
ancestor.
 Most scientists believe that
this ancient ancestor may
have existed between 10 and 7
million years ago.
 But there is little fossil
evidence to support this.
 This common ancestor may
have been Orrorin tugenensis
which lived 7 million years
ago.
 Hominid Groups
 Today, the family Hominidae (Bipedal Primates) has
grown to include several genus„ including:
 Ardipithecus, the most apelike hominids.

 Australopithecus, small-brained slender hominids with

mixed fruit/vegetable diet.
 Paranthropus, small-brained robust hominids with a
grassland vegetable diet.
 Homo, large-brained hominids with an omnivorous diet.
 Ardipithecus ramidus
 Evolved 4.4 million years ago.
 First fossils found in 1992 but a recent, almost complete,
fossil (Ardi) was found in Ethiopia.
 The most primitive hominid ever found, this species
has more chimpanzee-like features than any other
human ancestor.
 Ardipithecus ramidus may have walked upright.
 Ardipithecus stood four feet (1.2 m) tall and weighed a
little under eight stone (50 kg).
 But many of Ardi's features are far more primitive than
those seen in modern apes, suggesting chimpanzees and
gorillas have evolved considerably after they split from
the common ancestor they shared with humans.
Ardi – Artists Impression
 Australopithecus afarensis
 3.5 to 2.9 million years ago.
 This species includes "Lucy," the 3.2 million year old
fossil found by Donald Johanson in 1974.
 A. afarensis had a small braincase and relatively large
teeth and chewing muscles; similar to those of
chimpanzees.
 However, their teeth, as well as their leg and pelvis
bones, exhibit human-like characteristics.
 They ranged in height from 1m to 1.5 m and walked
upright.
 In 1975, 13 other A. afarensis fossils were discovered in
Ethiopa, in an area called site 333.
Australopithecus afarensis – “Lucy”
 Homo habilis
 2.5 to 1.6 million years ago.
 Homo habilis, which actually means "handy man," is
apparently the first species to make and use
primitive stone tools.
 About 1.5m tall and weighing 45kg, H. habilis had a
brain that was larger than any Australopithecus brain,
but smaller than the Homo erectus brain.
 First fossil found in 1960 in Tanzania.
 Much debate as to whether H. Habilis should be part
of the genus Australopithecus.
Homo habilis
 Paranthropus robustus
 Also referred to as Australopithecus robustus.
 2.1 to 1.2 million years ago.
 Believed to be roughly the same size as A.
afarensis
 But P. robustus had a larger, heavier, thicker
(hence the name robust) skull, as well as a jaw
and large teeth that were well adapted to chewing.
 They share some cranial characteristics with
modern gorillas.
 Similar sized brain to that of a modern chimp.
 First fossil found in 1938 in Southern Africa.
Paranthropus robustus
 Homo erectus
 Means “upright walking man”.
 1.8 million years to 300,000 years ago
 The first example of Homo erectus, known as "Java
Man," was discovered in Indonesia in 1893.
 Fossil remains of Homo erectus have since been found
throughout Africa and Asia, making it the first wide-
ranging hominid.
 Despite the primitive appearance of its skull, the erectus
skeleton is very similar to that of modern humans,
although more robust (thicker and heavier).
 Homo erectus was probably the first hominid to use
fire.
Homo erectus
 Homo heidelbergensis
 1 million to 200,000 years ago
 Homo heidelbergensis had a brain that was larger than H.
erectus but smaller than that of a modern human.
 The brain was enclosed in a skull that was more
rounded than H. erectus.
 Fossil remains of Homo heildelbergensis have been found
in Africa and Europe.
 H. Heidelbergensis were probably the first European
hominids and probably the first in the British Isles.
 First fossil found in 1921 but many more are being
uncovered in La Sima de los Huesos ('The Pit of
Bones') in northern Spain.
Homo heidelbergensis
 Homo neanderthalensis
 230,000 - 30,000 years ago
 First fossil found in 1856.
 Averaging five and a half feet in height and possessing short
limbs, Neanderthals were well-adapted to living in a cold
climate.
 Attached to their robust (thick and heavy) bones were
powerful muscles.
 Homo neanderthalensis, had a jutting nose set in a large face
with massive brow ridges and no chin.
 They lived across Europe and the southwest of Asia, from
Britain in the West to Iraq in the East.
 The Neanderthal's brain was larger than the brain of living
humans, although its shape was longer from front to back
and not as rounded in the front.
Homo neanderthalensis
 Homo sapiens
 120,000 years to present.
 Also known as Homo sapiens sapiens.
 Homo sapiens living about 40,000 years ago (classed Cro-
Magnon) made elaborate tools out of bone, antler, ivory,
stone, and wood, and produced fine artwork in the form of
carvings and cave paintings.
 First "Cro-Magnon" specimens found in 1868.
 Around 75,000 years ago, Homo sapiens faced extinction with
the eruption of the volcano Toba in Sumatra, which caused a
worldwide temperature drop.
 Homo sapiens reached the Near East by at least 90,000 years
ago, Australia by at least 50,000 years ago, Europe by 40,000
years ago and the Americas by 12,000 years ago
 Social Evolution
 Social evolution refers to the development of culture
amongst modern humans.
 Culture includes such items as writing, drawing, music,
technology, religion and science.
 The social evolution of Homo sapiens has accelerated
over the past few thousand years, particularly with the
development of language, both written and spoken.
 The ability to learn from past generations separates us
from most animals and has allowed us to succeed as the
dominant species of earth.
 Social evolution is not linked to natural selection, and
many attribute our social and cultural evolution to the
soul and our consciousness.
 What‟s Next
 The human population is still evolving, but evolution is
too slow for us to notice.
 Some suggest our use of technology is slowing down
evolution, we do not need to change but can use
technology to allow us adapt to our environment.
 Genetic mutations do occur, but modern medicine is
ensuring the worse genetic disorders are treatable.
 However, more defective genes are being passed onto
the next generation.
 In the future, if we master the genetic code, we may be
able to control our own evolutionary path, by selecting
the traits we want for the next generation?