Chapter 9

Chapter 9
Hominin Origins
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.
Miocene Hominoids
1.
2.
3.
African forms (2314 mya)

Especially from western Kenya, these include
quite generalized and primitive hominoids.
European forms (1611 mya)
Known from widely scattered localities in
France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Austria, Germany,
and Hungary, most of these forms are quite
derived.
Asian forms (167 mya)
The largest and most varied group of Miocene
hominoids, they are dispersed from Turkey
through India and Pakistan to southern China.
Postcranial
In a quadruped, referring to that portion of the

body behind the head.
In a biped, referring to all parts of the body
beneath the head.
Traditional Hominoid
Classification
Revised Hominoid
Classification
Bipedal Adaptation
Bipedal locomotion freed the hands for

carrying objects and for making and
using tools.
Bipedal walking is an efficient means of
covering long distances, and when large
game hunting came into play, further
refinements in the locomotor complex
may have been favored.
Ossa Coxae (pelvis)
(a) Homo sapiens.

(b) Early hominin
(Australopithecus)
from South Africa.
(c) Great ape.
Habitual Bipedalism
Bipedal locomotion as the form of locomotion

shown by hominins most of the time.
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 it, other
forms of locomotion on the ground became
impossible.
Major Features of Hominin

Bipedalism
The foramen magnum (shown in red) is repositioned

farther underneath the skull, so the head is more or
less balanced on the spine (and requires less robust
neck muscles to hold the head upright).

Bipedalism
The spine has two distinctive curvesa backward

(thoracic) one and a forward (lumbar) onethat keep
the trunk (and weight) centered above the pelvis.

Bipedalism
The pelvis is shaped in the form of a basin to

support internal organs; the ossa coxae are shorter
and broader, thus stabilizing weight transmission.

Bipedalism
Lower limbs are elongated, as shown by the

proportional lengths of various body segments.

Bipedalism
The femur is angled

inward, keeping the
legs more directly
under the body;
modified knee
anatomy also
permits full
extension of this
joint.

Bipedalism
The big toe is enlarged and brought in line with the

other toes; in addition, a distinctive longitudinal arch
forms, helping absorb shock and adding propulsive
spring.
Position of the Foramen

Magnum
Human
Chimpanzee
Note the more

forward position of
the foramen
magnum in the
human cranium.
3 Major Early Hominins from

Africa
Pre-australopiths the earliest and most

primitive hominins (7.04.4 mya)
Australopithsdiverse forms, some more
primitive, others highly derived (4.21.0 mya)
Early Homo the first members of our
genus (2.41.4 mya)
Pre-Australopiths (7.0 4.4 mya)
Cranium usually only bone found

Cranial slope, braincase size, crest, browridges
Muscle attachments are rear of skull (neck/jaw)
Teeth/dentition, thin enamel on molars
Foramen magnum position/orientation
Are they apes or hominins?
Post-cranial elements lacking, cannot determine
locomotion behavior
Dating techniques only enable provisional assignment to
genus
Key Pre-Australopith Discoveries
Estimated Body Weights in PlioPleistocene Hominins

Male
Female
A. afarensis
45 kg (99 lb)
29 kg (64 lb)
A. africanus
41 kg (90 lb)
30 kg (65 lb)
South African
robust
40 kg (88 lb)
32 kg (70 lb)
East African
robust
49 kg (108 lb)
34 kg (75 lb)
H. habilis
52 kg (114 lb)
32 kg (70 lb)
Estimated Stature in Plio-Pleistocene

Hominins
Male
Female
A. afarensis
151 cm (59 in.) 105 cm (41 in.)
A. Africanus
138 cm (54 in.) 115 cm (45 in.)
South African
robust
132 cm (52 in.)
110 cm (43
in.)
East African
robust
137 cm (54 in.) 124 cm (49 in.)
H. Habilis
157 cm (62 in.) 125 cm (49 in.)
Earlier More Primitive Australopiths

(4.23.0 mya)
Australopiths diverse and very successful

group of hominins made up of two closely
related genera:
Australopithecus.
Paranthropus.
Longest enduring hominin yet documented.
Most widely distributed early hominin
Most studied
Major features that all

Australopiths share
Are clearly bipedal (although not

necessarily identical to Homo in this
regard).
Have relatively small brains (at least
compared to Homo).
Have large teeth, particularly the back
teeth, with thick to very thick enamel
on the molars.
Australopithecus
An early hominin genus, known from the PlioPleistocene of Africa, characterized by

bipedal locomotion, a relatively small brain,
and large back teeth.
Australopithecine The colloquial name for
members of the genus Australopithecus.
Australopithecus afarensis
Several hundred specimens, representing a minimum

of 60 individuals have been excavated at Laetoli and
Hadar.
A. afarensis is less evolved than later-occurring
hominin species and shares more primitive features
with early hominoids and living great apes than do
later hominins.
A. afarensis were obligate bipeds, which would have
hampered their climbing but would not have kept them
out of the trees.
Later More Derived Australopiths

(2.51.0 mya)
Following 2.5 mya, hominins became

more diverse in Africa. Adapted to
various niches and are more derived.
3 separate lineages of hominins
Paranthropus A hominin genus characterized by very
large back teeth and jaws (highly derived, 3 species,
sagittal crest, rough vegetable foods)
Australopithecus africanus A late Australopith found at
sites in southernmost Africa (big toothed, small brained)
Homo at least two coexisting
Early Homo (2.41.4 m ya)
Homo habilis A species of early Homo, well

known from East Africa but possibly also
found in other regions.
Refers to those found at Olduvai
Known as handy man
Cranial Capacity of Early Hominins

and Contemporary Hominoids
Lower Paleolithic Period
Begins with the oldest identifiable stone tools

around 2.6 mya and end about 200,000 ya.
Two major stone tool industries:
Oldowan: oldest identified tools
Acheulian: begins around 1.4 mya
Oldowan (2.6 1.4 MYA)
Oldest recognized hominin tools.

Tool-assisted gatherers and meat scavengers
Named for Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania.
Tools made by hard hammer percussion (also called
direct percussion).
Assemblages consist mostly of:
Core forms: Choppers & cores.
Flakes
Hammerstones
Expedient tools
Hard Hammer Percussion
Oldowan Tool Assemblage
A Tentative Early Hominin Phylogeny
Steps in Interpreting Evolutionary

Events
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Selecting and surveying sites.

Excavating sites and recovering fossil
hominins.
Designating individual finds with specimen
numbers for clear reference.
Cleaning, preparing, studying, and describing
fossils.
Comparing with other fossil material.
Comparing fossil variation with ranges of
variation in related groups of living primates.
Assigning taxonomic names to fossil material.

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Chapter 9

Pertaining to the Pliocene and first half of the

African forms (2314 mya)

In a quadruped, referring to that portion of the

Bipedal locomotion freed the hands for

Ossa Coxae (pelvis)

(a) Homo sapiens.

Bipedal locomotion as the form of locomotion

Bipedalism as the only form of hominin

Major Features of Hominin

The foramen magnum (shown in red) is repositioned

Major Features of Hominin

The spine has two distinctive curvesa backward

Major Features of Hominin

The pelvis is shaped in the form of a basin to

Major Features of Hominin

Lower limbs are elongated, as shown by the

Major Features of Hominin

The femur is angled

Major Features of Hominin

The big toe is enlarged and brought in line with the

Position of the Foramen

Note the more

3 Major Early Hominins from

Pre-australopiths the earliest and most

Pre-Australopiths (7.0 4.4 mya)

Cranium usually only bone found

Key Pre-Australopith Discoveries

Estimated Body Weights in PlioPleistocene Hominins

Estimated Stature in Plio-Pleistocene

151 cm (59 in.) 105 cm (41 in.)

138 cm (54 in.) 115 cm (45 in.)

132 cm (52 in.)

137 cm (54 in.) 124 cm (49 in.)

157 cm (62 in.) 125 cm (49 in.)

Earlier More Primitive Australopiths

Australopiths diverse and very successful

Major features that all

Are clearly bipedal (although not

An early hominin genus, known from the PlioPleistocene of Africa, characterized by

Several hundred specimens, representing a minimum

Later More Derived Australopiths

Following 2.5 mya, hominins became

Early Homo (2.41.4 m ya)

Homo habilis A species of early Homo, well

Cranial Capacity of Early Hominins

Lower Paleolithic Period

Begins with the oldest identifiable stone tools

Oldowan (2.6 1.4 MYA)

Oldest recognized hominin tools.

Hard Hammer Percussion

Oldowan Tool Assemblage

A Tentative Early Hominin Phylogeny

Steps in Interpreting Evolutionary

Selecting and surveying sites.

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