Evolution is about looking at similarities and differences

To "take us out", something would have to decimate the entire biosphere○

We are not endangered largely because we're so broadly dispersed•

We're a cosmopolitan species that exist in multiple habitats•

The human species is the most widely dispersed animal (probably in all of the earth's history)

They live, predominantly in one type of habitat•There are some that are cosmopolitan (i.e. baboons and macaques)•

Non-human primates are predominantly endemic species

Our dispersal had to be assisted by technology (e.g. tools)

If your species is confined to a specific ecosystem/niche/etc, that species is more endangered than a broadly dispersed species

•Robert Foley, Cambridge Prof. "Dispersal is the destiny of a successful species"

How did we go from one relatively small group of African primates, to a species whose impact is comparable to geological forces

Why are we different from each other (morphologically, culturally, etc)?1.How are we different from other animals?2.If you're looking to be an anthropologist, be able to link your research to one of these two questions in under five sentences

•

Anthropology's two major questions:

The study of the tangible products/residues of human behavior, in order to reconstruct that behavior

○

In this class, we're focusing on what the archaeological record tells us about the behavior underlying human dispersal

○

Archaeology•

Hominins refer to all bipedal primates (e.g. Neaderthals and our common ancestor homo heidelbergensis)

○

Neanderthals may have behaved similarly

Not defined by behavior because behavior can vary

Species are defined by their morphology, not behavior○

A result of a Euro-centric study of archaeology, with modern-looking human skeletal remains appearing at this time

□"modern" humans were believed to have appeared 40 KA

"modern" vs "archaic" human behavior○

Human•

About the movement of populations○

Easier for archaeologists to track□These are generally successful because people bring with them the means for producing food

□

Migrations typically result in social relationships being maintained since whole groups move

Harder for archaeologists to track, with artifacts changing with movement□Dispersal typically results in new social relationships forming

Migration and dispersal (false dichotomy?)○

Dispersal•

Primary terms bearing on the subject of the class:

Three geological periods of focus:

Lecture 1Monday, August 25, 20142:34 PM

Human Dispersal ANT373-573 Page 1

Major glaciation in intervals lasting 100-120 thousand years○

Middle Pleistocene: 728-128 KA•

Greatly affected by Earth's orbit

The last of these major glaciations○

Late Pleistocene: 128-125 KA•

The most recent interglacial period○

Holocene: 12.5 KA until the present•

A controversial term that is being used to discuss the human impact on the climate○

Anthropocene: last centuries•

Three geological periods of focus:

The next oldest is also in Ethiopia ~165 KA○

Fossil evidence points towards a modern human origin in northeastern Africa○

Nuclear is muddled, recombining 50% from each parent

Eastern and southwestern Africa mitochondrial DNA are tied for the oldest

□

Mitochondrial DNA is inherited solely from the mother, changing only through mutation over time (of which there has been very little).

Genetic evidence (nuclear and mitochondrial DNA)○

Before this, human remains are found only at one site (i.e. Omo Kibish, Ethiopia) dating to 195 KA

•

By 50 KA early homo sapiens can be all over Africa homo•

The first major dispersal (across Africa) happened sometime between 195-50 KA

They bring stone tools that are fairly similar to African technologies○

Movement into southwestern Asia (i.e. Israel)•

By 65 KA, mitochondrial DNA indicates that people were in Malaysia•

Perhaps we were pushed out for a time (by Neanderthals?). No other mammal or hominin disappears (Neanderthals remained)

○

Between 80-45 KA is a gap in the fossil record of our species in the Middle East•

The second big dispersal happened between 125-65 KA

Stone tool technology is simplified, indicating something peculiar took place○

Oldest evidence for planned migration□Movement here had to have been via boat transport

Wallace's Line separated this region from the supercontinent that was part of Indonesia, New Guinea, Australia and Tasmania (Sahul)

○

Southeast Asia (Sundaland)•The third major dispersal happened …(not we documented due to difficulty in excavation)

Also a good test for hypothermia•*Fingertip pressure relieves stress

Human Dispersal ANT373-573 Page 2