Evidence for human evolution

• What does evidence from fossils suggest

  Humans + chimpanzees evolved from a common ancestor that existed 6 million years ago
• What are humans and their ancestors known as

  Hominids
• Who is Ardi + describe her

  • Found in Ethiopia + 4.4 million yrs old
  • Structure of feet = climbed trees
  • Long arms + short legs + brain the size of chimpanzee
  • Leg structure = walked upright
  • Hand structure = didn't use hands to help her walk
• Who is Lucy + describe her

  • Found in Ethiopia + 3.2 million yrs old
  • More humanlike than Ardi
  • Arched feet = more adapted to walking
  • Size of arms + legs between expected of humans + apes
  • Brain slightly larger than Ardi's
  • Leg structure = more adapted than Ardi
• Who is Leakey/Turkana Boy + describe him

  • Found in Kenya + 1.6 million yrs old
  • Short arms + long legs = more humanlike than Lucy
  • Brain size = much larger than Lucy
  • Leg + feet structure = even more suited to walk upright than Lucy
• What does the fact that the tools became more complex suggest

  Their brains were getting larger
• What tools were used in the Homo Habilis

  • Simple tools -> pebble tools
  • Used to scrape meat from bones
  • Or crack bones open
• What tools were used during Homo Erectus

  • Simple hand axes
  • Used to hunt, dig, chop + scrape meat from bones
• What tools where used during the Homo neanderthalensis

  • More complex tools
  • Pointed tools on wooden spears
• What tools were used in the Homo sapiens

  • Flint tools
  • Pointed tools -> arrowheads, fish hooks + needles
• How do you date tools

  • Structural features of tool = simpler the tool -> older it is
  • Knowledge of age of rock layer it was found in = deeper it is -> older it is
  • Carbon dating = used for carbon containing materials
• What is a pednactyl limb

  Limb with 5 digits + found in many species
• Describe how the pednactyl limb provides evidence for evolution

  • Similar bone structure
  • Different function
  • But similarity in bone structure = common ancestor