2. Change in the heritable characteristics
of biological populations over
successive generations. Evolutionary processes give
rise to biodiversity at every level of biological
organization, including the levels of species,
individual organisms, and molecules.
H U M A N C U L T U R A L A N D B I O L O G I C A L
E V O L U T I O N
EVOLUTION
3. The evolutionary process that led to the
emergence of anatomically modern humans,
beginning with the evolutionary
history of primates – in particular genus Homo –
and leading to the emergence of Homo sapiens as
a distinct species of the hominid family, the great
apes. This process involved the gradual
development of traits such as human
bipedalism and language.
H U M A N C U L T U R A L A N D B I O L O G I C A L
E V O L U T I O N
Human evolution
4. CULTURAL
EVOLUTION
The changing of ideas held and actions carried out by societies and the
transmission of these ideas through social learning from one generation to the
next (e.g. the use of fire, agriculture, tools, weapons, religion ad beliefs).
H U M A N C U L T U R A L A N D B I O L O G I C A L
E V O L U T I O N
5. Early human history is traditionally divided into Stone, Bronze and
Iron ages, according to the main materials used. The Stone age can be
further broken down into the following periods:
H U M A N C U L T U R A L A N D B I O L O G I C A L
E V O L U T I O N
Lower Paleolithic (Early Stone Age)
3 million years ago
Earliest Stone tools introduced by Homo habilis
Simple shapes stones tools like cutters and hand axes. Also, they used
spear tips and sticks.
6. H U M A N C U L T U R A L A N D B I O L O G I C A L
E V O L U T I O N
Middle Paleolithic (Old Stone Age)
120,000 years ago
More advanced tools, made from a greater variety of materials. First
widely use by Homo neanderthalensis.
The middle Paleolithic is characterized by the Mousterian tool industry,
whereby flint was often shaped using the Levallois technique, giving
extremely sharp edges such as
7. H U M A N C U L T U R A L A N D B I O L O G I C A L
E V O L U T I O N
Upper Paleolithic (Late Stone Age)
35,000 years ago
Tools displaying a much more sophisticated design and greater
ingenuity. Associated with the earliest anatomically modern ‘Cro-
Magnon’ Homo sapiens
Tools included throwing sticks, harpoons and much finer blades and
spearheads made using ‘punch blade’ technique
Culture also included cave paintings and sculptures.
8. H U M A N C U L T U R A L A N D B I O L O G I C A L
E V O L U T I O N
Mesolithic(Middle Stone Age)
12,000 years ago
Increased use of smaller finer tools and blades. Often small stone tools /
blades (microliths) were incorporated into wooden or bone tools.
These tools were exclusively used by Homo sapiens
Commodities used to make these tools (stone, bone, antler, hides, etc)
would have been traded.
9. H U M A N C U L T U R A L A N D B I O L O G I C A L
E V O L U T I O N
Neolithic culture is characterized by the development of agriculture. Wheat,
corn, potatoes and rice were amongst the first ever domesticated crops.
More advanced shape tools like bows and arrows and harpoons. And also
they used spear tips/
Neolithic (New Stone Age)
10,000 years ago
11. H U M A N C U L T U R A L A N D B I O L O G I C A L
E V O L U T I O N
Cranial capacity 320-480cc
Quadrupedal / Brachiators
Prognathism -jaw protrudes from face, Large jaw / teeth
Barrel shaped rib cage / c-curved spine typical of quadrupedal lifestyle
Distribution: Central - Western Africa.
Chimps are not our direct ancestors, but may resemble some of our
earliest ancestors who had a similar lifestyle.
PAN TROGLODYTES (CHIMPANZEE)
12. H U M A N C U L T U R A L A N D B I O L O G I C A L
E V O L U T I O N
AUSTRALOPITHICINES
Cranial capacity 400-500cc
africanus slightly larger than afarensis
Apelike Face; low forehead & brow ridge (slightly reduced in africanus)
The Canines are smaller than chimps but still much larger than in modern
humans
Pelvis and leg bones confirm bipedalism
Distribution: East Africa (Rift Valley) - South Africa
13. H U M A N C U L T U R A L A N D B I O L O G I C A L
E V O L U T I O N
PARANTHROPUS GROUP
Cranial capacity 530cc
Extinct offshoot of the Australopithecines
Very robust skull with feature associated with a diet of tough fibrous /
leafy material
Heavy brow ridge, zygomatic arches, large mandible (lower jaw) and
sagittal crest
Distribution: South-East Africa
14. H U M A N C U L T U R A L A N D B I O L O G I C A L
E V O L U T I O N
Cranial capacity 650-680cc
First to use tools (Oldowan)
Marked increase in cranial capacity
Bulge in Broca’s area (speech production)
Smaller narrower face with reduced jaw
Modern U-shaped jaw with narrower molars
Distribution: Rift Valley, East Africa
H. HABILIS
15. H U M A N C U L T U R A L A N D B I O L O G I C A L
E V O L U T I O N
Cranial capacity 750 -1225cc
First to use fire and Acheulian tools
Marked increase in cranial capacity with a large difference between
earlier erectus and later ones.
Development of Broca’s and Wernike’s areas of the brain possibly
associated with rudimentary communication
Flat face with pronounced bow ridge
Distribution: Africa (H. ergaster), Asia & Europe (H. erectus)
H. ERECTUS
16. H U M A N C U L T U R A L A N D B I O L O G I C A L
E V O L U T I O N
Cranial capacity 1600c
Larger brain than even H. sapiens but organized differently
Large occipital lobe / bun
Skull widest at base
Used more advances Mousterian flint tools
Further reduced teeth
Sloping forehead
Distribution: Europe and West Asia
H. NEANDERTHALENSIS
17. H. SAPIENS
Cranial capacity 1400cc
Large brain with larger frontal lobes / cerebral cortex.
Skull is widest further up / higher
High vertical forehead
Further reduced teeth
No muzzle (prognathism)
Distribution: Global
H U M A N C U L T U R A L A N D B I O L O G I C A L
E V O L U T I O N
18. H U M A N C U L T U R A L A N D B I O L O G I C A L
E V O L U T I O N
THE END
