This document contains 20 questions about physical anthropology topics ranging from the definition of hominins and traits of different hominin species to stone tool technologies and models of modern human origins. The questions cover anatomical, behavioral, taxonomic and archaeological aspects of hominin evolution from the earliest hominins to anatomically modern humans. Responses to the questions are to be provided in bullet point form without full sentences or paragraphs.

1. Short Answer
Answer the following 20 questions briefly. You can answer in
bullet point form…in other words, you don’t have to use
complete sentences/paragraphs/etc. (5 points each)
1. Define hominins…in other words, distinguish them from
other primates.
2. Discuss the structural changes that are the result of
bipedalism.
3. Describe in detail three theories aiming to explain the
adaptive success of bipedal locomotion.
4. How do
Paranthropus
species differ from
Australopithecus
? Give an example of each species.
5. Discuss the combinations of anatomical characteristics found
in
Australopithecus afarensis
. What steps did scientists take to determine whether Lucy
should be considered a hominin?
6. Describe at least 3 of the “cultural” innovations or behavior
of
Homo erectus
.
7. Briefly define the following morphological skeletal traits:

2. nuchal torus, sagittal crest, and supraorbital torus.
8. What species are each of the following “famous” fossils: the
Taung child, the Black Skull, and Lucy?
9. Briefly discuss the history surrounding the taxonomic
categorization of
Homo habilis
versus
Homo rudolfensis.
10. Which species are the following stone tool assemblages
associated with: Oldowan, Acheulean, Mousterian, and
Solutrean?
11. Briefly discuss some of the theories surrounding the fate of
the Neandertals.
12. Define the two different categories of Paleolithic art (mural
vs. portable) and give an example of each.
13. Briefly define the Complete Replacement Model vs. the
Regional Continuity Model.
14. What “symbolic” behavior is evident in the archeological
record and associated with anatomically modern humans in
Europe beginning around 35,000 yBP (Upper Paleolithic)?
15. Discuss two methods forensic anthropologists can use to
determine identifying traits of an individual when all they have
to work with is the skeletal remains.
16. Briefly define two of the methods for determining the age of
a child’s skeleton.
17. Briefly define Wolff’s law and give an example of when it

3. occurs.
18. Define the tissues that make up the human skeletal system.
19. Describe two different traumatic injuries and how they
affect the skeleton.
20. Now that the semester is almost over, and you have learned
more about physical anthropology, which is the subfield of
physical anthropology that you find most interesting?