Name: ______________________

 

Human Fossil Record Report

 

Due end of Week Seven

 

Please complete all sections of this report template and submit to your online assignments folder by the due date. Provide a bibliographic list of all sources (including our course materials) used to complete your report.

 

Part I. Comparing Hominins

 

• Select five of the following fossil forms of early humans (or human ancestors):
• Ardipithecus ramidus
• Australopithecus anamensis
• Australopithecus afarensis
• Australopithecus sediba
• Paranthropus boisei
• Homo erectus
• Homo heidelbergensis
• Homo neanderthalensis

For your selected fossil species, complete the Comparison Chart. Please include genus and species names, time frame and geographic region for fossil species. For each of your selected fossil species, please summarize the three physical characteristic categories and 1 cultural category.

 

Comparison Chart

Selected species	Genus and species	Time frame and geographic area (continent) where found	Physical characteristic: Brain size (cranial capacity)	Physical characteristic: Specialized skull and anatomical features	Physical characteristic: Height and weight	Cultural characteristics: Tools or tool use or other evidence of culture
Species 1
Species 2
Species 3
Species 4
Species 5

Note: You may not have evidence for all categories of data for each of these hominins. Where data are absent, simply leave the space blank or note that so far nothing has been found. You may also wish to include other categories of comparison in your chart. Make sure that you cite all sources (including your course materials) used to prepare your fossil comparison chart and include them in your bibliographic list of sources at the end of your report.

 

Part II.  Evolutionary Relationships of Hominin Species

Short-Answer Questions (all which will be answered directly into this report template):

·       Time Order: Indicate the sequence (in terms of time frame) in which your selected fossil forms appear in the fossil record. Then describe or draw (or describe) a phylogeny (evolutionary tree) showing the evolutionary relationships of your 5 selected forms to the modern human lineage.

<insert your answer here>

·       “Mosaic Evolution”: How does the human (hominin) fossil record show “mosaic evolution”? Define the term and provide an example from hominin fossil record. If possible, use example(s) from your 5 fossil selections to support your answer.

<insert your answer here>

 

·       Multiple Hominins Living at the Same Time (Evidence in the Fossil Record): Based on the fossil evidence, did more than one kind of hominin live on earth at the same time? We are currently the only type (species) of human on the planet, but has it always been this way? Use your 5 fossil selections to support your answer.

<insert your answer here>

 

·       New Fossil Finds: Paleoanthropologists are locating additional fossil finds; examples in recent years include: Sahelanthropus tchadensis, Kenyanthropus platyops, Homo floresiensis. Select one of these finds and explain how it may relate to the human fossil record. Please include any controversies (or differences of scientific opinion) regarding your selection.

<insert your answer here>

 

·       Other Scientific Finds: Besides fossil evidence, describe another type of scientific evidence that scientists have found for human evolution. From a scientific perspective, why is it important to have multiple or independent lines of evidence for human evolution?

<insert your answer here>

 

Part III: Conclusions and Reflections

Short-Answer Questions (all which will be answered directly into this report template):

·       Trends and Patterns: What are the major patterns in physical and cultural traits of hominins revealed in the fossil record? How did hominins change over time?

<insert your answer here>

·       Science and Human Evolution: How do the new finds demonstrate how the scientific method is applied in updating our knowledge and understanding of human evolution?

<insert your answer here>

 

Part IV: Bibliography

·       Please list all sources used to prepare this report (including course materials, internet sites, etc). Present in APA style.

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