SOCIOLOGY

THE HUMAN EVOLUTION

 EVOLUTIONARY BACKGROUND

• The universe is about 10 billion years old

• Its main visible components are over 100
billion galaxies
• Each galaxy has around 200-400 billion stars
• Milky Way galaxy houses the Solar System
where the Earth and everything therein is
found
 WHO WE ARE NOW
• Sociability. Living in groups with degree of
affection and interactions

• Intelligence. Higher capacity of learning

and doing.

• Sensitivity (Hands). Precise grip and

flexibility.

• Vocality. Calling and chattering and the

capacity for language.
 WHO WE ARE NOW
• Acute Eyesight. Color vision and
stereoscopic though other senses poorly
developed.

• Upright Posture. Bipedal.

• Lasting Bond. Not dependent on season

but for stable and lasting bonds.

• Long Dependence. Infants long period of

dependence among adults to acquire
cultural knowledge
 THE GREAT QUESTIONS

• How did these happen?

• Where did we come from?

 SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT

• Creationism. A religious belief that the earth and the

people herein are the creation/work of a supernatural
being

• Evolutionism. A belief that new species, simple to complex,

arise and are perpetuated (variation, heredity, and survival)

• Theistic creationism/Evolutionary creation. Evolution is real,

but that it was set in motion by God…
 HOMINIDS
• The human family is defined as Hominids
• Hominids are characterized by several features:
locomotion (how we move), position (upright
bipedal), structure (a large reorganized brain,
along with a diminished face and teeth), and
capability (usage and construction of tools) -
(Wicander and Monroe, 1993)
• Climatic changes, around 24 million years ago,
may have been responsible for the development
of the characteristics of Hominids (Wicander and
Monroe 1993)
 AUTRALOPITHECUS LINEAGE
• Australopithecus afarensis
Our most ancient ancestor is
Australopithecus afarensis. They lived
roughly 4 - 2.75 million years ago. “Lucy"
is the skeleton remains of an
Australopithecus afarensis which has
made us aware of this species. Males and
females show a considerable difference
in size, varying from 1 - 1.7 m in height
and from 25 - 50 kg in weight. This
bipedal ancestor had a brain capacity
that fluctuated from 380 - 450 cc.
(Wicander and Monroe, 1993)
AUTRALOPITHECUS LINEAGE

• Australopithecus africanus
Inhabited the earth roughly 3 - 1.6 million
years ago. The characteristic difference
between the Ausrtalopithicus afarenis and
africanus is the height and brain capacity.
The height of the africanus is 1.4 m and
the brain capacity is approximately 400 -
600 cc. Smaller incisor teeth and a slightly
flatter face are also noted. Sticks, and
stones were most likely used to gather
food by the Australopithecus africanus.
(Wicander and Monroe 1993)
 AUTRALOPITHECUS LINEAGE
• Australopithecus robustus
The Australopithecus robustus dates from
approximately 2.3 - 1.3 million years ago. The
difference between Ausrtalopithecus robustus and
both afarensis and africanus becomes apparent in
the comparison of their structure. Australopithecus
robustus had an average height of 1.5 m and
weighed 45 kg on average. As well as a larger bone
structure, the Australopithecus robustus also had a
larger cranium capacity ranging from 500 - 600 cc,
housed by an large skull. (Wicander and Monroe
1993)

Like most of the Australopithecus, robustus had a flat

face. It's muscular jaw and flat, almost molar-like
teeth seemed to imply that the Australopithecus was
likely a vegetarian (Wicander and Monroe 1993)
AUTRALOPITHECUS LINEAGE
• Australpithecus boisei
Australopithecus boisei inhabited eastern
Africa approximately 2.5 - 1.2 million years
ago. The Australopithecus boisei's skull is
similar to that of the Australopithecus
robustus, in which they both have a distinct
ridge on the top of their skulls.
Australopithecus boisei has a relatively level
face and possesses an extremely large jaw
which coincides with their wide teeth.
(Wicander and Monroe 1993)
 HUMAN LINEAGE

• Homo habilis
Homo habilis (also known as "handy
man") used primitive stone tools. The
flat face and large molars of the Homo
habilis resemble the Australopithecus
lineage. The brain size of the Homo
habilis is about 700 cc (larger than the
Australopithecus). An "apelike" (long
arms and a small body) body structure
was characteristic of the Homo habilis.
(Wicander and Monroe 1993)
 HUMAN LINEAGE
• Homo erectus
The first species to migrate from Africa during the Pleistocene
glacial period was Homo erectus. This species was widely
disbursed in the time frame of 1.8 - 1 million years ago. They
inhabited the regions of southeastern and eastern Asia until
approximately 300 000 years ago. Europe, India, China and
Indonesia have all yielded evidence of Homo erectus. (Wicander
and Monroe 1993 )

Characteristics of Homo erectus are a brain capacity of 800 - 1300

cc, a large face and thick skull, brow ridges and a forehead that
recedes. "Tukana Boy" was an African discovery, which shows that
Homo erectus had a similar body size to humans. The period that
this boy lived in was 1.6 million years ago. (Wicander and Monroe
1993)

Being able to construct tools, such as handaxes, was within the

capacity of Homo erectus. Homo erectus, according to some
studies, made use of fire and occupied caves. (Wicander and
Monroe 1993)
 HUMAN LINEAGE

• Homo sapiens
The evolution of Homo sapiens commenced
approximately 200 000 - 300 000 years ago. The
Homo sapiens structure is similar to that of the
Homo erectus, yet Homo sapiens skulls were slightly
rounder and larger. Their teeth and jaws were
noticeably smaller, which corresponds with, they're
fragile face. The Homo sapiens brain capacity
averaged an impressive 1 350 cc, surprisingly the
same size of todays humans. (Wicander and Monroe
1993)
HUMAN LINEAGE
• Neanderthals
The skull of a Neanderthal was not only low and long but
had a heavy, notable brow. Its mouth projected above its
chin, which receded. (Wicander and Monroe 1993)
In the Carreze region of South Western France in 1908, a
Neanderthal skeleton was located. The image of "a
hulking dim-witted brute who shuffled along with a bent-
kneed walk of an ape," was incorrect. "severe hip
arthritis, a broken rib and diseased vertebrae" caused
this Neanderthal to walk bent over. (Wicander and
Monroe 1993)
Caves and shelters made of rocks have been the
discovery location of Neanderthal skeletons. Weapons
and tools made from stone have also been found in
these places. Archeology findings shows that the injured
and dead were cared for and buried by Neanderthals.
(Wicander and Monroe 1993)
 HUMAN LINEAGE
• Cro-magnon
Approximately 35 000 years ago, cro-magnons,
moved into the Neanderthal region of what is today
known as France. Within the time from 35 000 - 10
000 years ago the evolution of art and technological
innovations becomes apparent. Cro-magnons used
paints composed from manganese and iron oxides to
paint the walls and ceilings of their caves through-
out what is today called France and Spain. Many of
these beautiful paintings have been preseved and
can still be seen. During the seasonal migration of
herds, the Cro-magnons used cunning hunting skills
and tools to kill their prey. They managed to develop
extremely advanced tools for hunting (possibly even
a bow and arrow). The Cro-magnon dwelled
primarily in caves or rock shelters in groups.
(Wicander and Monroe 1993)
Lascaux is famous LASCAUX CAVE ART
for its Palaeolithic
cave paintings,
found in a complex
of caves in the
Dordogne region of
southwestern France
because of their
exceptional quality,
size, sophistication
and antiquity.

Estimated to be up
to 20,000 years old,
the paintings consist
primarily of large
animals, once native
to the region
 NEW LOCAL EVIDENCES

• Tabon Man
Tabon Man refers to fossilized anatomically
modern human remains discovered in the
Tabon Caves in Lipuun Point in Quezon,
Palawan (Philippines) on May 28, 1962 by Dr.
Robert B. Fox, an American anthropologist of
the National Museum of the Philippines.
These remains, the fossilized fragments of a
skull and jawbone of three individuals of
47,000 years, were believed to be the earliest
human remains known in the Philippines
 NEW LOCAL EVIDENCES

• Callao Man
Callao man refers to fossilized remains discovered in Callao
Cave, Penablanca, Cagayan (Philippines) in 2007 by Armand
Salvador Mijares. Specifically, the find consisted of a single 61-
millimeter metatarsal which, when dated using uranium series
ablation, was found to be at least about 67,000 years old. It is
one of the oldest human remains in the Asia Pacific. It has been
noted by researchers that Callao Man was probably under four
feet tall. Researchers also believe that Aetas, mountain dwellers
today in Luzon, could be descendants of Callao Man.
HOW THEN COULD THIS HAPPEN?