Lesson 1: Biological and Cultural

Evolution:
From Australopithecus to
Homo Sapiens
Biological Evolution
• It refers to the changes, modifications, and
variations in the genetics and inherited traits of
biological populations from one generation to
another.
• Scientists study the changes in the physical
body of humans, the changes in the shape
and size of their bones.
 Cultural Evolution
• It refers to the changes or development in
cultures from a simple form to a more complex
form of human culture.
• Scientist study the cultural evolution of
humans by analysing the changes in the
latter’s way of life.
CHARLES DARWIN
The evolution of species happens through
the process of natural selection.
 NATURAL SELECTION
• The reason for occurrence of evolution.
• The outcome processes that affect the
frequencies of traits in a particular environment.
Traits that enhance survival and reproductive
success increase in frequency over time.
 NATURAL SELECTION:
THREE PRINCIPLES
Variations
Every species is made up of a variety of
individuals wherein some are adopted to their
environments compared to others.

Heritability
Organisms produce progeny with different sets
of traits that can inherited.
Differential reproductive success
 Organisms that have traits most suitable to
their environment will survive and transfer
these variations to their offspring in
subsequent generations.
 HOMINIDS
 The general term used to categorize the
group of early humans and other humanlike
creatures that can walk erect during the
prehistoric period.
 Four Categories of Hominids
 1. Sahelanthropus 3. Australopithecus

 2. Ardipithecus
 1. Sahelanthropus tchadensis
 6-7 million years ago
 It had both apelike and humanlike
characteristics:
1. A skull similar to Australopithecus and
modern human.
2. Height almost similar with the chimpanzee
3. Brain size: 320-380 cc
4. Small teeth
5. Had the ability to walk upright
 Orrorin tugenensis Ardipithecus
5.7 million years ago 5.6 million years ago
 2. Ardipithecus “ape on the
ground”
Ardipithecus Kadabba Ardipithecus Ramidus
1. height about 4 feet
2. weight about 120 pounds
3. skull size similar to an ape
4. Small brain
5. Biped
6. lived in jungles and forests like chimpanzees
3.Australopithecus

(5 million- 1million years

ago)
“the Southern Ape”
 Characteristics
1. Brain size: 500 cc or almost 1/3 size of the
modern human brain
2. Upright
3. Biped
4. Tool users not tool makers
5. Food scavengers
There are 6 species of the Australopithecus
and they are divided into two major
categories:
 Gracile Australophitecus
Australophitecus afarensis
Australophitecus anamensis
Australophitecus africanus
 Australopithecus
Afarensis

Considered as one of modern human’s earliest ancestors and

remains as the most famous hominid fossil discovered. Named
“Lucy” discovered by Dr. Donald Johanson in Hadar, Ethiopia. (3.2
million yrs. ago)
 Robust Australophitecus
Australophitecus aethiopicus
Australophitecus robustus
Australophitecus boisei
 HOMO
 They are classified as humans and not
humanlike creatures because they had bigger
brains and were bipedal
HOMO HABILIS
HOMO ERECTUS

Large Brain size:

1,000cc
• Lived in shelters
• Food gatherers
• Crafted materials
Peking Man
Characteristics of the very early
hominins
 Sahelanthropus tchadensis
 Australopithcus genus
 A. ramidus, A.anamensis, A. afarensis, A.
Africanus
 Paranthropus genus
 P. aethiopcus, P. robustus, P. boisei
 Homo genus
 H. Habilis, H. erectus (asian), H. ergaster
(african), H. Heidelbergensis, H.
neanderthalis, H.sapiens idaltu, H.sapiens
Cultural Evolution trends
Sahelanthropus Lived in wooded areas
tchadensis Most of cultural evolution is pure speculation

Australopithecus Only debatable evidence that they made tools, and no

group evidence that they had home bases or shared food.
Probably opportunist feeders.

Paranthropus Some evidence they used bones or perhaps sticks to

genus dig up roots (this would leave no fossil evidence
though)
Evidence suggests robustus ate course, tough food
supplemented by small insects.
Cultural evolution trends
Homo genus Development of speech
Enabled by Broca’s area of the brain. First seen in
H.habilis.

Development of tool-making
H. habilis was known as the Handy man and made
Oldowan tools.
H. erectus used Acheulian tools and was known as
the Fire maker.
H.Neanderthalis used Mousterian tools and began to
attach stone tools to handles.
H. sapiens used advanced tools of flint and bone.
Used blades and points. Called Upper Palaeolithic
tools.
Cultural evolution trends
Homo genus Development of group living and culture
H. habilis – successful hunters, made shelters and
lived in bands of about 12 people
H. erectus - built shelters (huts) supported by wooden
poles, serious co-operative hunters
H. heidelbergensis – able to hunt large prey (rich diet
led to increased size), were cannibals, built shelters
and used fire
H. neanderthalis – intelligent, lived in caves, built
stone walls, dressed in hides, buried their dead, had
strong social bonds.
H. sapiens – skilled hunters, lived in large groups,
engraved and painted on walls, carved statues etc