13 Chapter Homo sapiens and the evolution of modern Human Behavior
Upper Paleolithic-The period from about 45 kya to about 10 kya in Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia. The tool kits from
this period are dominated by blades.
Blade-A stone tool, made from a flake, that is at least twice as long as it is wide. Blades dominate the tool traditions of the Upper
Paleolithic.
Mode 4-A category of stone tools in which blades are common. Mode 4 tools are found in some Middle Stone Age industries in
Africa, and they predominate in the Upper Paleolithic industries of Europe.
Mitochondrial DNA-(mtDNA) DNA in the mitochondria that is particularly useful for evolutionary analyses, for two reasons: (1)
mitochondria are inherited only from the mother, and thus there is no recombination, and (2) mtDNA accumulates mutations at
relatively high rates, thus serving as a more accurate molecular clock for recent changes (last few million years).
Mitochondrion-(mitochondria, pl.) A cellular organelle that is involved in basic energy processing.
Chatelperronian-(mitochondria, pl.) A cellular organelle that is involved in basic energy processing.
Middle Stone Age-The stone tool industries of subSaharan Africa and southern and eastern Asia that existed 250 to 40 kya. The
MSA is the counterpart of the Middle
Later Stone Age-The tool industries found in Africa that correspond in age and type to the Upper Paleolithic industries in Europe.
Mode 5-A category of stone tools in which microliths are common. The African Later Stone Age industries are typified by Mode
5 tools.
Synonymous substitution-Substitution of one nucleotide for another in a DNA sequence that does not change the amino acid
coded for. Compare nonsynonymous substitution.
Nonsynonymous substitution-Substitution of one nucleotide for another in a DNA sequence that changes the amino acid coded
for. Compare synonymous substitution.
Chapter 13
Modern Humans characterized by small face and teeth; a pointed chin; a high rounded cranium and less robust
postcranium
*relatively long limbs and short trunks with cranial capacity of at least 1350 cc.
Genetic Features of Modern Homo Sapiens
Humans and chimpanzees differ in about 1% of nucleotides (30 million nucleotides and 5 million insertions and
deletions)
Transposable elements are also involved which account for 3% of overall difference
Also protein coding genes differ between humans and chimps
Percentage of DNA that differs differ from percentage of genes that differ
Only 29% have same sequence 71% protein difference
4.4% have positive selection sense of smell-60; human-40
And FOXP2 gene
Negative selection-selection against/over mutants HAR1-great selection in humans
Archaelogical Evidence for Modern Human Behavior
1st Homo Sapiens-Ecological range, technology, social organization, and symbolic expression
*earliest Australians 40k exhibited cultural behaviors
(Upper Paleolithic-45kya more modern tools in Western Eurasia)
Australians use polished stone tools, have burials, have Upper Paleolithic tools and were generally colonized in
Sahul with the use of boats
Upper Paleolithic Technology and Culture
Blades appear (look like modern knife blades)---Mode 4 tools emphasize Blades
Blades took more time to make although more useful and sophisticated
Diverse types of tools but same kinds of tools (chisels, scrapers, burins-for engraving, drills, etc)
--more mental representation of tool than rather relying on the material
Solutrean-exquisite blades in France-symmetric laurel shaped blades
-also great use of bones in Upper Paleolitihic
Industries and tools varied over time
1st (Aurignacian- widespread in Europe 35kya-large blades, burins, and points); 27kya-Gravettian-small-parallelsided blades with bone awls; 16kyaSolutrean and finally Magdelian)
Achulean-roughly unchanged for 1mya
***Tool resources were transported from miles away and as a result of a more complex tool kit they could exploit
(large herbivores like horses, mammoths, rhinoceroses, bears, and wolves)
(also developed more complex forms of shelter than Neanderthals)
Domestication of dogs-Russia-17kya
3 MAIN EVIDENCE POINTS FOR UPPER PALEOLITHIC
(lived at higher population densities, lived longer than Neanderthals, less serious injury
(cultural activities of COURSE)
THE ORIGIN AND SPREAD OF MODERN HUMANS
Heterogenous hominins (Neanderthaals and the others spread throughout Europe, Middle East and Africa)
Evolution (200-100kya) ; 60kya the new species spread throughout the world and left little gene flow
GENETIC DATA
(Southern coast of Asia and moved to northwest Europe
Y gene and mtDNA give clues to more exotic DNA
95% of DNA on Y chromosome does not recombine with X and it consists of long stretches of repeated sequences
Mitochondria contain .05% of DNA contained in chromosomes
-no recombination in mtDNA because people only inherit mothers mtDNA
Human species less genetically variable than other specieschimps for i.e.; small genetic variation from about
10,000 originals
(Drift and mutation)
Mutation introduces differences at low rates; drift takes it out (quickly in small pops. Slowly in large pops.) (larger
amount of genetic variation in large pops. at equilibrium m=2Nu
(Spread throughout mtDNA because no recombination and easier to spread)
*Geographic patterns of genetic variation are consistent with expansion of human populations out of Africa
Microsattelite loci-noncoding, repetitive, and highly variable DNA sequences
Amount of phenotypic variation decreases farther away from Africa (not as strong as relationship between genetic
variation and geographical distance)
DNA without recombination can be traced back to a single personNRY thingif no sons than surname is lost
EVE-mtdna; Adam-NRY--- younger than EVE
Mutations have to occur frequently for distinction and allows for measures of genetic distance
Longer branches more distant than shorter branches
Nuclear genes-younger dates than proteins
Neanderthal DNA and Humans (800-400kya)
mtDNA 130kya or 5 people 30kya
Evidence from Fossils and Tool Kits
Oldest modern human fossils 190kya
Modern people appeared in middle east and Africa long before Neanderthaals disappeared
Archaelogical Data suggest Upper Paleolithic
*Chatelperronian-Neanderthals borrowing
Modern Human Behavior Evolution or Revolution?
What appears to be a revolution between 250-60kya is actually just Africans beating away the Neanders.
250-40kya-Mode 3 tools-MSA much like Mousterian tools
(human behavior changed convergently
LSA-microlithis-small flakes
MODE 5
(spears and axes)
LSA were just like Upper Paleoliths but also blade technology in MSA (maybe intrusion from Modern Sites)
HOW MODERN HUMAN BEHAVIOR EVOLVED
Change may be nondetectable, and by technological advance that gave rise to larger groups, and they could have
evolved in Africa culturally and genetically