"The Human Species" - Intro to Biological Anthropology Ch.14
Terms
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- Homo
- A genus of hominids characterized by large brain size and dependence on cultural as a means of adaptation.
- Homo Habilis
- A species of early Homo from Africa between 2 million and 1.5 million years ago, with a brain size roughly half that of modern humans and a primitive postcranial skeleton.
- Oldowan Tradition
- The oldest known stone tool culture.
- Homo Rudolfenisis
- A species of early Homo from Africa between 2 million years ago, with a brain size somewhat larger than H. Habilis.
- Endocast
- A cast of the interior of the brain case used in analyzing brain size and structure.
- Homo Erectus
- A species of early Homo that arose 2 million years ago, first appearing in Africa and then spreading to parts of Asia and Europe.
- Postorbital Constriction
- The narrowness of the skull behind the eye orbits, a characteristic of early hominids.
- Brow Ridges
- The large ridges of bone above the eye orbits, most noticeable in Homo Erectus and archaic humans.
- Acheulian Traditions
- Stone tool culture that appears first with Homo Erectus and is characterized by the development of hand axes and other bifacial tools.
- Biface
- Stone tools with both sides worked, producing greater symmetry and efficiency.
- Archaic Humans
- Specimens of Homo with brain size close to that of modern humans but with differently shaped skulls. There is considerable controversy over whether they are an earlier form of Homo Sapiens or represent different species.
- Neandertals
- A population of archaic humans that lived in Europe and the Middle East, dating between 150,000 and 28,000 years ago.
- Prepared-core Method
- An efficient method of stone tool manufacture in which a stone core is prepared and then finished tools are removed from it.
- Occipital Bun
- The protruding rear region of the skull, a feature commonly found in Neandertals.
- Mousterian Tradition
- The prepared-core stone tool technology of the Neandertals.