Scientific Evidence for Human Evolution

See attached file for full problem description.

Question 1. Simplified time chart of primate evolution

a) Refer to the chart above and name the two most primitive primate lines. (No need to explain, just refer to the chart above in your answer).

b) Between 15 and 25 million years ago (mya) a major differentiation occurred in primate evolution. What was this and what did it give rise to? (4 lines is sufficient here).

Question 2. Study the hominid skulls shown below.

a) Describe two changes to the skull that have occurred in the evolution of modern humans.

b) For each change, suggest one reason why it has occurred.

c) Discuss the importance of diet in the evolution of the brain.

d) For any two of the hominid species listen below, give one significant cultural or biological development that occurred during that species' time span and describe the evolutionary significance the development gave to that species.
i. Australopithecus anamensis
ii. Homo habilis
iii. Homo erectus
iv. Homo neanderthalensis

Question 3. The greatest increase in cultural evolution began with the Neanderethals.

a) Describe the significance for hominid cultural evolution of:
i. tools and pollen from a range of flowering plants found with Neanderthal skeletons
ii. Neanderthal skeletons found with severe skeletal injuries that had healed before death. (Write about 5 lines here)

b) Choose two of the following developments. For each development, describe two ways in which it contributed to the cultural evolution of hominids:
i. cooperative hunting
ii. domestication of plants and animals
iii. development of tools
iv. creating shelters
v. control of fire.

Question 4.

a) In the table below write the name of the hominid species which is associated with the development of each tool culture.
Hominids to choose from (there are more than are required): Homo sapiens; Australopithecus africanus; Homo erectus; Homo neanderthalensis; Homo habilis; Australopithecus anamensis.
Tool cultures: Mousterian, Oldowan, Acheulian, Upper Palaeolithic

b) Describe three ways that the development of these tools contributed to the cultural evolution of hominids.

Question 5. Great developments in tool use by Homo spp. occurred in Europe during the upper Palaeolithic.

Explain any link between environmental change and cultural evolution during this time. (Write at least 6 lines here).