Fossil Analysis

Description

Using information about, primate and hominin anatomy and behaviors you will evaluate the description of a hypothetical fossil described below and explain to your reader what these skeletal characteristics tell you about the potential behavior of these fossilized skeletons.   Instructions Using the information [osteological data, paleoenvironmental data, stable isotope data and cultural data] presented above, you will analyze and discuss the following five behaviors/factors: Locomotion: How did they move about their environment? Diet: What kind of food did they eat? Territoriality over food? Tool Use: Did they use tools? If so, what kind of tools and what were they used for? Social Structure/Mating Pattern: Noyau, pair-bonded, polyandry, s-m polygyny, m-m polygyny? How many males/females mated and other possible behaviors (choice, mate-defense, promiscuity, dominance hierarchy, alpha-males regulating other male mating behavior, sneaker males etc…); Territoriality? Taxonomy: Are your fossils hominins? If so, assign them to a taxonomic group (genus, species). You can assume all of the skeletons belong to the same genus and species.  Use popper binomial nomenclature (i.e. yours is Homo sapiens)   *Please analyze each behavior/factor independently of all others!  Please head each section of your analysis with the behavior you are analyzing. NOTE: There will be overlap and repetition in your analysis, it is okay.     Instructions Continued When discussing the possible anatomical and social behaviors of these fossils, please consult your book and past lectures in the Primate and Hominin sections of the course.  It is here that you will find the information you need in order to explain the possible “behaviors” of your fossils.    Remember to support your discussion with evidence from the readings as well as the described skeletal characteristics above. Do not just list or briefly discuss possible anatomical/social behaviors. For example, if you think the rocks are tools, why do think so, how do you know? If you think these fossils are hominins how do you know this, what evidence (physical, environmental, cultural etc.) indicate this?    Useful readings include: Primate Social Systems/Communication Primate Mating Systems Primates as Models for Early Human Behavior Comparative Anatomy Reconstructing Ancient Environments, Locomotion and Diet Australopithecine and Early homo lectures Fossil Analysis You Found A Fossil! The year is 2020. You are a paleoanthropological graduate student working in east Africa. While excavating the Kibish Formation near the Omo River you and your team discover over two-hundred fossilized bones representing as many as 20 individuals.  The fossil remains include both adult males, females and juveniles.  The sediments date to between 2.8-3 million years old. Your first assessment suggests they could be possible human ancestors (hominins).   Osteological Data: Skull Centralized foramen magnum Brain size is around 600 cubic centimeters Face is prognathic (compared to humans but much less when compared to apes)   Dentition (Teeth): Mandible and maxilla  teeth show apical and occlusal (grinding) wear jaws lack diastemas jaws show medium-small canines  large flat molars with rounded cusps but only 50% larger than a modern humans  thick enamel The teeth show  a microscopic wear pattern of light scratching Post-cranial (below the skull) characteristics: The skeletons show arms slightly longer than their legs hands have small slightly curved phalanges Pelvis is bowl-like It has a short robust ilium that curves front to back It has a short robust ischium Femur with a long femoral neck bicondylar angle  obturator externus groove It has a robust tibia Foot with a convergent toe The male skeletons are approximately 20 percent larger than the female skeletons. Paleo-environmental Data Analysis of the fossilized pollen you collected from your site suggests the environment these fossils lived in consisted of pockets of wooded areas, interspersed throughout a very large, open grassy landscape. There are many predators including lions, hyenas, snakes, birds and even large bodied primates. The wooded areas offered a variety of trees and shrubs that appeal to a range of insects, birds and small mammals as well as fruits, grasses leaves and roots. Stable Isotope Data Stable isotope data from the teeth shows a C4 signature.    Cultural Data Located at the same site, you also found some rocks Some are thick, pebble-like with battered, sharp edges  Some are thinner, with sharp edges Others are round stones that fit in the hand but have evidence of percussion marks (small scars on the rock) The rocks are not uniform. They vary in size and shape. Near the rocks you found some highly fractured animal bones. You find a lot of  leg bones  skulls Under a microscope you see that the animal leg and skull bones show long abrasions  some of the abrasions have a V-shaped shape to them on top of many of the V-shaped abrasions, there are abrasions with sides that are parallel to each other.