8. Modern Homo

2019 ◽  
pp. 105-119
Author(s):  
Bernard Wood
Keyword(s):  
Homo Sapiens ◽  
Modern Humans ◽  
Fossil Evidence ◽  
The World ◽  
Anatomically Modern Humans

‘Modern Homo’ considers evidence about the origin and subsequent migrations of anatomically modern humans, or Homo sapiens. What features of the skeleton are only found in modern humans? When and where do we find the earliest fossil evidence of modern humans? Did the change from pre-modern Homo to modern humans happen several times and in several different regions of the world? Or did anatomically modern humans emerge just once, in one place, and then spread out, either by migration or by interbreeding, so that modern humans eventually replaced regional populations of pre-modern Homo across the world?

scholarly journals Evolution, revolution or saltation scenario for the emergence of modern cultures?

2011 ◽  
Vol 366 (1567) ◽  
pp. 1060-1069 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco d'Errico ◽  
Chris B. Stringer
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Change ◽  
Cultural Transmission ◽  
Homo Sapiens ◽  
Genetic Mutation ◽  
Modern Humans ◽  
The Third ◽  
Anatomically Modern Humans ◽  
Modern Cognition ◽  
New Evidence ◽  
The Relationship

Crucial questions in the debate on the origin of quintessential human behaviours are whether modern cognition and associated innovations are unique to our species and whether they emerged abruptly, gradually or as the result of a discontinuous process. Three scenarios have been proposed to account for the origin of cultural modernity. The first argues that modern cognition is unique to our species and the consequence of a genetic mutation that took place approximately 50 ka in Africa among already evolved anatomically modern humans. The second posits that cultural modernity emerged gradually in Africa starting at least 200 ka in concert with the origin of our species on that continent. The third states that innovations indicative of modern cognition are not restricted to our species and appear and disappear in Africa and Eurasia between 200 and 40 ka before becoming fully consolidated. We evaluate these scenarios in the light of new evidence from Africa, Asia and Europe and explore the mechanisms that may have led to modern cultures. Such reflections will demonstrate the need for further inquiry into the relationship between climate and demographic/cultural change in order to better understand the mechanisms of cultural transmission at work in Neanderthals and early Homo sapiens populations.

scholarly journals The châtelperronian Neandertals of Cova Foradada (Calafell, Spain) used Iberian imperial eagle phalanges for symbolic purposes

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Rodríguez-Hidalgo ◽  
Juan Ignacio Morales ◽  
Artur Cebriá ◽  
Lloyd A. Courtenay ◽  
Juan L. Fernández-Marchena ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Time Scale ◽  
Homo Sapiens ◽  
Specific Area ◽  
Upper Paleolithic ◽  
Middle Paleolithic ◽  
Modern Humans ◽  
Cultural Elements ◽  
Mediterranean Europe ◽  
Anatomically Modern Humans ◽  
Imperial Eagle

The use of personal ornaments by Neandertals is one of the scarce evidence of their symbolic behaviour. Among them stand up the eagle talons used presumably as pendants, in an analogous way than anatomically Modern Humans (Homo sapiens) did. Considering the broad range and time scale of Neandertals distribution across Eurasia, this phenomenon seems to be concentrated in a very specific area of Southwestern-Mediterranean Europe during a span of ca. 80 ka. Here we present the analysis of one pedal phalange of a large eagle recovered in Foradada cave site, Spain. Our research confirms the use of eagle talons as symbolic elements in Iberia, expanding geographically and temporally one of the most common evidence of symbolic behaviour among western European Neandertals. The convergence in use of large raptor talons as symbolic elements by one of the last Neandertal populations raises the survival of some cultural elements of the Middle Paleolithic into beginnings of the Upper Paleolithic.

scholarly journals Bones of Contention: Assorted Hypotheses on the Fate of the Neanderthals

1986 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Heilingbrunner
Keyword(s):  
Homo Sapiens ◽  
Near East ◽  
Morphological Evolution ◽  
Short Interval ◽  
Upper Paleolithic ◽  
Middle Paleolithic ◽  
Modern Humans ◽  
Anatomically Modern Humans

The disappearance of Homo sapiens neanderthalensis at the end of the Middle Paleolithic has evoked a plethora of explanations, ranging from carefully supported theories to bizarre or romantic speculation. The processes by which the Neanderthals were replaced by anatomically modern humans occurred in a relatively short interval of time, and have been obscured by a wide variety of disturbances. A review of some of the inferences drawn by various researchers tentatively suggests a combination of in situ technological and morphological evolution in the Near East with movement of Upper Paleolithic genes and technology into Europe.

scholarly journals Quantifying the potential causes of Neanderthal extinction: abrupt climate change versus competition and interbreeding

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Axel Timmermann
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Homo Sapiens ◽  
Volcanic Eruptions ◽  
Homo Erectus ◽  
Ice Age ◽  
Abrupt Climate Change ◽  
Modern Humans ◽  
Climatic Environment ◽  
Anatomically Modern Humans ◽  
Last Ice Age

Anatomically Modern Humans are the sole survivor of a group of hominins that inhabited our planet during the last ice age and that included, among others, Homo neanderthalensis, Homo denisova, and Homo erectus. Whether previous hominin extinctions were triggered by external factors, such as abrupt climate change, volcanic eruptions or whether competition and interbreeding played major roles in their demise still remains unresolved. Here I present a spatially resolved numerical hominin dispersal model (HDM) with empirically constrained key parameters that simulates the migration and interaction of Anatomically Modern Humans and Neanderthals in the rapidly varying climatic environment of the last ice age. The model simulations document that rapid temperature and vegetation changes associated with Dansgaard-Oeschger events were not major drivers of global Neanderthal extinction between 50-35 thousand years ago, but played important roles regionally, in particular over northern Europe. According to a series of parameter sensitivity experiments conducted with the HDM, a realistic extinction of the Neanderthal population can only be simulated when Homo sapiens is chosen to be considerably more effective in exploiting scarce glacial food resources as compared to Neanderthals.

Ancient Digs and Modern Myths: The Age and Context of the Kent's Cavern 4 Maxilla and the EarliestHomo sapiensSpecimens in Europe

2012 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 392-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark White ◽  
Paul Pettitt
Keyword(s):  
Homo Sapiens ◽  
Taxonomic Status ◽  
Detailed Examination ◽  
Modern Human ◽  
Northern Europe ◽  
Bayesian Modelling ◽  
Modern Humans ◽  
Human Presence ◽  
Human Fossil ◽  
Anatomically Modern Humans

Recent anatomical analyses of a human maxilla found in 1927 in the Vestibule at Kent's Cavern, Devon, UK, have been interpreted as confirming its taxonomic status asHomo sapiens, while Bayesian modelling of dated fauna apparently ‘associated’ with it has been interpreted as suggesting a calendar age for the maxilla of around 44,200–41,500 years BP, rendering it the earliest fossil evidence for modern human presence in Northern Europe. In this paper, we examine fully the circumstances of the maxilla's discovery, data not previously considered. Based mostly on archival and limited published materials, as well as knowledge of the cave's stratigraphy, we provide a detailed examination of the context of the maxilla and associated finds. We urge caution over using a small selected sample of fauna from an old and poorly executed excavation in Kent's Cavern to provide a radiocarbon stratigraphy and age for a human fossil that cannot be dated directly, and we suggest that the recent dating should be rejected. We place our evaluation in the wider context of the dating of European early anatomically modern humans.

Migration

2018 ◽  
pp. 358-382
Author(s):  
Sucheng Chan
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Homo Sapiens ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
The Other ◽  
Migration Routes ◽  
Empire Building ◽  
Forced Migrations ◽  
The World ◽  
Anatomically Modern Humans ◽  
Out Of Africa

Migration has played a critical role in human survival on Earth since prehistoric times. Archaeologists, anthropologists, linguists, geneticists, and climatologists now agree that anatomically modern humans, Homo sapiens, originated in Africa. It took approximately 70,000 years for them to disperse out of Africa to populate the other habitable continents. Climate change and geography determined their migration routes. Historically, there have been more involuntary migrations than voluntary ones. Empire-building and wars were the two main contexts for forced migrations; in contrast, large-scale socioeconomic developments, particularly differences among various regions of the world, provide the contexts for voluntary migrations. This chapter discusses both forms of migration.

The Human Symbolic Revolution: A Darwinian Account

1995 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Knight ◽  
Camilla Power ◽  
Ian Watts
Keyword(s):  
Present Article ◽  
Art Song ◽  
Homo Sapiens ◽  
Rock Art ◽  
Late Archaic ◽  
Modern Humans ◽  
Archaeological Evidence ◽  
Darwinian Theory ◽  
Anatomically Modern Humans

By 50,000 years ago, the effects of a ‘symbolic explosion’ — an efflorescence of human art, song, dance and ritual — were rippling across the globe. Applied to archaeological evidence, standard neo-Darwinian theory offers new understandings of this improbable event. The present article defines ‘symbolism’, models quasi-ritual behaviour in late archaic Homo sapiens, extends the argument to the emergence of anatomically modern humans and concludes with preliminary tests against archaeological, ethnographic and rock art data.

scholarly journals Modern human origins: progress and prospects

2002 ◽  
Vol 357 (1420) ◽  
pp. 563-579 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Stringer
Keyword(s):  
Homo Sapiens ◽  
Genetic Data ◽  
Modern Human ◽  
Human Origins ◽  
African Origin ◽  
Modern Humans ◽  
Modern Human Origins ◽  
Fossil Evidence ◽  
Behavioural Characteristics ◽  
Origin Of Modern Humans

The question of the mode of origin of modern humans ( Homo sapiens ) has dominated palaeoanthropological debate over the last decade. This review discusses the main models proposed to explain modern human origins, and examines relevant fossil evidence from Eurasia, Africa and Australasia. Archaeological and genetic data are also discussed, as well as problems with the concept of ‘modernity’ itself. It is concluded that a recent African origin can be supported for H. sapiens , morphologically, behaviourally and genetically, but that more evidence will be needed, both from Africa and elsewhere, before an absolute African origin for our species and its behavioural characteristics can be established and explained.

scholarly journals When didHomo sapiensfirst reach Southeast Asia and Sahul?

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (34) ◽  
pp. 8482-8490 ◽  
Author(s):  
James F. O’Connell ◽  
Jim Allen ◽  
Martin A. J. Williams ◽  
Alan N. Williams ◽  
Chris S. M. Turney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southeast Asia ◽  
South China ◽  
Homo Sapiens ◽  
Region Of Interest ◽  
New Guinea ◽  
Archaeological Site ◽  
Southwest Asia ◽  
Modern Humans ◽  
Archaeological Data ◽  
Anatomically Modern Humans

Anatomically modern humans (Homo sapiens, AMH) began spreading across Eurasia from Africa and adjacent Southwest Asia about 50,000–55,000 years ago (ca. 50–55 ka). Some have argued that human genetic, fossil, and archaeological data indicate one or more prior dispersals, possibly as early as 120 ka. A recently reported age estimate of 65 ka for Madjedbebe, an archaeological site in northern Sahul (Pleistocene Australia–New Guinea), if correct, offers what might be the strongest support yet presented for a pre–55-ka African AMH exodus. We review evidence for AMH arrival on an arc spanning South China through Sahul and then evaluate data from Madjedbebe. We find that an age estimate of >50 ka for this site is unlikely to be valid. While AMH may have moved far beyond Africa well before 50–55 ka, data from the region of interest offered in support of this idea are not compelling.

The problem of sex in the religions of the Abrahamic tradition

2001 ◽  
pp. 29-36
Author(s):  
N. Nedzelska
Keyword(s):  
Homo Sapiens ◽  
Gender Issues ◽  
First Person ◽  
Important Place ◽  
The World ◽  
Religious Systems

The paradox of the existence of the species Homo sapiens is that we do not even know: Who are we? Why are we? Where did you go from? Why? At all times - from antiquity to our time - the philosophers touched on this topic. It takes an important place in all religions of the world. These eternal questions include gender issues. In the religious systems of the religions of the Abrahamic tradition there is no single answer to the question of which sex was the first person. Recently, British scientists have even tried to prove that Eve is 84 thousand years older Adam

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