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Experimental archaeology and hominid evolution: establishing a methodology for determining handedness in lithic materials as a proxy for cognitive evolution
Title
Experimental archaeology and hominid evolution: establishing a methodology for determining handedness in lithic materials as a proxy for cognitive evolution.
Creator
Ruck, Lana, Broadfield, Douglas C., Florida Atlantic University, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
Abstract/Description
Human handedness is likely related to brain lateralization and major cognitive innovations in human evolution. Identifying handedness in the archaeological record is, therefore, an important step in understanding our cognitive evolution. This thesis reports on experiments in identifying knapper handedness in lithic debitage. I conducted a blind study on flakes (n=631) from Acheulean handaxes replicated by right- and left-handed flintknappers. Several flake characteristics significantly...
Show moreHuman handedness is likely related to brain lateralization and major cognitive innovations in human evolution. Identifying handedness in the archaeological record is, therefore, an important step in understanding our cognitive evolution. This thesis reports on experiments in identifying knapper handedness in lithic debitage. I conducted a blind study on flakes (n=631) from Acheulean handaxes replicated by right- and left-handed flintknappers. Several flake characteristics significantly indicated handedness, with a binary logistic regression correctly predicting handedness for 71.7% of the flakes. However, other characteristics were not associated with handedness. This is a result of personal knapping styles, as additional analyses show that individual knappers associate with some attributes better than handedness does. Continued work on these methodologies will enable analysis of Paleolithic assemblages in the future, with the ultimate goal of tracking population-level hominid handedness rates through time and using them as a proxy for cognitive evolution and language acquisition.
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Date Issued
2014
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004325, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004325
Subject Headings
Archaeology, Brain -- Evolution, Cerebral dominance, Cognition and culture, Flintknapping, Fossil hominids, Human evolution, Laterality
Format
Document (PDF)
Morphometrics and multi-landmark depth analysis of the proximal hallucal metatarsal articular surface in hominoid
Title
Morphometrics and multi-landmark depth analysis of the proximal hallucal metatarsal articular surface in hominoid.
Creator
Proctor, Daniel J., Florida Atlantic University, Broadfield, Douglas C.
Abstract/Description
Three dimensional morphometrics and analysis of surface depths and breadths are used to compare the proximal articular surface of the first metatarsal among and between Homo sapiens, Pan troglodytes, Gorilla, Hylobates, and Pongo. Casts of the fossils AL 333-54, STX 5017 and OH 8 are analyzed in light of the data gathered. Significant differences in morphology exist between these species; the most extreme morphologies exhibited are in Homo and Hylobates. While the OH 8 articular surface is...
Show moreThree dimensional morphometrics and analysis of surface depths and breadths are used to compare the proximal articular surface of the first metatarsal among and between Homo sapiens, Pan troglodytes, Gorilla, Hylobates, and Pongo. Casts of the fossils AL 333-54, STX 5017 and OH 8 are analyzed in light of the data gathered. Significant differences in morphology exist between these species; the most extreme morphologies exhibited are in Homo and Hylobates. While the OH 8 articular surface is essentially indistinguishable from Homo sapiens, AL 333-54 and STX 5017 show a mosaic of human-like and ape-like traits, which indicates the retention of the ability to abduct and rotate the hallux. The cast of AL 333-54 shows many similarities to Gorilla, while demonstrating many changes in line with Homo . The cast of STX 5017 retains a surface morphology much like Gorilla and Pan, with fewer similarities to Homo compared to AL 333-54.
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Date Issued
2005
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/13196
Subject Headings
Morphology--Statistical methods, Human evolution, Fossil lominids, Foot--Morphology, Foot--Evolution
Format
Document (PDF)
timing of growth spurts in Neanderthals
Title
The timing of growth spurts in Neanderthals.
Creator
Lupo, Amy C., Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
Abstract/Description
The timing of skeletal growth spurts in modern humans is unique among mammals. In modern humans, peak growth occurs after puberty during the adolescent period, whereas large-bodied non-human primates exhibit an earlier juvenile growth spurt. Based on limited data, previous researchers have suggested that Neanderthals experienced a late, modern human-like adolescent growth spurt. In this study, I examined the timing of stature and facial growth spurts in Neanderthals to test the hypothesis...
Show moreThe timing of skeletal growth spurts in modern humans is unique among mammals. In modern humans, peak growth occurs after puberty during the adolescent period, whereas large-bodied non-human primates exhibit an earlier juvenile growth spurt. Based on limited data, previous researchers have suggested that Neanderthals experienced a late, modern human-like adolescent growth spurt. In this study, I examined the timing of stature and facial growth spurts in Neanderthals to test the hypothesis that Neanderthals grew like modern humans. In order to assess the timing of Neanderthal growth spurts, I plotted a non-human primate regression estimate of age at puberty onto Neanderthal stature and mandibular velocity growth curves. The mandibular growth curve exhibits a discernible growth spurt after puberty, reminiscent of the modern human adolescent growth spurt. Future research on additional regions of the skeleton is necessary to further refine this estimate for the timing of Neanderthal growth spurts.
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Date Issued
2010
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/1930487
Subject Headings
Neanderthal race, Human evolution, Fossil hominids, Anthropometry, Physical anthropology
Format
Document (PDF)
Paranthropus face
Title
The Paranthropus face: examining a developmental model.
Creator
Burdelsky, Brittany A., Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
Abstract/Description
The Paranthropus head is characterized by features traditionally thought to be related to heavy chewing. McCollum [Science 284 (1999) : 301-305] proposed that palatal thickening is a response to developmental integration between the mandibular ramus, oral and nasal functional matrices, and the vomer, which inserts onto the premaxilla in Paranthropus and causes the palate to thicken instead of rotate during vertical expansion. I tested whether palate thickness increases as a byproduct of...
Show moreThe Paranthropus head is characterized by features traditionally thought to be related to heavy chewing. McCollum [Science 284 (1999) : 301-305] proposed that palatal thickening is a response to developmental integration between the mandibular ramus, oral and nasal functional matrices, and the vomer, which inserts onto the premaxilla in Paranthropus and causes the palate to thicken instead of rotate during vertical expansion. I tested whether palate thickness increases as a byproduct of differential increases in the sizes of the oral and nasal functional matrices compared to growth in the mandibular ramus. To do so, I collected 3D volume and landmark data from computed tomography (CT) scans of extant (Homo sapiens, Pan troglodytes, Gorilla gorilla, Pongo pygmaeus) and extinct taxa (Australopithecus and Paranthropus), and tested counterpart relationships for bones in the cranium using scaling analyses. Results suggest that developmental constraints related to growth counterpart relationships in the skulll are unlikely to affect palate thickness in the genus Paranthropus.
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Date Issued
2012
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3358331
Subject Headings
Physical anthropology, Fossil hominids, Craniology, Human evolution, Evolutionary genetics
Format
Document (PDF)
Hominin endocast topography
Title
Hominin endocast topography: an analysis using geographic information systems.
Creator
Boas, Melissa., Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
Abstract/Description
This study examined the topography of prefrontal molds of human endocasts using three-dimensional laser scanning and geographic information systems (GIS) in order to carry out intra-species comparisons. Overall brain topography can indicate when major reorganizational shifts in brain structure happened in our evolutionalry history, and these shifts may indicate major shifts in cognition and behavior. Endocasts are one of the sole sources of information about extinct hominin brains ; they...
Show moreThis study examined the topography of prefrontal molds of human endocasts using three-dimensional laser scanning and geographic information systems (GIS) in order to carry out intra-species comparisons. Overall brain topography can indicate when major reorganizational shifts in brain structure happened in our evolutionalry history, and these shifts may indicate major shifts in cognition and behavior. Endocasts are one of the sole sources of information about extinct hominin brains ; they reproduce details of the brain's external morphology. Analysis of endocast morphology has never been done using GIS methodology. The use of GIS helps to overcome previous obstacles in regards to endocast analysis. Since this methodology is new, this research focuses on only one species, Homo sapiens and the area of focus is narrowed to the frontal lobe, specifically Broca's cap. This area is associated with speech in humans and is therefore of evolutionary significance. The variability in lateralization of this feature was quantified.
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Date Issued
2012
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3358286
Subject Headings
Human evolution, Brain mapping, Cognitive neuroscience, Geographic information systems
Format
Document (PDF)
Investigation into the presence of purported lineage continuity in Australasia
Title
Investigation into the presence of purported lineage continuity in Australasia.
Creator
Ferdinando, Peter., Florida Atlantic University, Broadfield, Douglas C.
Abstract/Description
The debate concerning the appearance of modern humans is currently divided into proponents for Multiregional continuity and advocates for a Replacement of all archaic hominin populations by a single, African source. Australasia has been touted as the test evidence for continuity. Utilizing a review of the purported morphological basis of this continuity, it is clear that the proposed unique Australasian features are primitive retentions from Homo erectus. However, African-derived modern...
Show moreThe debate concerning the appearance of modern humans is currently divided into proponents for Multiregional continuity and advocates for a Replacement of all archaic hominin populations by a single, African source. Australasia has been touted as the test evidence for continuity. Utilizing a review of the purported morphological basis of this continuity, it is clear that the proposed unique Australasian features are primitive retentions from Homo erectus. However, African-derived modern humans lack these traits. Consequently, the only group from where these features could be acquired is Indonesian Homo erectus. Henceforth, there appears to be a combination of a discrete African origin for the modern Homo sapiens morphology and limited interbreeding that generates the archaic features present in modern human fossil specimens from Australia. It would seems probable that the interactions of Homo sapiens and Homo erectus in Indonesia may have paralleled those of modern humans and the Neanderthals in Europe.
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Date Issued
2002
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12915
Subject Headings
Human beings--Origin., Human evolution--Australasia., Homo erectus--Indonesia., Fossil hominids.
Format
Document (PDF)
seeds of structure: Exploring the chimpanzee mind
Title
The seeds of structure: Exploring the chimpanzee mind.
Creator
Halloran, Andrew R., Florida Atlantic University, Broadfield, Douglas C.
Abstract/Description
There are certain properties of the human mind which allow abstract thought. These properties are responsible for the ability to create myth (or explanations of the unknown), cosmology, and culture. They are the seeds of all human phenomena not attributable to instinct. These properties can be isolated as the capacity for numeric logic and the mind functioning in terms of binary oppositions. The long held paradigm sees the human species as unique in possessing these qualities and well as the...
Show moreThere are certain properties of the human mind which allow abstract thought. These properties are responsible for the ability to create myth (or explanations of the unknown), cosmology, and culture. They are the seeds of all human phenomena not attributable to instinct. These properties can be isolated as the capacity for numeric logic and the mind functioning in terms of binary oppositions. The long held paradigm sees the human species as unique in possessing these qualities and well as the phenomena they yield. In order to challenge this paradigm, a two experiments are conducted on a chimpanzee to see if she possessed these properties. She successfully completed the cognitive tests on both experiments, thus implicating the human species as not unique in its abstractions.
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Date Issued
2005
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/13309
Subject Headings
Brain--Evolution, Human information processing, Primates--Behavior, Human-animal communication, Cognition in animals, Chimpanzees--Behavior
Format
Document (PDF)
Craniofacial Form and Temporalis Configuration in Middle Pleistocene Hominins
Title
Craniofacial Form and Temporalis Configuration in Middle Pleistocene Hominins.
Creator
Lucas, Lynn, McCarthy, Robert, Florida Atlantic University
Abstract/Description
This study focused on the temporalis configuration in Middle Pleistocene hominins and how that configuration is correlated with various structures in the craniofacial complex. Three hypotheses were tested using univariate comparisons, regression, and scaling analyses. Results showed that Middle Pleistocene hominins have small anterior temporalis muscles relative to the size oftheir faces, contrary to expectation. This discrepancy may be explained by a decrease in the size of the temporal...
Show moreThis study focused on the temporalis configuration in Middle Pleistocene hominins and how that configuration is correlated with various structures in the craniofacial complex. Three hypotheses were tested using univariate comparisons, regression, and scaling analyses. Results showed that Middle Pleistocene hominins have small anterior temporalis muscles relative to the size oftheir faces, contrary to expectation. This discrepancy may be explained by a decrease in the size of the temporal fossa as a consequence of postorbital constriction concurrent with encephalization. Additionally, this configuration may have implications for the biomechanics of chewing, rendering the masticatory structures of Middle Pleistocene hominins less efficient than in other hominins. Future studies in this area should analyze the size of the temporal fossa in conjunction with rates of encephalization, using cranial capacity as a measure of vault size. Such analyses, coupled with comparisons of temporalis muscle size, will better explain the relationships suggested here.
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Date Issued
2007
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000934
Subject Headings
Human evolution--Research, Physiology, Comparative, Paleontology--Pleistocene, Pleistocene-Holocene boundary
Format
Document (PDF)