The first culture and

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The first culture and the makers of the Oldowan
tools
What? When? Who? Why?
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Figure 12.01
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Figure 12.14a
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(No Transcript)
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Figure 11.03
first stone tools
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The Oldowan Toolmakers We dont know who
they were. Candidates Australopithecus garhi
Australopithecus rudolphensis Australopithecus
habilis Kenyanthropus platyops Paranthopus
aethiopicus Paranthropus boisei
Homo ergaster
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But, whoever they were, they probably were our
ancestors. So we should try to understand as much
about them and their culture as we can.
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They were probably right handed. Implications for
the evolution of linguistic abilities. Most
mammal species do not show handedness
(laterality bias).
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Figure 12.02
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Why tools? Complex foraging strategies. collected
foods extracted foods hunted foods
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Figure 12.03
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Figure 12.06
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Complex foraging strategies may require bigger
brains and a longer period of dependence. Earlier
birth. Delayed maturity. Slow pattern of human
growth and development.
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Figure 12.07a
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Figure 12.07b
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Compared to Australopithecus, relatively low
levels of sexual dimorphism. This
implies Less strongly polygynous. Possibility
of male parental investment, at least in the
form of provisioning.
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Figure 12.08
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Figure 11.43
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Among chimpanzees, hunting is predominantly a
male activity. When meat is shared it goes to
other males and to estrus (sexually receptive,
fertile) females.
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Figure 14.16