Human Evolution and Paleoanthropology

What this unit covers

This unit sits in the Biological Anthropology strand of Anthropology. It follows the human lineage in order: dating and fossilisation, early hominins, early Homo, Homo erectus, Neanderthals and modern Homo sapiens. Most of the material is university level, and it was made by GoConqr users.

Where to start

Begin with the basics. The Anthropology Flashcards deck covers evolution, macroevolution, microevolution and the levels of biological organisation. The quiz Chapter 8 then asks which burial environment best promotes fossilisation, and what relative and radiometric dating can tell us.

Next, work through the lineage in order:

1. The quiz Chapter 10: Early Hominin Origins and Evolution.
2. The quiz Chapter 11: The Origins and Evolution of Early Homo, which asks where Homo Naledi fits.
3. The quiz Chapter 12: The Origins, Evolution, and Dispersal of Modern People, which compares early archaic Homo Sapiens with Homo Erectus.

Using quizzes and maps together

The mind maps help you see the big picture. Maps such as Defining Hominins, Homo Erectus, Out of Africa theory and Multi-Regional Model lay out the main ideas and the debates between them. Read a map first, then take a quiz on the same topic and note the questions you miss. Go back to the map to fill the gap.

The quiz The Human Lineage Through Time asks how we know Sahelanthropus tchadensis was bipedal and what Ardipithecus ramidus and Australopithecus afarensis are noted for. It pairs well with the maps on bipedalism, such as Advantages of Bipedalism and How Anatomy Affects Bipedalism.

Neanderthals, tools and case studies

Several resources focus on Neanderthals. These include the quizzes Topic 6: Neandertals and Topic 9: Homo floresiensis, the map Rethinking Neanderthals, and slide sets on Shanidar and Qafzeh. For tools, try the quiz Tool-making and the deck Human Evolution - Tools.

Your next step

Pick one chapter quiz, see how it goes, and then make a map or deck of your own. Teachers can use the notes and slide sets as ready-made starting points for a class.