Evidence for Human Evolution

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  • Created by: EmilyAlys
  • Created on: 23-05-18 09:57
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  • Evidence for Human Evolution
    • Later, James Burnett, (1714-1799) proposed that humans had evolved from monkeys. or apes
      • Most people thought he was mad as he went around searching for humans with tails!
        • However,nowfossil evidence suggests he was on the right track.
    • The idea that humans were related to monkeys or apes wasn't popular until the 17th century.
      • Idea changed due to Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) published his system of classification.
        • His system of classification suggested that humans were related to apes and monkeys.
        • Example
          • Pavo cristatus is the Indian peafowl
        • He also started using a binomial system to name species
          • The binomial system uses two latin words and is still used today.
            • Pavo cristatus is the Indian peafowl
  • Fossil evidence
    • Scientists use fossils to find out more about human evolution.
      • They work out the age of the fossils then put them in age order
        • The fossils though, do not show smooth changes over time because some have not been discovered.
    • Evidence for Human Evolution
      • Later, James Burnett, (1714-1799) proposed that humans had evolved from monkeys. or apes
        • Most people thought he was mad as he went around searching for humans with tails!
          • However,nowfossil evidence suggests he was on the right track.
      • The idea that humans were related to monkeys or apes wasn't popular until the 17th century.
        • Idea changed due to Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) published his system of classification.
          • His system of classification suggested that humans were related to apes and monkeys.
          • Example
            • He also started using a binomial system to name species
              • The binomial system uses two latin words and is still used today.
        • In 1992 scientists discovered some 4.4 million year old fossilised bones from a female of a human like species.
          • More of these fossils were found and were given the name Ardipithecus radius.
            • The most complete set of these fossils is nicknamed "Ardi"
              • Ardi was about 1.2 m tall and 50kg .
                • Her leg bones shoe that she could have walked upright.
                  • She had very long arms though, and very long big toes that stuck out the side of her feet.
                    • This suggests that she might have been able to climb up trees.
        • Lucy  was discovered in 1974. She lived 3.2 million years ago and was about 1.07 m tall.
          • She could probably walk upright, but although her toe bones were arranged in the same way as modern humans they were much more curved.
          • In the 1960s, Mary Leakey (1913-1996) and Louis Leakey (1903-1972) found a more recent human like species.
            • This species got the nickname Homo Habilis as they thought it was similar to Humans (Homo sapiens)
              • This name translates to 'Handy man'
                • These fossils are 2.4-1.4 million years old.
                • The animals were quite short with long arms but walked upright.
        • Homo erectus was discovered in Asia in the late 19th century and so many scientists thought that modern humans evolved in Asia.
          • However, an almost complete 1.6 million year old skeleton was found by Richard Leakey (1944-) in 1984 in Kenya, providing evidence that humans actually evolved in Africa.
            • This species was tall (1.9 m tall) and strongly built.
        • Stone Tools
          • The earliest evidence of human like animals using stone tools dates to about 3.3 million years ago.
            • Scientists can work out the ages of different layers of rock. They then assume that as stone tool is about the same age as that layer of rock.
              • The oldest stone tools are very simple, but would have helped with skinning and animal or cutting up meat.
                • Tools found in more recent rocks are more sophisticated,
      • Lucy  was discovered in 1974. She lived 3.2 million years ago and was about 1.07 m tall.
        • She could probably walk upright, but although her toe bones were arranged in the same way as modern humans they were much more curved.
        • In the 1960s, Mary Leakey (1913-1996) and Louis Leakey (1903-1972) found a more recent human like species.
          • This species got the nickname Homo Habilis as they thought it was similar to Humans (Homo sapiens)
            • This name translates to 'Handy man'
              • These fossils are 2.4-1.4 million years old.
              • The animals were quite short with long arms but walked upright.

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