ANTH 674 - Paleoanthropology

(3 units)

Examines the divergent pathways of human evolution from the advent of bipedalism 5-6 million years ago to the emergence of food production at the end of the Pleistocene, with emphasis on the fossils and archaeological remains of earlier hominins.

Grading Basis: Graded
Units of Lecture: 3
Offered: Every Fall - Even Years

Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. identify anatomical characteristics of primates that are shared in common with extinct and extant hominin species and distinguish those characteristics that are unique to hominins.
2. critically evaluate theories on the development of bipedalism, the critical starting point for hominin origins.
3. critically evaluate theories that account for key changes in hominin evolution, including tool use, increases in brain size and body size and decreased tooth size, along with the timing of dispersal events out of Africa.
4. evaluate the genetic and archaeological evidence for the origins and dispersal of anatomically modern Homo sapiens and determine if earlier local populations (e.g., Neanderthals, Denisovans) contributed to the gene pool of modern humans.
5. convey the overall objectives of this course in writing and orally to their professional peers and students.

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