Human Fossil Record Report
Instructions and Information to Include in Your Human Fossil Record Report:
Select five of the following fossil forms of early humans ( or human ancestors, also known as hominins) and then prepare a chart or table to compare their physical and cultural characteristics:
• Ardipithecusramidus
• Australopithecus anamensis
• Australopithecus afarensis
• Australopithecus sediba
• Paranthropusboise
• Homo erectus
• Homo heidelbergensis
• Homo rudolfensis
• Homo neanderthalensis
For your Fossil Record Report, you will complete a "report form" ( with the information about your selected species, and also additional questions about human evolution); the Fossil Record report form will be posted in the online classroom. If you wish to cite relevant paleoanthropological research studies in your report, please cite using APA citation format and provide your sources in bibliographic list at the end of your report.
The final Human Fossil Record Report will include information about the following:
• Physical categories to consider include Time Frame (e.g. first appearance and last appearance in fossil record); Where found (which continents, geographic distribution); Brain size; Specialized skills and anatomical features; Height and weight; Sexual dimorphism.
• Cultural categories to consider: Use of Fire vs Ability to make Fire; Primary Tool Type; a Picture or description of the Primary characteristic of this tool; Other Tools if Found; Possible Language Ability; Any Art work found; Any Personal Items Found; Any Possible religious symbolism Found.
• Note: You will not have evidence for all categories of data for each of these human types. Where data are absent, simply leave the space blank or note that so far nothing has been found. You may also wish to include other categories of comparison in your chart. Make sure that you cite all sources (including your textbook) used to prepare your fossil comparison chart.
• Indicate the sequence (in terms of time frame) in which your selected fossil forms appear in the fossil record. Then describe or draw a phylogeny (evolutionary tree) showing the evolutionary relationships of your 5 selected forms to the modern human lineage.
• How does the human (hominin) fossil record show "mosaic evolution"? Define the term and provide an example from hominin fossil record. If possible, use example(s) from your 5 fossil selections to support your answer.
• Based on the fossil evidence, did more than one kind of hominin live on earth at the same time? We are currently the only type (species) of human on the planet, but has it always been this way? Use your 5 fossil selections to support your answer.
• Paleoanthropologists are locating additional fossil finds; examples in recent years include:Sahelanthropustchadensis, Kenyanthropusplatyops, Homo floresiensis. Select one of these finds and explain how it may relate to the human fossil record.Please include any controversies (or differences of scientific opinion) regarding your selection.
• Besides fossil evidence, describe another type of scientific evidence that scientists have found for human evolution. From a scientific perspective, why is it important to have multiple or independent lines of evidence for human evolution?
• Conclusions and Reflections: What are the major patterns in physical and cultural traits of hominins revealed in the fossil record? How did hominins change over time? What do new finds and changes in how we interpret phylogenies demonstrate the scientific method?