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Archaeology

'Early Humans': Evolution and Archaeological Study of Hominids

Course Times & Enrolment

This course is currently unavailable.

Course Summary

The study of early hominids, those species which preceded modern humans, has advanced extraordinarily in the foregoing decade. This has been driven in part by new archaeological discoveries, but is also in large measure attributable to the contributions made by genetics, chemistry, physics and primate behavioural studies. This course presents the cardinal finds of early hominids, discussing the skeletal and archaeological evidence and situating these in the new interpretive frameworks that have emerged in the last decade.

Course Details

Pre-requisites for enrolment

No previous knowledge required.

Content of Course

1. An overview of the history of studying hominids and the state of the evidence.

2. Primate behavioural theory and the earliest evidence for hominids.

3. The African sites, Australopithecines and Homo erectus.

4. The movement of Homo erectus and Homo ergaster out of Africa and into Asia, with a study of the principal sites that are known.

5. The colonisation of Europe by Homo erectus with particular reference to the sites in the British Isles.

6. The development of the Neanderthal and the archaeological and skeletal evidence for this species.

7. The 'Out of Africa' debate concerning anatomically modern humans.

8. The diffusion of anatomically modern humans and their relationship to Homo erectus in Africa and Asia, and to the Neanderthal in Europe and the Middle East.

9. What makes us human? A consideration of the adaptive advantages that resulted in the success of our species.

10. Optional oral presentations / workshop: archive analysis related to a local site.

Teaching method(s)

Lectures based with class discussion.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

  • Recognise the main sites and finds and their relevance to the debate concerning human origins;

  • Understand the differences amongst species and situate them in a chronological sequence;

  • Understand the regional diversity in the archaeological and skeletal evidence;

  • Appreciate the main theories pertaining to the emergence and diffusion of hominid species;

  • Explain the patterns of animal/human behaviour.

Sources

Core Readings

Recommended:

  • Fagan, Brian. (1989) The Journey from Eden: Peopling of Our World. London: Thames and Hudson.

  • Johansson, Donald C. & Maitland Edey. (1990). Lucy: The Beginnings of Humankind. New York: Simon & Schuster Ltd.

  • Stringer, Christopher & Roy McKie. (1996). African Exodus: The Origins of Modern Humanity. London: Jonathan Cape Limited.

  • Tatersall, Ian. (1997). The Fossil Trail: How We Know What We Think We Know About Human Evolution. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Web Sources

http://www.leakey.com

The Leakey Foundation site which describes the finds of the earliest hominids in East Africa and the diversity in the archaeological evidence from this region.

Class Handouts

Handouts will be provided.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.