Lesson 1

Biological and Cultural Evolution:

From Australopithecus to Homo
Sapiens
Topics that we need to DISCUSS!

 Biological and Cultural Evolution

 From hominids to Homo Sapiens Sapiens: The Biological and Cultural
Evolution of modern human
 The role of museums and historical sites as venues for the
appreciation of the complexities of biocultural and social evolution
Analyze the photo
Biological and Cultural
Evolution
Biological evolution encompasses the alterations, adaptations, and
variations in the genetic makeup and inherited characteristics of
biological populations across generations. This process is
multifaceted and manifests at various levels within the biological
hierarchy, including species, organisms, and even at the molecular
scale.

Researchers investigating biological evolution examine

transformations in the human physique, alterations in bone
structure and size, brain development, dental features, and hand
morphology, among other aspects. Additionally, this field of study
encompasses shifts in posture, locomotion, and the emergence of
bipedalism, which involves walking upright on two legs.
 Cultural evolution is like the way ideas, customs,
and behaviors change and spread through a group
of people over time. It's like how languages,
traditions, and technologies develop and adapt,
kinda like how living things evolve, but with
human culture instead.
Biological evolution is based on the theory of evolution that
was introduced by the famous English naturalist and
geologist Charles Darwin (1809-1882). Darwin, after
conducting numerous studies regarding the changes that
occur among plants, fossil animals, and different breads of
pigeons, concluded that each species was not created at one
time in a fixed form (Ember, Ember, and Peregrine, 2002, p.
32). Because of the result of his studies, he introduced the
concept of evolution to explain the origins of modern
humans. In his published work entitled On the Origins of
Species by Means of Natural Selection (1859),
“Species are not
immutable, but that those
belonging to what are
called the same genera
are lineal descendants of
some other and generally
extinct species, in the
same manner as the
acknowledged varieties of
any one species” (Ember,
Ember, and
Peregrine,2002,p: 33.)
Example
From Hominids to Homo Sapiens
Sapiens : The Biological and Cultural
Evolution of Modern Humans
For a long time, scientists thought that human evolution followed a
hierarchical model, with ancestors resembling apes at the base and
modern Homo sapiens sapiens at the top. This transformation from
apelike ancestors to contemporary humans happened over millions of
years and was driven by both biological changes and cultural
advancements. In this lengthy process, our apelike ancestors evolved
and eventually gave rise to modern humans.

To understand human development better, archaeologists and social

scientists who specialize in studying ancient and recent human history
dig up fossils and artifacts.Fossils include preserved remains of humans,
plants, and animals, like teeth, skulls, and bone fragments. Artifacts
include objects made and used by humans, such as tools made of stone
and metal, pottery, containers for burials, and decorative items.
 Hominid is the word scientists use to group early humans and
similar creatures from the past who could walk upright. They
divide them into four groups based on how old the things they
find, like fossils and objects, are. These groups are
Sahelanthropus, Ardipithecus, Australopithecus, and Homo.
Out of these, Australopithecus and Homo are the ones with
the most species found through digs by archaeologists. Many
experts think of Australopithecus as the first step in human
evolution and Homo as the final step.
Example
The Ardipithecus had the following characteristics:
Height of about 4 feet
2. Weight of about 120 pounds
3. Skull size similar to an ape
4. Small brain
5. Biped (walked on two legs or feet)
6. Lived in jungles and forests like the chimpanzees

The Australopithecus or “southern ape” was the next group of hominids.

They lived in the African jungle from 5 million to 1 million years ago. Some
of their characteristics include the following:

1. Brain size of 500 cubic centimeters (cc) or almost of the size of the
modern human brain
2. Upright
3. Biped
4. Tool users only and not tool makers
5. Used sticks and stones for digging
6. Lived in small social groups
7. Distance of movement was estimated to be 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) or
more to search for stones to be used as tools
8. Food scavengers
9. Ate insects, eggs, plants, fruits, and sometimes meat
Example

Ardipithecus

Australopithecus
Currently, there are six types of Australopithecus species, grouped
into two main categories: the gracile and the robust. Gracile
australopithecines had smaller teeth and jaws, including
Australopithecus anamensis, Australopithecus afarensis, and
Australopithecus africanus. In contrast, the robust
Australopithecus group, which comprises Australopithecus
aethiopicus, Australopithecus robustus, and Australopithecus
boisei, had larger teeth and jaws, with the latter being particularly
muscular.

Among these, Australopithecus afarensis is seen as the common

ancestor of the Australopithecus species: Australopithecus
africanus, Australopithecus robustus, and Australopithecus boisei.
“Lucy,” a fossil of Australopithecus afarensis dating back 3.2
million years, stands out as one of the earliest known ancestors of
modern humans and remains the most renowned hominid fossil
ever found. Paleoanthropologists, led by Dr. Donald Johanson,
made the groundbreaking discovery of Lucy in Hadar, Ethiopia, in
November 1974.
Example
The Australopithecus disappeared in the evolutionary
map after almost one million years. They were
replaced by a much more intelligent group of hominids
that belonged to a new genus-the Homo. The Homo are
classified as humans and not humanlike creatures
because they had bigger brains and were bipedal.
According to fossil evidences, the Homo first lived in
Africa about 2.4 million years ago. The Homo species
included the Homo habilis (handy man), Homo erectus
(upright man), and the Homo sapiens (Wise man).
Example
To determine the first direct ancestors of the Homo,
archaeologists used the toolmaking abilities of the early
humans in the 1960s. Because of this, some scholars believe
that on the basis of evidence, the Homo habilis (handy man)
was the direct ancestor of the modern human because of its
ability to produce tools. The Homo habilis had the following
characteristics:
1. Height of about 3 to 4 feet
2. Brain size half the size of the modern human (700 cubic
centimeters)
3. Made tools called Oldowan (name came from the place
where they were found in Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania) which were
used as cutting tools and made from volcanic stones
4. Used tools for hunting and food gathering
Homo erectus, who lived between 1.8 million and 300,000
years ago, shared these key traits:

1. They had a brain size similar to modern humans, with

fossils found in Indonesia and China dating back millions of
years.

2. Their height averaged around five feet.

3. They walked upright on two legs.

Homo erectus, when compared to Homo habilis, is considered
more intelligent and adaptable in terms of cultural progress.
They demonstrated cultural evolution by inventing and
advancing various technologies to meet their needs. They
created sophisticated tools for tasks like digging, cutting, and
scraping, as well as hand axe tools for activities such as slicing,
chopping, and digging, which showcased their hunting skills.

In the evolutionary timeline, the last category is Homo sapiens,

encompassing both archaic Homo sapiens like Neanderthals and
modern humans. Modern humans possess a larger brain size
(around 1,400 cc) and are seen as the successors of Homo
erectus.

Homo erectus was the earliest Homo species known to utilize

fire and inhabit caves and rudimentary shelters constructed
from branches. They employed fire for warmth, cooking, and
safeguarding themselves against wild animals.

In summary, Homo erectus exhibited intelligence and

adaptability through their tool-making, fire usage, and shelter-
building, setting the stage for the eventual emergence of
modern humans with larger brains.
The last group in the human evolution ladder, in the family of Homo
discovered by Eugene Dubois, is Homo sapiens, often referred to as
“thinking man.” This category includes archaic Homo sapiens from
Africa, Homo heidelbergensis, Homo neanderthalensis (Neanderthals),
and Homo sapiens sapiens, which are considered modern humans.
Homo sapiens share a very similar physical anatomy to modern
humans, making them the species to which all modern humans belong.

Key characteristics of Homo sapiens include:

1. A large brain size, nearly equivalent to that of modern humans, at

around 1,400 cc.
2. They lived in shelters, providing protection from the elements.
3. They consumed both plants and fruits.
4. They were hunters, gathering their own food.
5. They learned to collect and cook shellfish around 164,000 years ago.
6. They were food gatherers.
7. They made use of fire.
8. They had the ability to craft metals.

In summary, Homo sapiens, or modern humans, had significant

similarities to us today, possessing advanced cognitive abilities, using
tools, and exhibiting social behaviors like cooking and gathering food.
Example
Museum as Venues for
the appreciation of
the complexities of
biocultural and social
evolution
The study of the biological, cultural, and social evolution of
modern humans can be achieved by examining artifacts and
fossils unearthed by archaeologists and anthropologists. These
discoveries play a vital role in piecing together the story of
human evolution. Fossils are preserved remains of humans,
plants, and animals, like skulls, teeth, and bones. Artifacts
encompass objects crafted and utilized by humans, such as
stone and metal tools, pottery, burial containers, and decorative
items.
Archaeologists and anthropologists use artifacts and fossils to
study the biological, cultural, and social evolution of modern
humans. Fossils are preserved remains of humans, plants, and
animals, while artifacts are objects made and used by humans.
These discoveries are crucial for understanding human
evolution.
Museums are accessible places where we can view
artifacts, fossils, and historical evidence. They serve to
conserve, communicate, and display human society’s
heritage. In the Philippines, the National Museum plays
a crucial role in preserving and showcasing Filipino
cultural and historical artifacts. Beyond the National
Museum, there are various public and private museums
throughout the country that offer valuable insights into
our prehistoric past and heritage. Visiting these
museums allows us to appreciate the evidence of
modern humans’ biological, social, and cultural
evolution.