Lecture Week 12

“Archaic” Homo sapiens

	Catchall category for specimens that don’t look modern,
	    yet are too brainy for H. erectus.
	Shape of face and skull still very robust & similar to erectus
		Less post-orbital constriction
		More globular shape
		Less angled occiput
		Thinner vualt
	Brain size w/in modern range- 1100-1350 cc, avg. 1252 cc
	Expansion of frontal lobes- higher thought fuctions
	Expansion of sides of brain where many language functions are
	Some two dozen specimens in Africa, Europe & Asia
	Occurred 500 to 100 TYA
	Late Acheulian Industry
		Soft-hammer technique
		Lg. flake bifaces- Kombewa technique (pre-determined core)
	~ 200 TYA develop Levallois- prepared core technique
	Earliest clear evidence for fire, temporary structures
Neandertals
	Discovery- 1856; Neander Valley, Germany
		First conception as classic “cave man”
		Boule’s reconstruction of remains from French sites in 1908
		    showed bent over, shambling, dull-witted brute
		During 60’s & 70’s underwent a reinterpretation
			Shanidar in Iraq- care for injured, flower burial
			Ritualism from sites in Italy and France
			Neandertals as essentailly modern humans
	What’s in a name?
		Homo sapiens neanderthalensis-  same species as us, different sub-species
		Home neanderthalensis-  different species from us
		Perspective depends on if one emphasises differences or similarities
	Earliest- Atapuerca, Spain  300 TYA
		Large collection of remains in cave
		Many but not all classic Neandertal traits
	Range of “classic” 130-36 TYA
	What are they?
		European & Mid-east phenomenon; major sites
			La Ferrasie, La Chapelle, St. Cesaire; France
			Krapina; Croatia
			Shanidar; Iraq
			Amud, Tabun; Isreal
			Teshik Tash; Uzbekistan
		Distinctive skulls & faces
			Breadloaf shaped skull
			Large projecting nose
			Occipital bun
			Retromolar space
		Rugged build & lifestyle
			Strongest bones & muscles of any known hominid
			Most show signs of heavy trauma; healed fractures etc.
			Likely to be ambush hunting large game over rugged terrain
		Cold-weather adapted
			Stayed in Europe during the hight of the glaciers
			Short, stocky bodies to help conserve heat
			Large noses to moisten and warm air
	Behavior
		First convincing evidence for deliberate burials
			Large numbers at particular sites; La Ferrasie, Shanidar
			Graves dug into underlying layers
			Bodies placed into fetal position or w/ arms crossed
			Occasional grave goods
		Controlled use of fire
			Much charcaol at habitation sites
			Lived during coldest times
			But built hearths rare
		More tool types and possibly composite tools
			Tools for more specialized functions
			Stone-tipped spears
		No permanent structures, art, decoration
		The question of language
Mousterian
	Flake-tool industry
	Levallois flakes and points
	Scraper-dominated w/ other types
		Side scraper & other scrapers
		Denticulates
		Notches
		Backed knives
		Sm handaxes
		Limaces
	Shows variation- 4 types