Course Unit / Early hominins and the Genus Homo

Early hominins and the Genus Homo

Year
1
Academic year
2019-2020
Code
03003011
Subject Area
Biological Anthropology
Language of Instruction
Portuguese
Other Languages of Instruction
English
Mode of Delivery
Face-to-face
Duration
SEMESTRIAL
ECTS Credits
6.0
Type
Elective
Level
3rd Cycle Studies

Recommended Prerequisites

Paleoanthropology

Teaching Methods

PowerPoint presentations; discussions; analysis of fossil casts; analysis of primate skeletons.

Learning Outcomes

This unit aims to provide the knowledge on the early phases of human evolution, from early forms to the emergence of modern humans.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Humans as primates. The living primates.

Comparative anatomy of the hominoids.

Introduction to human evolution. Hominoids evolution in the Miocene.

Why Africa?

Early hominin fossils . The Miocenne pore human fossils.

Australopithecus and Paranthropus. Bipedality;

Phylogenetic relations among Homo and the pre existing forms.

Early Homo. Fisrt stone tools.

First out of Africa.

Dmanisi and Java.

Atapuerca: the first Europeans and the tresor from Middle Pleistocene.

Homo heidelbergensis in Europe.

The origin of Neandertals.

Who were the Neandertals?

The question of the 1st burials.

Neandertals extinction.

Head Lecturer(s)

Cláudia Isabel Soares Umbelino

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Mini Tests: 30.0%
Synthesis work: 70.0%

Bibliography

Cunha, E. 2010. Como nos tornamos humanos. Coimbra. Imprensa da Universidade

Klein,R. 2009. The human career. Chicago. Chicago University Press.3rd edition

Delson, E.;Tatersall, I.;Van Couvering, J. A.; Brooks, A. S. (Editors). 2000. Encyclopedia of Human Evolution and Prehistory. 2nd edition. NY. Garland Publishing, Inc.