This dissertation describes the technological behaviors represented by the ~500-thousand-year-old stratum 4a lithic assemblage from Kathu Pan 1 (KP1), Northern Cape, South Africa, and situates new evidence from this site into evolutionary context. The findings highlight the significance of the early Middle Pleistocene in Africa for understanding behavioral evolution in later Homo. The stratum 4a assemblage at KP1 represents a mainly flake and blade-based industry that employed multiple strategies to produce blanks that were retouched into a variety of forms, including unifacially retouched points. Diverse core reduction strategies at KP1 suggests that KP1 hominins were flexible to the demands of local raw materials, consistent with increased degrees of ‘behavioral variability’ and adaptability. Several lines of evidence indicate that the KP1 points were used as spear tips. Points from sites ~300 thousand years ago (ka) and younger were often used as weapon tips, and evidence for this behavior can now be pushed back to ~500 ka, with important implications for cognition and social behavior among early Middle Pleistocene hominins. Raw materials in the KP1 assemblage were acquired from multiple local sources. Based on comparisons with a sample from the underlying stratum 4b Acheulean assemblage, the stratum 4a assemblage does not exhibit major changes in the kinds or quality of raw material exploited; thus, the technological changes represented by the stratum 4a assemblage are not explained by changes in raw material. New evidence from KP1 poses problems for current models that link the appearance of Middle Stone Age technologies to speciation and dispersion ~300 ka. Middle Stone Age technologies appear in the African archaeological record by ~500 ka. The new timing for the origins of Middle Stone Age technologies provides a parsimonious explanation for technological similarities between the lithic assemblages of Neanderthals and modern Homo sapiens, who share a common ancestor in the early Middle Pleistocene. Limits imposed by the nature of the African archaeological record and chronometric analyses may explain why the antiquity of these technological changes was not previously recognized.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wollongong, 2006. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references: p. 351-382.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rutgers University, 2009. / "Graduate Program in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics." Includes bibliographical references (p. 95-98).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Dept. of Ecology and Evolution, June 2000. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

This dissertation comprises three articles that propose explanations for the eventual extinction of Neanderthals in Europe after a period of several thousand years of coexistence with anatomically modern humans (AMH). I propose that bioenergetic differences between Neanderthals and AMH favored the persistence of AMH. This difference in energetic efficiency was augmented by any behavior that was advantageous to AMH. Consequently, such behaviors directly impacted the rate of Neanderthal extinction. The first article proposes a mathematical model that reconstructs Neanderthal and AMH energetic budgets to predict how using fire for cooking might have affected the success of each species. I first use the model to establish that energetic differences alone result in Neanderthal extinction when Neanderthals and AMH occupy the same landscape. I then establish that cooking meat increases its caloric value, and incorporate that parameter into the model. The outcome indicates that differential fire use by Neanderthals and AMH significantly affects the rate of Neanderthal extinction. The second article analyzes the evidence for marrow and bone grease extraction from reindeer carcasses by Neanderthals and AMH during cold climate phases. I analyze two assemblages produced by Neanderthals and three produced by AMH to determine how each group exploited these crucial nutritional resources. Results indicate that marrow processing intensity correlates with site function rather than with human species while bone grease may have been more intensively processed by AMH. In the third article, I integrate these studies within a new theoretical framework combining self-organizing criticality (SOC) and resilience thinking (RT). I explore Neanderthal extinction across multiple scales. SOC explores how interactions at the scale of the individual can combine to cause events such as an extinction. RT provides a systems-level framework for understanding how patterns of change among Neanderthals, AMH, prey populations, and the landscapes they inhabit may lead to instability and collapse. I identify the arrival of AMH into a landscape occupied by Neanderthals as a threshold point that set the process of Neanderthal demise in motion. I then use SOC and RT together to explain Neanderthal extinction as a slow and patchy process, rather than a sudden extinction.

La paléoanthropologie utilise la bipédie comme critère d'interprétation des vestiges fossiles permettant d'établir leur appartenance à la lignée humaine. Ainsi, la bipédie devient une caractéristique propre à la lignée humaine et qui en marque l'origine. Nous identifions ici un « cercle herméneutique » de la paléoanthropologie, puisque l'humain y est défini par la bipédie et, réciproquement, tout bipédie est interprétée comme étant nécessairement humaine. Du fait de cette circularité, les traits associés à la bipédie sont surinterprétés dans la description des vestiges fossiles, qui se voient alors conférer une signification fonctionnelle et phylogénétique univoque. L'unicité de la bipédie humaine constitue un principe d'interprétation resté ininterrogé en paléoanthropologie. Ce point révèle l'attachement de cette discipline scientifique à une conception philosophique du propre de l'homme qui semble pourtant difficilement compatible avec l'approche évolutionniste. Au contraire, une véritable épistémologie de la paléoanthropologie doit mettre en perspective la signification accordée à cette caractéristique anthropologique : nous nous y employons dans cette thèse, en montrant que le concept métaphysique de « station droite » trouve son écho dans le concept naturaliste de « bipédie ». Cette continuité ou cette capillarité de la philosophie à la science est mise en évidence à travers les usages du critère de la bipédie dans la description de plusieurs espèces fossiles. De Pithecanthropus erectus à Ardipithecus ramidus, nous analysons différents modes de l'équivalence entre « bipède » et « humain ». Cette équivalence, souvent implicite, représente une source de confusion majeure pour la paléoanthropologie, impliquant un concept d’ « humain » aux contours flous. Notre épistémologie de la paléoanthropologie dégage donc différents problèmes que cette discipline se doit d'affronter pour que le débat sur l'évolution de la bipédie dans la lignée humaine puisse avancer. / Bipedalism represents for paleoanthropology a criterion to decipher fossil records in order to establish their belonging to the human lineage. As such, bipedalism is considered as a unique characteristic of the human lineage that marks its origin. In this thesis, we identify a "hermeneutic circle" of paleoanthropology, since the human is defined by its bipedal characteristics and, conversely, any bipedalism is interpreted as necessarily human. Because of this circularity, traits associated with bipedalism are overstated in describing the fossil record, hence conferring an unambiguous functional and phylogenetic significance. The uniqueness of human bipedalism is a principle of interpretation remained unquestioned in paleoanthropology. This shows the commitment of this scientific discipline to a philosophical conception of the human uniqueness who hardly seems consistent with the evolutionary approach. On the contrary, a real epistemology of paleoanthropology has put into perspective the meaning given to this anthropological characteristic. We address this latter in showing that the metaphysical concept of "upright station" is echoed in the naturalist concept of « bipedalism ». This continuity or capillary from philosophy to science is emphasized through the use of the criterion of bipedalism in the description of several fossil species. From Pithecanthropus erectus to Ardipithecus ramidus, we analyze various modes of equivalence between "biped" and "human". This equivalence, albeit implicit, represents a major source of confusion for paleoanthropology, implying an unclear concept of « human ». Our epistemology of paleoanthropology put thus upfront several philosophical and epistemological problems that this discipline has to challenge in order to the debate on the evolution of bipedalism in the human lineage can move forward.

Orientador: João Jozé Caluzi / Banca: Ana Maria de Andrade Caldeira / Banca: Fernanda da Rocha Brando Fernandez / Resumo: Atualmente diversas questões emergentes vêm questionando a validade e abrangência da atual moldura conceitual da biologia evolutiva, conhecida como Síntese Moderna, e expansãoes desta mesma moldura tem sido debatidas, levando a um novo quadro conceitual denominado Síntese Estendida, uma vez que prentende expandir ao invés de refutar a Síntese Moderna. Estas discussões também têm levantado questões acerca da epistemologia e da natureza histórica da biologia evolutiva, neste sentido buscamos um referencial teórico que pudesse interpretar epistemologicamente o desenvolvimento das idéias e teorias evolutivas e transformistas na história da biologia assim como explicitar o atual processo de expansão da teoria sintética da evolução. Desta forma realizamos uma análise filosóficada históra da biologia evolutiva por meio de um referencial bachelardiano e observamos um progressivo racionalismo na mesma, sendo condizente com o modelo de perfil epistemológico proposto por Bachelard. Após esta análise buscamos investigar como ela poderia contribuir para o ensino de evolução, uma vez que a evolução biológica desempenha um papel central tanto para a biologia quanto para seu ensino, articulando suas diferentes áreas e conferindo-lhes sentido. Tambéma a teoria dos perfis epistemológicos de Bachelard possui a capacidade sui generis de relacionar intimamente o desenvolvimento histórico-filosófico de um conceito com o desenvolvimento psicológico do mesmo conceito em seu processo de ensino-aprendizagem. Identificamos que o ensino de evolução possui diversos problemas como - Dificuldades dos professores em lidar com as concepções religiosas dos alunos; Visões finalistas e teleológicas da evolução tanto pelos alunos quanto pelos professores; Ensino fragmentado e estanque dos conteúdos de biologia; Falta de bases teóricas por parte dos professores para trabalhar a história da ciência e para se utilizar a evolução como... / Abstract: Currently several emerging issues are questioning the validity and scope of the current conceptual framework of evoluationary biology, known as Modern Synthesis, and expansions of this frame are being discussed, leading to a new conceptual framework called Extended Synthesis, since it seeks to expand rather than refute the Modern Synthesis. There discussions have also raised questions about the epistemology and the historical nature of evolutionary biology, in this sense we seek a theoretical framework that could philosophically the development of evolutionary ideas and theories in the history of biology as well as explain the current process of expandion of the Modern Synthesis. Thus, we performed a philosophical analysis of the history of the evolutionary biology through a Bachelardian referential, and we observed a progressive rationalism in this historical process, being consistent with the epistemological profile model proposed by Bachelard. After this analysis we seek to investigate how it could contribute to the teaching of evolution plays a central role both for biology and for his teaching, combining their different areas and giving them direction. Also the bachelardian theory of epistemological profiles has the unique ability to closely relate the historical and philosophical development of a concept to the psychological development of the same concept in it's teaching-learning process. We found that the teaching of evoluation has several problems such as - Teachers difficulties in dealing with religious conceptions of the students; Finalists and Teleological views of evolution brought by students and teachers as well; Fragmented teaching of biology content; Lack of theoretical bases for teachers to work with the history of science and to use evolution as an integrating axis; Strictly genecentric conception of biological evolution; Teaching of evolution restricted to Lamarck's and Darwin's ideas and opposition between them - Most... / Mestre

The frequency with which individuals do not develop their third molars, or wisdom teeth, is increasing worldwide. This current topic of human evolution is relevant to the research of anthropologists, geneticists, dentists, and other researchers involved in the study of human dentition. Many explanations have been offered to account for the prevalence of molar agenesis including, evolutionary, environmental, and genetic theories. The purpose of this research project is to determine the frequency of third molar agenesis and investigate the relationship between third molar agenesis and maxillomandibular jaw dimensions in a sample of orthodontic patients. This research tests the hypotheses that: H1: Individuals with agenesis of third molars will be significantly different in maxillomandibular dimensions than individuals without agenesis, H2: The agenesis of maxillary third molars is associated with the anteroposterior dimensions of the maxilla, and H3: The agenesis of mandibular third molars is not associated with the anteroposterior dimensions of the mandible. Therefore, the null hypothesis for this research is H0: An individual’s sex and the presence/absence of the third molar are independent. The sample for this research project includes 543 individuals from the University of New Mexico’s Maxwell Museum of Anthropology Orthodontics Case File System. This study examines panoramic radiographs of the dentition for each individual to ascertain whether any of the third molars was congenitally absent, and records the cephalometric measurements for each case for statistical analysis. This study uses descriptive statistics, crosstabulation analysis, chi-square tests, non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis tests, and logistic regression analysis to investigate any associations between third molar agenesis and maxillomandibular jaw dimensions. The results show that Native Americans (9.2%), Hispanics (8.46%), and European Americans (8.37%) have a higher frequency of third molar agenesis than African Americans (0.17%) and Asians (0.17%). This finding is consistent with the published body of work on third molar agenesis, in spite of the small sample sizes for diverse populations. There is a significant difference in the number of molars missing among groups. For the present study, based on crosstabulation analysis, most individuals are missing two molars (34.9%), followed by one absent (31.7%), a lack of four molars (25.3%), and finally a lack of 3 molars (7.9%). Individuals with third molar agenesis are nearly twice as likely to be missing a molar from the mandible (62.8%) than the maxilla (36.9%). This study uses crosstabulation analysis, chi-square analysis, non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis tests, and logistic regression analysis to assess the association between third molar agenesis and measurements of the dental arcade. This study did not find an association between an individual’s maxillomandibular dimensions and third molar agenesis. Therefore, this study did not find support for the hypothesis that individuals with third molar agenesis would have smaller maxillomandibular dimensions than individuals without agenesis. Based on the findings of this study, an association between the size of an individual’s mouth and third molar agenesis does not exist in the sample analyzed. Third molar agenesis is not occurring due to a lack of room in the mouth, but possibly results from heredity. Therefore, it may be more likely that genetic variation influences third molar agenesis, rather than an evolutionary change in diet.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-01-13T13:27:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2015-03-09. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2016-01-13T13:33:02Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000852390.pdf: 1120449 bytes, checksum: 5f72e719c4a6d0bd04673f70d8f8f36b (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Atualmente diversas questões emergentes vêm questionando a validade e abrangência da atual moldura conceitual da biologia evolutiva, conhecida como Síntese Moderna, e expansãoes desta mesma moldura tem sido debatidas, levando a um novo quadro conceitual denominado Síntese Estendida, uma vez que prentende expandir ao invés de refutar a Síntese Moderna. Estas discussões também têm levantado questões acerca da epistemologia e da natureza histórica da biologia evolutiva, neste sentido buscamos um referencial teórico que pudesse interpretar epistemologicamente o desenvolvimento das idéias e teorias evolutivas e transformistas na história da biologia assim como explicitar o atual processo de expansão da teoria sintética da evolução. Desta forma realizamos uma análise filosóficada históra da biologia evolutiva por meio de um referencial bachelardiano e observamos um progressivo racionalismo na mesma, sendo condizente com o modelo de perfil epistemológico proposto por Bachelard. Após esta análise buscamos investigar como ela poderia contribuir para o ensino de evolução, uma vez que a evolução biológica desempenha um papel central tanto para a biologia quanto para seu ensino, articulando suas diferentes áreas e conferindo-lhes sentido. Tambéma a teoria dos perfis epistemológicos de Bachelard possui a capacidade sui generis de relacionar intimamente o desenvolvimento histórico-filosófico de um conceito com o desenvolvimento psicológico do mesmo conceito em seu processo de ensino-aprendizagem. Identificamos que o ensino de evolução possui diversos problemas como - Dificuldades dos professores em lidar com as concepções religiosas dos alunos; Visões finalistas e teleológicas da evolução tanto pelos alunos quanto pelos professores; Ensino fragmentado e estanque dos conteúdos de biologia; Falta de bases teóricas por parte dos professores para trabalhar a história da ciência e para se utilizar a evolução como... / Currently several emerging issues are questioning the validity and scope of the current conceptual framework of evoluationary biology, known as Modern Synthesis, and expansions of this frame are being discussed, leading to a new conceptual framework called Extended Synthesis, since it seeks to expand rather than refute the Modern Synthesis. There discussions have also raised questions about the epistemology and the historical nature of evolutionary biology, in this sense we seek a theoretical framework that could philosophically the development of evolutionary ideas and theories in the history of biology as well as explain the current process of expandion of the Modern Synthesis. Thus, we performed a philosophical analysis of the history of the evolutionary biology through a Bachelardian referential, and we observed a progressive rationalism in this historical process, being consistent with the epistemological profile model proposed by Bachelard. After this analysis we seek to investigate how it could contribute to the teaching of evolution plays a central role both for biology and for his teaching, combining their different areas and giving them direction. Also the bachelardian theory of epistemological profiles has the unique ability to closely relate the historical and philosophical development of a concept to the psychological development of the same concept in it's teaching-learning process. We found that the teaching of evoluation has several problems such as - Teachers difficulties in dealing with religious conceptions of the students; Finalists and Teleological views of evolution brought by students and teachers as well; Fragmented teaching of biology content; Lack of theoretical bases for teachers to work with the history of science and to use evolution as an integrating axis; Strictly genecentric conception of biological evolution; Teaching of evolution restricted to Lamarck's and Darwin's ideas and opposition between them - Most...

abstract: This research uses Peircean Semiotics to model the evolution of symbolic behavior in the human lineage and the potential material correlates of this evolutionary process in the archaeological record. The semiotic model states the capacity for symbolic behavior developed in two distinct stages. Emergent capacities are characterized by the sporadic use of non-symbolic and symbolic material culture that affects information exchange between individuals. Symbolic exchange will be rare. Mobilized capacities are defined by the constant use of non-symbolic and symbolic objects that affect both interpersonal and group-level information exchange. Symbolic behavior will be obligatory and widespread. The model was tested against the published archaeological record dating from ~200,000 years ago to the Pleistocene/Holocene boundary in three sub-regions of Africa and Eurasia. A number of Exploratory and Confirmatory Data Analysis techniques were used to identify patterning in artifacts through time consistent with model predictions. The results indicate Emergent symboling capacities were expressed as early as ~100,000 years ago in Southern Africa and the Levant. However, capacities do not appear fully Mobilized in these regions until ~17,000 years ago. Emergent symboling is not evident in the European record until ~42,000 years ago, but develops rapidly. The results also indicate both Anatomically Modern Humans and Neanderthals had the capacity for symbolic behavior, but expressed those capacities differently. Moreover, interactions between the two populations did not select for symbolic expression, nor did periodic aggregation within groups. The analysis ultimately situates the capacity for symbolic behavior in increased engagement with materiality and the ability to recognize material objects can be made meaningful– an ability that must have been shared with Anatomically Modern Humans’ and Neanderthals’ most recent common ancestor. Consequently, the results have significant implications for notions of ‘modernity’ and human uniqueness that drive human origins research. This work pioneers deductive approaches to cognitive evolution, and both strengths and weaknesses are discussed. In offering notable results and best practices, it effectively operationalizes the semiotic model as a viable analytical method for human origins research. / Dissertation/Thesis / Appendices A-N: Spreadsheets / Doctoral Dissertation Anthropology 2016