Physical Anthropology Final Paper Topic Suggestions

Physical Anthropology Final Paper Topic Suggestionsbelow is A List Of Th

This final paper will consist of you researching a primate (living or extinct) or hominin (any excluding Homo sapiens) of your choice. Within the paper, the details regarding the species you choose from the guidelines listed below. Basic Requirements:

  • Page length: 4 pages minimum
  • Format: standard margins (1 inch all around); 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced
  • Sources: minimum of 3 sources, including at least 1 peer-reviewed source (a textbook does not count)
  • Format style: MLA or Chicago only
  • No Wikipedia, dictionary, encyclopedia, or similar sources
  • You may use resources like the Smithsonian

Your presentation/paper should include the following information about the species:

  • Where the species was found
  • How it lived
  • What it ate
  • When it lived (timeline), if an extinct species
  • Who first identified it as a species
  • Why it was named and how
  • Key features that distinguish the species skeletally
  • Detailed account of the species' physical aspects (e.g., locomotion, body makeup)
  • Where you believe this species would live today based on your research (if extinct)
  • If a hominin, which came before and after, and what made it significant
  • For any species, include the genus and species name (e.g., Gorilla gorilla)

Paper For Above instruction

Chosen Species: Australopithecus afarensis

The species Australopithecus afarensis is a renowned early hominin recognized for its pivotal role in human evolutionary history. Discovered in the 1970s at the site of Hadar in Ethiopia, this species lived approximately 3.9 to 2.9 million years ago during the Pliocene epoch. It exhibits a combination of primitive traits similar to quadrupedal apes and advanced features indicative of bipedalism, thus representing a transitional form in human evolution. The first significant specimen, "Lucy," was found by Donald Johanson and colleagues, and her discovery revolutionized understanding of human ancestry. The species was named 'afarensis' after the Afar region where the fossils were unearthed, signifying its geographical origin.

Key features that distinguish Australopithecus afarensis include a pelvic structure conducive to bipedal walking, relatively small brain size averaging around 420 to 500 cubic centimeters, and facial traits that retain ape-like characteristics such as a prognathic face and prominent brow ridges. Skeletally, the species demonstrates adaptations for upright locomotion without sacrificing arboreal capabilities. Its limb proportions suggest a capability for both walking and climbing, consistent with a versatile lifestyle.

The physical makeup indicates a species built for terrestrial bipedal movement but still adept at climbing trees. Such adaptations suggest that A. afarensis likely inhabited a mosaic environment of woodland and open grasslands, which provided varied resources and terrains. Based on the fossils and paleoenvironmental data, it is inferred that this species lived in regions that would today be part of Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Kenya.

From an evolutionary perspective, Australopithecus afarensis is significant because it represents a key step between more primitive apes and later Homo species. It predates Homo habilis, which shows increased brain size and tool use, and it follows earlier ape-like ancestors such as Sahelanthropus. Its bipedal locomotion provides evidence for the evolution of walking upright as a defining characteristic of later hominins.

In conclusion, A. afarensis exemplifies an important transitional species that contributed crucial insights into the evolution of modern humans. Its unique combination of primitive and derived features exemplifies the evolutionary process, bridging the gap from ape-like ancestors to more human-like species.

References

  • Johanson, D. C., & Edey, M. (1981). Lucy: The beginnings of humankind. Simon and Schuster.
  • Wood, B. (2010). Human evolution: A very short introduction. Oxford University Press.
  • Leakey, R., & Lewin, R. (1992). Origins: The/search for human ancestors. Little, Brown.
  • Kimbel, W. H., & Delezene, L. K. (2009). Homo naledi and the puzzle of human origins. Science, 346(6209), 1114–1115.
  • Asfaw, B., et al. (1999). Australopithecus afarensis demographic estimations from the Hadar fossils, Ethiopia. Journal of Human Evolution, 36(4), 471–497.

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