Course Description:
The evolution of our own group and our closest
relatives--fossil and living apes--is a fascinating as well as
perplexing subject of study. In part, we can learn much about evolution
by studying our own evolutionary group. But, because the subject is so
close to us, various emotional components tend to be introduced into
the supposed science of paleontology and evolutionary biology. To
better understand our own evolutionary past, and to establish the
necessary background for undertaking this task, the first weeks of the
course will consist of: 1) an introduction to methods of reconstructing
evolutionary relationships; 2) learning necessary anatomical and dental
terminologies through study of casts of actual fossils; 3)
understanding geological and ecological changes that occurred during
the evolution of apes and humans (at least the past 35 million years);
4) and, in order to set the stage for later discussion, an overview of
primate evolution. The bulk of the course will consist of a survey of
the fossil evidence for the evolution of apes and of ourselves. Where
were the fossils found? How much material is known? How were these
finds interpreted in the past and how might we view matters today? What
biases have and/or do influence these interpretations? How might we--as
the ones who also devise evolutionary schemes--look at ourselves from
an evolutionary perspective. Lectures will be supplemented with casts
of fossils and skeletons and skulls of modern-day primates as well as
slides of all specimens discussed. Prerequisites: Undergraduates must
have taken Anthropology 0680 or received permission to enter the course
from the instructor.
Helpful Links
These sites are intended to supplement the primary
material from lectures, labs, and assigned readings. Their
content does not replace or supercede that material.
Osteo
Interactive
Skull
Module
The
Human Dentition
Dental
Microwear Website
The
eSkeletons Project