WORLD ARCHAEOLOGY 1.1 MIDTERM
SPECIES
species Age (Ma) distribution bipedalism Body teeth brain remarks
mass
Gracile Australopithecus 4.0-2.0 Africa yes <40 kg large small Small skull,
prognathic face
Robust Australopithecus 2.5-1.0 Africa yes ~40 kg very large small Sagittal crest,
(also known as heavy jaw,
Paranthropus) dish-shaped face
Homo habilis 2.0-1.5 Africa yes <40 kg large Small- Rounded skull,
medium small prognathic
face
Homo rudolfensis 2.0-1.25 Africa Yes? ~55 kg? large small Large, flat face,
straight incisor row
Homo ergaster = homo 1.8-0.6 Africa, asia, yes >60 kg small medium Modern body
erectus (asia-0.05) europe proportions,
pronounced
browridge
Homo heidelbergensis 0.7-0.4 Africa, europe yes >60 kg small large Large, elongated
(Africa 0.2) skull,
pronounced
browridge
Homo neandertalensis 0.4-0.04 Europe, yes >60 kg small large Rounded, elongated
western asia skull,
heavy browridge
Homo floresiensis 0.1?-0.06 flores yes <40 kg Small small Small body size,
small skull
denisovans Unknown- Central asia Yes? ? ? Large? Known from ancient
0.04 DNA
(good in heights)
Homo sapiens 0.3- global yes >60 kg small large Globular skull,
present flat face, chin
STONE TOOL MODES
mode Industry, tradition or culture Characteristic age remarks
artefacts
Mode 1 Oldowan Chopper, core, flakes 2.5 – 1.4 Mya Earliest in Africa After 1.8 Mya also
Early Paleolithic found in Europe and Asia Likely
toolmaking species are Gracile
Australopithecines, Robust
Australopithecines, H. habilis, H.
rudolfensis, H. erectus
Mode 2 Acheulian Bifaces (handaxes) 1.7 – 250 ka Earliest in Africa Early makers: Homo
Early Paleolithic erectus Late Acheulian possibly made
by H. heidelbergensis
Mode 3 e.g. Mousterian e.g. Levallois 250 – 40 ka So-called “prepared-core technologies”
Mousterian in Europe is associated with
Neandertals
Mode 4 e.g. Aurignacian. Gravettian, Large blades 40 – 11 ka Upper Paleolithic in Europe is
magdalenian Upper Paleolithic associated with H. sapiens
Mode 5 e.g. Aurignacian, Gravettian, bladelets 40 – 11 ka Probably hafted in composite tool e.g.
magdalenian Upper Paleolithic tip or barbs on a wooden or bone point
SPECIES
species Age (Ma) distribution bipedalism Body teeth brain remarks
mass
Gracile Australopithecus 4.0-2.0 Africa yes <40 kg large small Small skull,
prognathic face
Robust Australopithecus 2.5-1.0 Africa yes ~40 kg very large small Sagittal crest,
(also known as heavy jaw,
Paranthropus) dish-shaped face
Homo habilis 2.0-1.5 Africa yes <40 kg large Small- Rounded skull,
medium small prognathic
face
Homo rudolfensis 2.0-1.25 Africa Yes? ~55 kg? large small Large, flat face,
straight incisor row
Homo ergaster = homo 1.8-0.6 Africa, asia, yes >60 kg small medium Modern body
erectus (asia-0.05) europe proportions,
pronounced
browridge
Homo heidelbergensis 0.7-0.4 Africa, europe yes >60 kg small large Large, elongated
(Africa 0.2) skull,
pronounced
browridge
Homo neandertalensis 0.4-0.04 Europe, yes >60 kg small large Rounded, elongated
western asia skull,
heavy browridge
Homo floresiensis 0.1?-0.06 flores yes <40 kg Small small Small body size,
small skull
denisovans Unknown- Central asia Yes? ? ? Large? Known from ancient
0.04 DNA
(good in heights)
Homo sapiens 0.3- global yes >60 kg small large Globular skull,
present flat face, chin
STONE TOOL MODES
mode Industry, tradition or culture Characteristic age remarks
artefacts
Mode 1 Oldowan Chopper, core, flakes 2.5 – 1.4 Mya Earliest in Africa After 1.8 Mya also
Early Paleolithic found in Europe and Asia Likely
toolmaking species are Gracile
Australopithecines, Robust
Australopithecines, H. habilis, H.
rudolfensis, H. erectus
Mode 2 Acheulian Bifaces (handaxes) 1.7 – 250 ka Earliest in Africa Early makers: Homo
Early Paleolithic erectus Late Acheulian possibly made
by H. heidelbergensis
Mode 3 e.g. Mousterian e.g. Levallois 250 – 40 ka So-called “prepared-core technologies”
Mousterian in Europe is associated with
Neandertals
Mode 4 e.g. Aurignacian. Gravettian, Large blades 40 – 11 ka Upper Paleolithic in Europe is
magdalenian Upper Paleolithic associated with H. sapiens
Mode 5 e.g. Aurignacian, Gravettian, bladelets 40 – 11 ka Probably hafted in composite tool e.g.
magdalenian Upper Paleolithic tip or barbs on a wooden or bone point
