Fall 2019  |  ANTH 3401 Section 001: The Human Fossil Record (19290)

Instructor(s)
Class Component:
Laboratory
Credits:
3 Credits
Grading Basis:
A-F only
Instructor Consent:
No Special Consent Required
Instruction Mode:
In Person Term Based
Meets With:
ANTH 5401 Section 001
Times and Locations:
Regular Academic Session
 
09/03/2019 - 12/11/2019
Tue, Thu 11:00AM - 12:15PM
UMTC, West Bank
Blegen Hall 318
Enrollment Status:
Open (14 of 15 seats filled)
Also Offered:
Course Catalog Description:
Fossil evidence paleoanthropologists use to reconstruct human evolutionary history. Taxonomy, phylogeny, behavior, ecology, tool use, land use, biogeography. Hands-on examination of fossil casts, readings from primary/secondary professional sources. prereq: 1001 or instr consent
Class Notes:
http://classinfo.umn.edu/?tappe004+ANTH3401+Fall2018
Class Description:
This class will focus on the diversity of specimens and species that inform us about human evolutionary history. Knowledge about the biology, ecology, and behavior of our ancestors occurs almost entirely through the fragments of fossilized bone that are preserved over millions of years and from principles gleaned from the modern world. Indeed, while we begin to see evidence of human culture around 2.5 million years ago, it is only in the last 100,000
years that cultural artifacts transcend lithic technologies. Nevertheless, we can learn a great deal about our ancestors by studying the shapes of their bony features, the fauna and flora with which they co-existed, even the frequency and dispersal of their skeletal elements. Each datum gives us new insight into our past, our present, and what it means to be human. In this course we will explore human evolutionary history by reading some of the primary scientific articles that describe our ancestors.
We will focus our seminar readings on major hypotheses about causes of changes over the course of human evolution. The detailed evidence, as expressed in fossil specimens and the paleoenvironmental and archaeological records will be covered as well in the form of individual specimen/site reports.
Grading:
Two exams (one in-class midterm, one take-home final), in-class participation during discussions, short active reading assignments, and a site/specimen report (3 page paper and 10 minute presentation)
Textbooks:
https://bookstores.umn.edu/course-lookup/19290/1199
Instructor Supplied Information Last Updated:
17 July 2015

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