ANTH 140 - online Lab 2: Early Hominin Morphology Page 1 ANTH 140 Lab 2: Early Hominin Morphology Introduction: The purpose of this lab is to introduce you to the cranial and dental morphology of early hominins. By examining the suites of primitive and derived traits present in different hominins and comparing those traits with modern Homo sapiens and Pan troglodytes, you will gather the evidence necessary to address questions of relationships and behavior. To complete this lab, you will be examining virtual specimens available through the NMNH, Smithsonian 3D Digitization website: https://3d.si.edu/explore/museum/natural-history-museum. This site allows you to view casts of fossil specimens in 3D and to rotate the specimens to view them from different angles. There are also a series of tools that will allow you to measure, zoom in and out, and change lighting, material, and view. Feel free to play with the settings/tools. In some cases, minor adjustments to the lighting and/or materials can make it easier to see details on the specimens. While there are links accompanying the specimens that you should view in completing this lab (see below), there are many additional specimens available with this digital collection. Feel free to explore. Part 1 - Data Collection: On each of the following pages is a data collection table for seven fossil hominin species the modern human, and the chimpanzee. For each species, collect the following data. Enter your data directly into the tables. Links to specimens are provided with each species. - 1) Foramen magnum location – moved forward or toward the rear; pointing straight down or angling to the rear? 2) Crests - Is there a sagittal crest (running front to back along the top of the skull)? Is there a nuchal crest (running horizontally along the back of the skull)? 3) Prognathism – Is the face more prognathic (projecting) or orthognathic (flat)? Is there alveolar prognathism (projecting at the teeth)? 4) Robusticity - Is the skull heavily built or lightly built? Is the face dish-shaped? Is the jaw rugged and deep or smooth and shallow? Are there heavy muscle markings? 5) Supraorbital torus (brow ridges) – present or absent; size 6) Brain size (relative to face) - Is it larger? Smaller? The same? 7) Teeth - What are the relative sizes of the teeth (incisors, canine, premolars, molars)? Is the last molar (M3) reduced? Do the premolars look like molars, or are they small with few bumps? Does the canine extend beyond the tooth row? NOTE: Damage to specimens sometimes prevents complete data collection. However, you might be able to infer characteristics from the surrounding bone. For example, if a specimen is missing a tooth (or teeth) you might be able to estimate the size of teeth from the roots, the size of the jaw, or the tooth sockets. ANTH 140-online Lab 2: Early Hominin Morphology Page 2 Australopithecus afarensis: 4.0 - 2.9 million years old Specimen #A.L. 444-2 https://3d.si.edu/object/3d/australopithecus-afarensis-cranium:6faf8121-250c-47cb- a5cc-139d7b16c570 Foramen Magnum Location Crests Prognathism Robusticity Supraorbital Torus Brain Size (relative to face) Teeth ANTH 140 - online Lab 2: Early Hominin Morphology Page 3 Homo habilis: 2.4 - 1.7 million years old Specimens # OH 24 & KNM-ER 1813 https://3d.si.edu/object/3d/homo-habilis-cranium:4c474d9f-72b2-49ab-bdd2- 9f4b9d250cd2 https://3d.si.edu/object/3d/homo-habilis-cranium:de47a0c6-20c6-4d70-bcc8- 4992d5f4ff66 Foramen Magnum Location Crests Prognathism Robusticity Supraorbital Torus Brain Size (relative to face) Teeth ANTH 140 - online Lab 2: Early Hominin Morphology Page 4 Paranthropus robustus: 1.8 - 1.0 million years old Specimens # SK-46 (male) and DNH 7 (female) https://3d.si.edu/object/3d/paranthropus-robustus-cranium:70125300-c184-494d-9a05- 3b4b8ba3977f https://3d.si.edu/object/3d/paranthropus-robustus-cranium:8bc77140-b75c-4f96-9899- bf275b5d43dd Foramen Magnum Location Crests Prognathism Robusticity Supraorbital Torus Brain Size (relative to face) Teeth ANTH 140 - online Lab 2: Early Hominin Morphology Page 5 Paranthropus boisei: 2.3 - 1.2 million years old Specimens # KNM-ER 406 (male); OH 5 (male); KNM-ER 732 (female) https://3d.si.edu/object/3d/paranthropus-boisei-cranium:081d5e0b-7181-4ccb-bfbd- 9f906930c620 https://3d.si.edu/object/3d/paranthropus-boisei-cranium:f71256ba-fb5d-4a26-b44d- 3d4cc2a8b533 https://3d.si.edu/object/3d/paranthropus-boisei-cranium:1257a10e-a0a5-448c-9d1e- db0c4d775ec0 Foramen Magnum Location Crests Prognathism Robusticity Supraorbital Torus Brain Size (relative to face) Teeth