The Diversity of Hominin Biological Populations, Essay Example

What were the diversity of hominin biological populations, hominin culture, and each hominin species’ geographic distribution two million years ago? (Things to consider include the hominin genera and species living 2 million years ago, their culture like, and which continents or parts of continents were each groups occupying?)

The population hominin that existed about 2 million years ago was Australopithecus (Week 9). This population had at least seven distinct species. Australopithecus afarensis, A. Africanus, A. bahrelghazali, A. anamensis, A. Garhi, A. sediba, and A. deyiremeda. However, these species did not exist precisely at 2 million years ago; rather, they existed between 4.2 million years and 2.0 million years ago (week 9). Australopithecines were living in savanna grasslands as herbivores eating rough plants and vegetables. Also, these species used stone tools and consumed meat.  For instance, Australopithecus Garhi is lined to the oldest animal bones and stone tools broken or cut (112).  Some of the most known Australopithecus species, including A. afarensis, were discovered in Africa, specifically Ethiopia (week 9). There is also evidence that Australopithecus was traced at the site of Laetoli, Tanzania. However, in Tanzania, there is only a trace of footprints of two adults walking side by side (week 9). Besides, there are traces of Australopithecus anamensis in Lake Turkana and Australopithecus africanus and A. Garhi in a South Africa- quarry in Taungs.

Paranthropus is a hominin that existed about 1 million years ago. However, they did not exist precisely at that time; rather, their time range is between 3.0 and 1.0 million years ago (week 9). They were similar to Australopithecine skeletons, though they were a bit larger and heavier than most Australopithecines.  Unlike Australopithecines, which had seven species, Paranthropus has three identified species, including Paranthropus boisei, Paranthropus walker, and Paranthropus robustus.  Similarly, unlike Australopithecines, these species did not use structured stone and bone tools; rather, it is belied that they used unmodified sticks and stone to access the nuts and tubers, which formed part of their diet. Lived in social groups. Paleoanthropologists were discovered in Africa. Particularly P. boisei was discovered in 1955 in Olduvai Gorge in northern Tanzania. Paranthropus walkeri and Paranthropus boisei were also found in Ethiopia, Kenya (Koobi Fora), and Tanzania. Lastly, Paranthropus robustus was discovered in South Africa -the limestone cave of Swartkrans.

Homo antecessor is a hominin that lived about 70,000 year’s age. However, its time range is between 1.7 million to 700,000 years ago (week 9).  This species is believed to be ancestral to Homo sapiens. The species belong to the genus Homo. Some of its species include H. heidelbergensis or a European variety of H. Erectus. It is considered the chronospecies intermediate between H. Erectus and H. heidelbergensis. The species used well-structured stone tools and animal bones, which were discovered at Sima del Elefante. These tools included cutting flakes, which were created mainly for processing and eating meat and marrow. Their diet mostly included meat (114). There is also the suggestion that these species lived a nomadic life and followed food sources. This species has only been discovered in Europe. These species have specifically been found at Gran Dolina in Atapuerca, Spain. Similarly, the species were discovered in Sima del Elefante. This indicates that, unlike other species like Australopithecus and Paranthropus, these species were only limited to few sites and did not migrate to wider areas.

Homo Naledi is suggested to have lived between 335,000 and 236,000 years ago. Is among the most recent early humans (week 9).  It is an extinct species of humans of the genus Homo. The species were not living in caves; thus, tracing their food, tools, or fire made it difficult to determine their cultural aspects.  However, it is evident that these species lived in caves and used the chambers to deposit their dead. However, generally, matters of Homo Naledi remain highly controversial and debatable. These species have been found only at a single site in South Africa (week 9).  The species were specifically discovered in the Rising Star cave system in South Africa. The species discovered at this site was primitive with modern features though has no direct link to modern humans’ ancestors. However, unlike other species discovered in few numbers (fossils), 131 remains of at least two adults and a juvenile were found. Similarly to Homo antecessor and unlike other species like Australopithecus and Paranthropus, these species did not migrate to wider areas, “have been found only at a single site in South Africa” (week 9).