Horminin Evolution (Research Paper Sample)

Hominin Evolution
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Introduction
About 2.4 million years ago, a species of the genus Homo was able to emerge. Other hominin taxa also emerged between 3 and 1.8 million years ago due to climatic change. However, the accurate details of the effects of the climatic change are still in contention. The Plio-Pleistocene boundary is one of the most important baselines for the hominin species. Most scholars agree that there was a migration of Hominins out of Africa into Asia and Europe especially with respect to the Homo erectus. However, the first migration contributed very little to the later hominins that were responsible for the human population. About 200000 years ago, there emerged a second migration of the existing hominins out of Africa. The second migration was done by Homo sapiens who replaced the populations that existed in Europe and Asia. The paper will shed light on how improved technology, allele mutation, genetic drift, gene flow, sexual selection, availability of food and habitats affected hominids.
Pleistocene Ecological Conditions
The period was characterised by lower temperatures, especially in the Polar Regions. Africa is far away from the tropics, but the effects of the change were very evident. Also, there were tectonic activities such as faulting, volcanic eruption, and rifting. There was also the emergence of the Sahara desert and the change in the woodlands and productive forests into savannahs (Larick and Ciochon, 1996). The biotic environment changes and the hominids needed to adapt to the climatic changes that were facing them. Hominids adapted by natural selection whereby they developed morpho-physiological adaptations that assisted them to endure the harsh climatic conditions.
Population Expansion and Ecological Factors that influenced the Migration of Hominids
One of the most important proofs of the hominid population dispersal from Africa into Asia and Europe has been shown by the mtDNA evidence. A huge majority of accurate demographic and cultural factors try to explain the population expansion, are mainly hypothetical (Leonard and Robertson, 2002). Archaeological data tends to be more accurate when explaining the population expansion. The archaeological data is divided into four areas. The first set of data is made up of artefacts discovered in Howieson Poort levels and the Blombos cave at the Klasies River. They reflected the discovery of more complex methods of hunting equipment that included a sharp pointed spear made of bones. The bones were used with the wooden arrows when they made a comparison to similar tools and weapons that were also found in Africa. The introduction of better or more advanced methods of hunting improved the hunting and food resources that were available to the hominids.
There was also a second discovery of an accumulated burnt plant remains at the Howieson Poort levels that suggested that the hominids had started to make greater use of plant resources Leonard and Robertson, 2002). The burnt plant remains could have increased the annual productivity of some root crops up to ten fold. The third discovery showed some systemic exploitation of fish or seabirds as a source of food, as shown in the Blombos cave. The fourth discovery was centred on the large scale movement and transportation of valuable stones and ornaments between adjacent hominid groups. The transactions also suggested that there were trade activities especially when food supplies were scarce during droughts.
All the above developments could have led to a substantial increase in the hominid populations. The carrying capacity of the environment was strained, and they had to look for alternative sources or food or migrate to other regions such as Europe and Asia Leonard and Robertson, 2002). The advancement in hunting technology could also have highly contributed to the competitive replacement of other hominids that were less advanced in hunting technology.
Human Cultural Evolution
The most accurate evidence of cultural evolution is based on clothing, tool making, the use of fire, and construction of shelters, arts, hunting and the domestication of animal and plant species. The developments helped man to have a greater control on the environment as compared to his ancestors (University of Waikato, 2015). It also enabled the groups that adapted the activities to have better survival chances when compared to other hominid groups that did not accept the changes. Also, all the genetic underpinnings that would occur due to the new developments were also passed on.
The Oldowan tool culture is associated with the Homo habilis. The tools were also described as cobble tools that comprised of flake and core tools. Core tools were made up of two or more flakes that had been knocked from one end to have a jagged end. The culture was prevalent in Africa for almost one million years. The Oldowan tools were replaced by the Acheulean tools that were probably made by the Homo erectus (University of Waikato, 2015). The Acheulean tools were a bit sharper and lighter that the Oldowan tools. They consisted of the hand axe, knives, hammers and cleavers. Homo erectus is assumed to have been the first hominin to migrate out of Africa because Acheulean tools have been found in both Asia and Europe. The advancement in tool technology increased the food resources available to the hominins.
One of the earliest proofs of the use of fire were bones that were discovered in Swartkrans cave located in South ...