Bonus Entry #4

Details

Good news - this one is going to take some reading! Yay!

Recently in class we briefly discussed the significance of a group of Homo erectus fossils found in Georgia and what it might mean for what we understand about hominid evolution. Dr. Van Arsdale was one of the researchers involved in this fossil dig, and the following tasks center around his take on what we can learn from these fossils.

Bonus Entry #4 - Dmanisi Skulls and Hominid Evolution

1.
a) Go to the following link and either listen to the interview with Dr. Van Arsdale or read the transcript below. Record bulleted notes on what you learn about these particular fossils and what they indicate about hominid evolution. http://www.npr.org/2013/10/18/237100758/new-fossil-may-trim-branches-of-human-evolution

b) Go to the following link and read Dr. Van Arsdale's blog post about these skulls. Same story as above - take some bulleted notes on these - but try to add detail/record new details that we're discussed above. https://blogs.wellesley.edu/vanarsdale/2013/10/17/uncategorized/the-new-wonderful-dmanisi-skull/

2. a) Do a Google search for an image of hominid phylogenetic tree. Sketch a basic outline of one of these. How would this phylogenetic tree look different if Dr. Van Arsdale's ideas are correct? (Phylogenetic trees are a visual hypothesis of how various organisms might be related, but as with all things in science, they are subject to revision based on new evidence.)

Hopefully some questions came to mind as you read/listened to the above. If Dr. Van Arsdale were in our room tomorrow, what are three questions that you would ask him based on what you learned above or based on any other questions you have regarding hominid evolution?

3. Personal thoughts/reflections.

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