Chapter 3: The Beginnings of Human Culture
Lecture notes of Dr. Vel J. Suminguit
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Understand that culture is our species major mode of adaptation
2. Know the major fossil ancestors of our species and approximately where and when they lived.
3. Understand the biological changes that led to the current physical structure of our species
4. Know the major milestones in the development of culture and approximately where and when
they occurred.
5. Understand how the study of human evolution complements and enhances the study of the
diversity of cultures today.
INTRODUCTION
Before discussing the origins of culture, it is important that we clearly understand at what point
in human evolution our ancestors became capable of having culture? What are the biological
preconditions for culture?
THE BEGINNINGS
4.6 billion years ago, the earth was born
3.5 billion years ago, LIFE began. The basic BUILDING BLOCKS for life became abundant at that time
such as:
1. Amino acid
2. Nucleic Acid
3. Hydrogen, Oxygen, Carbon, Nitrogen
The first life form was a single-celled organism that eventually evolved into multi-celled organisms, into
millions of species. Cells multiply through cell division called 1) mitosis; 2) meiosis
Today, the world has around 10 million species of plants and animals, 4000 of which are mammals
EVOLUTION THROUGH ADAPTATATION
Evolution – In general sense, it means “change through time.” Biologically, it means “changes in genetic
makeup of a population over generations.”
Genes are inherited molecular code that specifies the biological traits and characteristics of each
individual.
Adaptation – a series of beneficial adjustments of organisms to their environment. It is considered the
cornerstone of the theory of evolution by natural selection, originally formulated by English
naturalist Charles Darwin in 1859.
“Individuals having characteristics best suited to a particular environment survive and
reproduce with greater frequency than do individuals without those characteristics.”
Today scientists understand that random genetic mutation is the source of variation that gives
organisms this reproductive edge.
Species are populations or groups of populations having common attributes and the ability to
interbreed and produce live, fertile offspring.
CLASSIFICATION OF HUMANS
Kingdom: Animalia Suborder: Anthropoidea
Phylum: Chordata Superfamily: Hominoidea
Subphylum: Vertebrata Family: Hominidae
Class: Mammalia Genus: Homo
Order: Primates Species: sapiens
The human species is scientifically called Homo sapiens, which belongs to the Primate order, a subgroup
of mammals that includes lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, monkeys, and apes. Among primates, humans are
closely related to apes – chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, orangutan, and gibbons.
In 1698, after dissecting a young male chimpanzee captured in West Africa and brought to Europe, an
English physician concluded the creature was almost human and classified it as Homo sylvestris or man
of the forest.
Evidence from ancient skeletons indicates the first primate-like creature appeared 65M years ago, when
a new mild climate favored the spread of dense tropical and subtropical forest over much of the earth.
Foods like fruits, young leaves, flowers, and birds’ eggs became abundant up in the tree canopies.
Animals that could climb or fly benefited from the new sources of food. The Primates were one of those
that benefitted most.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERESTICS THAT MAKE PRIMATES WELL-SUITED TO FOREST ENVIRONMENT
1. relatively small body size – allows the use of small tree branches without falling
2. unspecialized teeth – able to eat varied sources of food and diet
3. Five digits on hands and feet – allows to grasp and manipulate objects
4. Opposable thumb – allows to hold objects of different thickness and size
5. Stereoscopic color vision – ability to see the world in three dimension
6. Active sense of touch - effective feeling and grasping mechanism
7. Increased brain size – especially the area supporting conscious thought
THE HUMAN ANCESTORS
15- and 4 M Yrs. Ago – various kinds of hominoids lived throughout Africa, Asia, and
Europe
8M and 5M Yrs. Ago – one of the apes living in Africa was the direct ancestor of human
line
1. Bipedalism is a special form of locomotion on two feet found among humans
and their ancestors. This is a requirement if a new fossil is to be considered as
one of the ancestors
2. 5M and 4M years ago, there was change of global climate that led to the
savannization (grassland with scattered trees) of Africa. Tree dweller primates
had to come down and started to learn to walk using two feet.
3. Advantages:
Travel long distance in search of food and water without tiring
Free hands allowing to carry food to a safe place
Use sticks to protect themselves against predators
Exposes smaller area of the body to direct heat
See objects (spot food and predators) from a distance
Australopithecus – the Genus including several species of early bipeds from southern
and eastern Africa living between 4.2M and about 1 million years ago. Height of female
is 3.5 feet. One of whom was the direct ancestor of humans.
Homo habilis (“handy man”)
1. 2.5M and lasted up to 250,000 years ago
2. Increased meat consumption by our early ancestors was important for human
evolution. Without meat, it would lead to stunted growth, malnutrition,
starvation, and even death
3. Teeth were no longer designed to tear skin of animals. They must use stone
implements made by striking sharp-edged flakes, useful for cutting meat, from
the surface of the stone core.
4. Flakes and choppers where found from Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania and it is
called the OLDOWAN tool tradition, the first stone tool industry beginning
between 2.5M and lasted up to 250,000 years ago. This marks the beginning of
the Lower Paleolithic or Old Stone Age and this is the beginning of culture
5. Since then, early hominids (H. habilis and H. erectus) have relied more on what
their minds could invent rather than on what their bodies are capable of.
6. Began the course of gradual brain expansion that continued until some 200,000
years ago.
7. Population was totally confined in Africa.
Homo erectus (“upright man”)
1. 2M – 10,000 years ago, coincided with Pleistocene Epoch (Ice Age)
2. Skeletal remains found not only in Africa but also in Russia/Turkey, South
Central China, and Java (Indonesia)
3. Body size and proportion similar to modern humans
4. Average Brain size (equivalent to higher range of H. Habilis but lower range of H.
Sapiens)
5. Cultural Development:
Stone flakes replaced with hand axe,
Cleavers and scrappers to process animal hides for bedding and cloth
Use fire around 1M years ago
Cook food
Keep body warm
Continue activity after dark
Frighten away predators
Organized hunting
Began language development to improve communication as early as
700,000 years ago
Homo Sapiens (started to appear around 400,000 years ago)
1. Archaic Homo sapiens or Neanderthals (125,000-30,000 years ago).
Homo erectus evolved into archaic Homo sapiens (Neanderthals);
Use fire, make tools, fashion clothes, bury their dead
2. Homo sapiens sapiens (beginning 35,000 years ago).
Complex language 35,000 years ago
Tarsiers Colobus Monkey
Baboon Face Baboon with baby on her back
Gorilla Gorilla
Chimpanzee Skeleton Chimpanzee Face
Front view of Australopethicus Side view of Australopethicus
Homo Erectus Comparison of Homo erectus and Homo Sapiens
