ANTH 4120, Fall 2007

Professor Sponheimer

Examination 2 Essay Handout

Write an essay that describes what we know about early hominin environments from the late Miocene to early Pleistocene, but with a special emphasis on how we know what we think we know. Be certain to discuss the “solidity” of this knowledge as well as the advantages and disadvantages of various paleoenvironmental proxies where appropriate. In addition, identify areas for future research that might improve our knowledge of early hominin paleoenvironments.

You are expected to integrate information from at least five of the papers we have read in this essay, and you are encouraged to incorporate supplemental data from at least one other publication. It is desirable that you acknowledge all of your sources either in the text (e.g., “Milton stated that”) or as standard citations (e.g., Vrba, 1993), but it is not required. Remember, when it come to writing papers (albeit not poetry), organization is always a good thing!

Essays are limited to 7 double-spaced pages with 12 point Times Roman font. Please bring your stapled paper to class on Monday.

Relevant papers that we have read this semester include:

Vrba, 1980

Andrews & Humphrey, 1999

Plummer & Bishop, 1994

Vignaud et al., 2002

WoldeGabriel et al., 2004

Cerling, 1992

DeMenocal, 1995

Andrews & Bamforth, 2007

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ANTH 4120, Fall 2007

Professor Sponheimer

Examination 1 Essay Handout

Modern humans and non-human primates have often served as ecological models for early hominids. You will need to explore this idea in your essay. After a brief introduction, you should discuss the ecology and dietary adaptations (e.g., digestive systems) of modern humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and baboons. In a later, more theoretically driven section of the essay, you should discuss which of these taxa might be the most appropriate analogs for early hominids given what we have read about their environments, and the general utility and appropriateness of such models. You should use at least five of the papers that we have read this semester to answer this essay. It is desirable that you acknowledge all of your sources either in the text (e.g., “Milton stated that”) or as standard citations (e.g., Milton, 2002), but it is not required. Remember, when it come to writing tests (albeit not poetry), organization is always a good thing!