A Blast from the Past: Neanderthal News

As we embark on a new year (2014) let us take a moment to look back at our prehistoric past, specifically at Neanderthals.  Scholars have been expanding the overall pool of knowledge of our human origins, and as a result Neanderthals have been in the news quite a bit this past year, particularly over the past month. Here are some highlights of Neanderthal news stories:

• Definitive Proof of Neanderthal Culture!  The first inkling of evidence of Neanderthals practiced their own unique brand of culture (in the form of burials) was discovered in the early 1900s, but the evidence was highly controversial and many scholars believed it was accidental evidence or faked.  A series of excavations in France, however, have provided substantive evidence that demonstrates that Neanderthals buried their dead, which is evidence of them practicing culture!  Additional evidence also demonstrates that Neanderthals were meticulous about their domestic spaces, organizing their "homes" based on occupational and leisure space(s).  This, too, hints at cultural elements being present among Neanderthals in the past. 
• Neanderthals Got into Ancient Humans' Genes!  The Neanderthal genome has been completely mapped, and from this, there is evidence that Neanderthals and archaic humans interbred.  But this interspecies love was not without consequences: Scientists now believe that modern human diabetes incidences and genetic mutations are linked to Neanderthal DNA.  And if that was not salacious enough for you, this genetic evidence has also demonstrated that Neaderthals relationships were among close family relations, a whole new spin on the kissing cousins phenomenon. 
• Neanderthals Had the Ability to be Chatty Cathys!  New research has demonstrated that Neanderthal skeletal anatomy provided Neanderthals the ability to speak similarly to humans.  Evidence shows Neanderthals had a hyoid bone, which is associated with allowing human beings that ability to speak, although human communication is also associated with genetics and brain size.  Perhaps the research that comes out during 2014 will provide more insights into this area of research since so far the only evidence is anatomical but little has come out in regards to genetic and physiological evidence. 

Holiday Traditions: Yule/Winter Solstice

December is a popular time of year for holidays around the world, and today I want to turn everyone's attentions to one of those holidays: Yule or Winter Solstice. 

Yule, or Winter Solstice, is a holiday practiced by Pagans and Neopagans around the world.  The holiday falls between December 20-23, but it is usually celebrated on the same day as the Winter Solstice (December 21/22).  The holiday is meant to commemorate the rebirth of the Oak King (or similar variant, depending on denomination of Pagan), who is associated with giving life, as well as acknowledge the increase in sun exposure that will occur from that date on.  You may already know that the Winter Solstice is the day when there is the least about of sunlight in the day (or the longest night of the year, depending on your preference). 

There is a long but varied history concerning how this holiday was celebrated in the past, but today, many Pagans & Neopagans celebrate this holiday very similarly to Western (American & Canadian, in particular) Christmas traditions.  Some Pagans/Neopagans have either boughs of holly or a large pine tree that they decorate with traditional colors associated with the season.  Color appropriate candles (gold, silver, green, red, white) are also lit, and sometimes a "Yule log" is burned on the night of the Solstice.  Some individuals will opt to wake prior to sunrise in order to watch the sunrise and say a prayer to the Oak King or sun.  Promises of fulfilling goals or bettering oneself are often times made either at sunrise or sunset.  Presents are usually exchanged in the evening after a large dinner shared with close family and friends. 

http://thestir.cafemom.com/baby/113242/How_to_Celebrate_Yule_With

 
And it is important to note that while there are similarities between Yule and Christmas in how both holidays are celebrated, the purpose behind each is somewhat different: Yule commemorates the rebirth of the Oak King, while Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.  Both are times meant to be spent with family and friends, however, meaning they are both special holidays to both groups: Christians and Pagans/Neopagans.

The Legend of Good, Ol'e St. Nic(holas)

St. Nick is a popular nickname for the American/Western version of Santa Claus, but among many European and Middle Eastern culture, St. Nicholas (and his cultural variation) is the protector children who provides good children gifts and bad children switches.  Similar to Santa Claus, St. Nicholas Day is the holiday I grew up with as a child in Germany and remember fondly celebrating the holiday, which in Germany meant leaving my shoes out on the evening of December 7 to wake the next morning to goodies in them. 

Google Image Search: http://acelebrationofwomen.org

A google image search: http://whatmakeschrisclick.blogspot.com

But there are variations on this holiday since it is a holiday that is practiced among so many different cultures.  The holiday is celebrated anywhere between the end of November to the middle of December, something I learned when a Polish friend reminisced about the Polish version occurring on December 6 whereas the German holiday is the following day.  St. Nicholas is popularly depicted as a tall, slender man with a white beard and red coat who walks door to door to patronize children, but cultures with strong ties to Christian faiths associate St. Nicholas as a Saint.  In these depictions, he wears either a red or white robe, carries a staff, and rides a donkey or mule.  I recall during on celebration in southern Germany seeing St. Nicholas depicted in this same manner, much to the disdain of the donkey he rode who had to deal with about a hundred screaming children who were excited to see St. Nicholas in the flesh.

While the holiday is not regularly celebrated in the United States, it remains a popular holiday in Europe and the Middle East, and it remains a cherished holiday memory from my childhood.  However it is that you celebrate the holiday season, many you have a safe and happy holiday season! 

Spotlight on Students: Physical Anthropology

The following is a featured assignment by one of my Anth 102 students, Scott Bower.  

INTRODUCTION

In the below paragraphs I will discuss what defines us as “human”.  I will also provide information on the first species in fossil record that I would define as “human”.  This species is that of Homo habilis, which primarily inhabited southern and eastern Africa around 1.6-2 million years ago.  This species is a successor of Australopithecus and a predecessor to Homo erectus. Homo habilis appears to have broken many of the barriers that separated humans from apes and is the first chronological species in the genius Homo.

WHAT IS “HUMAN” AND WHOM WERE THE FIRST

I believe a variety of characteristics define the human being.  One of the most obvious is the human locomotion pattern of true erect bipedalism.  The first example of true bipedalism in the Homo fossil record is that of Homo habilis, which was discovered in 1960 at Olduvai Gorge by Jonathan Leaky.  The “Olduvai foot” was reconstructed in 1960 and demonstrated a stout basal bone of the big toe aligned with the other toes.[i]  This is in contrast to the large and divergent big toes of monkeys and apes and demonstrates strong evidence of true bipedalism.

            Another characteristic that defines us as humans is the ability to make tools and the use of vocalized language for communications between each other.  H. habilis, which literally means “handy man”, has been associated with 11 different kind of tools that are known as the “Olduvan industry”[ii]. These abilities are correlated, largely, with an enlarged braincase.  The braincase of H. habilis is, although small in comparison to modern-day humans, at around 674CC[iii] (Homo sapiens 1600CC), may have been large enough to provide the degree of intelligence required to manufacture crude stone tools and speak a basic form of language.  This is a monumental leap in evolutionary biology where primates evolved away from ape-like features into a more human form.

            A further important characteristic of humans is the formation of complex social structures.  The fact that H. habilis is associated with tool making in conjunction with an enlarged braincase, aiding in the possibility of H. habilis obtaining the ability to speak; the probability of some type of complex social structure is great.  The only reason why H. habilis  maintained the ability to construct a more complex assortment of tools would be to aid in a hunter gatherer society.  This formation of a “society” is key in understanding the evolution and origin of Homo sapiens.

            Also unique to H. habilis was their ability to construct and live in shelters, which also aided in the ability to form complex sociocultural structures.  In 1966, Henry de Lumley discovered a camp that was inhabited by H. habilis.  This camp located in Terra Amata, France contained evidence of large huts constructed of animal skins.  Also discovered at the site was further evidence of advanced stone tools and the ability of H. habilis to use fire.  This discovery was the first evidence of a primate being able to construct and live in artificial dwellings and is a monumental step in human evolution.  

            CONCLUSION

In conclusion, Homo habilis appears to be the first species in the fossil record that had the ability to form many of the fundamental characteristics that define “human”.  Although, Homo habilis had many divergent qualities in comparison to that of Homo sapiens, they were the first to develop the basic foundations of what makes us human.  In my opinion, Homo habilis is the first species in the fossil record that can be considered “archaic human”.  I believe they had too many human like qualities, running in conjunction, to not be considered the first true primitive form of human.

REFERENCES

[1] Graham Brown, Stephanie Fairfax, Nidhi Sarao, and S. Anonymous (2013). Human Evolution. Retrieved from http://tolweb.org/treehouses/?treehouse_id=3710

[1] Graham Brown, Stephanie Fairfax, Nidhi Sarao, and S. Anonymous (2013). Human Evolution. Retrieved from http://tolweb.org/treehouses/?treehouse_id=3710

[1] Philip L. Stein & Bruce M. Rowe (2014). Physical Anthropology 11^th Ed: Early Species of the Genus Homo. Pg. 325. Fig. 14.2

 

Holiday Gifts for the Anthropologist!

It's that time of the year again where everyone is filled with holiday cheer and panicking about what to get that special someone.  If you know an anthropologist (or anyone interested in anthropology), then look no further because here are some awesome gifts that myself and several anthropologist friends recommend:

For the Physical Anthropologist:

Zazzle your favorite physical anthropologist with t-shirts, mugs, aprons, watches, and other useful gadgets.  The theme of the gifts covers the full gambit of the physical anthropology subfield, including paleoanthropology and forensic anthropology.  My recommendation is a play on the popular "I love Lucy" franchise:

 If your physical anthropologist is a baker, they probably have seen and been pining over these muffin pans that produce skulls and brains!  Available through Fab

 

 And for the globe traveling Physical Anthropologist, there are the Alexander McQueen luggage collection.  A favorite by many Physical Anthropologists, but be prepared to pay a pretty penny for this set:

 For the Cultural Anthropologist:

Chances are that if you know a cultural anthropologist, you know that they have some pretty strict moral codes in regards to ethical treatment of people.  This can make finding a gift at a mainstream store quite difficult, but never fear, there are several ethical options available.  One of my favorite places to frequent for such items is Etsy, which contains handmade items from many local artists world wide.  Here are a couple of options available via the website:

Available through https://www.etsy.com/listing/110676162/anthropology-journal-notebook-diary?ref=sr_gallery_11&ga_search_query=anthropology&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=ZZ&ga_search_type=all&ga_facet=anthropology

https://www.etsy.com/listing/160392163/1935-melanesians-australians-peopling?ref=sr_gallery_14&ga_search_query=anthropology&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=ZZ&ga_page=4&ga_search_type=all&ga_facet=anthropology

 You should also check out SERRV, "a nonprofit organization with a mission to eradicate poverty wherever it resides by providing opportunity and support to artisans and farmers worldwide."  They offer a variety of fair trade items for sale via their website, from home decor, clothing, kitchen items, food, and so much more!

For the Archaeologist:

Soap!  JUST KIDDING!  Although I wouldn't turn down soap.  If you do decide to give this as either a legitimate or gag gift, I highly recommend something nice, such as products by Batty's Bath, who produces environmentally conscious hand made items that are great for all types of skin, particularly those with sensitivities.

The Tresses to Toes soap is an all purpose soap that is fantastic for the traveler, which many archaeologist do-be it domestically or internationally!

Cafe Press has several great gifts for the archaeologists that you may know.  I highly recommend this t-shirt:

For the Linguistic Anthropologist:

Cafe Press saves the day again here!  Mugs, tshirts, aprons, and more!  Many of these gifts double as great gifts for English majors.

And for the grammar geek friend, here's several options available here: Gifts for Grammar Geeks!