Understanding Culture, Society and Politics

WEEK - 6 JAIME J. GILBUENA

BIOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL EVOLUTION : FROM AUSTRALOPHITECUS TO HOMO SAPIENS

Learning Competencies :

- Explain the differences of biological and cultural evolution

- Explain how hominids evolved into modern humans
- Discuss how modern humans develop culture
- Explain the importance of artifacts and fossils in understanding the social, cultural, political,
and economic processes of modern humans
- Understand the role of museums as venues for the appreciation of the complexities of bio-
cultural and social evolution

BIOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL EVOLUTION

Biological and cultural evolution as are key concepts in the study of the origins of modern
humans. Biological evolution refers to the changes, modifications, and variations in the genetics and
inherited traits of biological populations from one generation to another. Evolution is diverse and it
occurs in different levels of the biological population. It can occur in the level of species or organisms
and even in the molecular level.

In studying biological evolution, scientists study the changes in the physical body of humans, the
changes in the shape and size of their bones, brain, dentition, and fingers for instance. Included in the
study of biological evolution are the changes in posture, movement, and the development of bipedalism
or walking on two feet in an upright position.

Cultural evolution or sociocultural evolution, on the other hand, refers to the changes or
development in cultures from a simple form to a more complex form of human culture. Socio-cultural
evolution happens as a result of human adaptation to different factors like climatic changes and
population increase. Scientist study the cultural evolution of humans by analyzing the changes in the
latter’s way of life reflected in the different tools and other human-made objects that they have used.

Biological evolution is based on the theory of evolution that was introduced by the famous
English naturalist and geologist Charles Darwin (1809 – 1882). Darwin after numerous studies regarding
the changes that occur among plants, fossil animals and different breed of pigeons, concluded that each
species was not created at one time in a fixed form.
 Darwin hypothesized that the evolution of species happens through the process of natural
selection and according to him natural selection was the reason for the occurrence of evolution. Ember,
Ember and Peregrine define natural selection as “the outcome of processes that affect the frequencies
of traits in a particular environment. Traits that enhance survival and reproductive success increase in
frequency over time.”

Furthermore according to Darwin, the environment favors certain organisms and those
organisms and those organisms that survive can pass on their traits. Natural selection has three
important principles . These are variation, heritability, and differential reproductive success. Darwin’s
natural selection hypothesized that :

1. Every species is made up of a variety of individuals wherein some are better adapted to their
environments compare to others
2. Organisms produced progeny with different set of traits that can be inherited.
3. Organisms that have traits most suitable to their environment will survive and transfer these
variations to their offspring in subsequent generations.

FROM HOMINDS TO HOMO SAPIENS SAPIENS : THE BIOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL EVOLUTION OF
MODERN HUMANS

For many generations, scientists believed that the evolution of modern human follows an
evolutionary ladder. This evolutionary ladder illustrates the apelike ancestors of modern humans at the
base and the modern humans (homo sapiens sapiens) at the top. The transformation from apelike
ancestors to modern humans occurred after millions of years of biological and cultural evolution. In this
long process of evolution, our apelike ancestors developed and eventually became modern humans
(homo sapiens sapiens).In understanding the developments of humans, archaeologist or social scientists
who study the ancient and recent past of humans conduct excavations to search for fossils and artifacts
that can provide information about the origins of humans. For archaeologists, artifacts and fossils are
important sources of information in the reconstruction of human evolution.

Fossils refer to human, plant, and animal remains that have been preserved through time like
human and animal teeth, skull, and bone fragments.

Artifacts refer to objects that were made and used by humans and these includes stone tools,
metal tools, ceramics, earthenware , burial jars and ornaments.

Hominid is the general term used by scientists to categorize the group of early humans and
other human-like creatures that can walk erect during the prehistoric times.

Four (4) Categories of Hominids based on the age of the artifacts and fossils that were found:

1. Sahelanthropus (most number of artifacts and fossils) considers by most scholars as the first
stage of human evolution, apelike and humanlike characteristic.

2. Ardipithecus – considered as the prehuman stage of evolution, apelike and humanlike

characteristics.

a. Height of above 4 feet

b. Weight of about 120 pounds
 c. Skull size similar to an ape
d. Small brain
e. Biped (walked on two legs or feet)
f. Lived in jungles

3. Australopithecus (southern ape) – considered as the first stage of evolution with apelike and
human like characteristics, they lived in the African jungle from 5 to 1 million years ago,
characteristics :

a. Brain size of 500 cubic centimetres or almost 1/3 of modern human brain
b. Upright
c. Biped
d. Tool users only and not tool makers
e. Used sticks and stones for digging
f. Lived in small social groups
g. Distance of movement was estimated to be 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) or more to
search for stones to be used as tools
h. Food scavengers
i. Ate insect, eggs, plants, fruits, and sometimes meat

There are six (6) species of the Australopithecus that are divided into two (2) major categories
: the gracile and the robust.

1. Gracile australopithecine – small teeth and jaw, included in this group are :

a. Australopithecus Anamensis
b. Australopithecus Afarensis – considered as the common ancestor of the
Australopithecus species namely Astra…. Africanus, robustus and boisei
c. Australopithecus Africanus

2. Robust Australopithecus – large teeth and jaws and muscular built

a. Australopithecus aethiopicus
b. Australopithecus robustus
c. Australopithecus boisei

4. Homo (most number of artifacts and fossils) – considered as the last stage of evolution and had
the biological and cultural characteristics of a modern human.

The Australopithecus disappeared in the evolutionary map after almost one million
years. Replaced by a much intelligent group of hominids that belonged to anew genus – The
HOMO -that are classified as humans and not humanlike creatures because they had bigger
brains and were bipedal, they first lived in Africa about 2.4 million years ago. The homo species
included the :

1. Homo Habilis (handyman) considered as the direct ancestors of man because of its
ability to produce tools. Characteristics are the following

a. Height about 3 – 4 feet

b. Brain size half the size of the modern human (700 cubic centimetres)
c. Made tools called Oldowan (name came from the place where they were found
– Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, which were used as cutting tools and made from
volcanic stones
d. Used tools for hunting and food gathering
 2. Homo Ergaster (1.8 million years ago) was the next homo species to flourish were
the species of homo erectus came from. It had the following characteristics:

a. Brain size of 1,000 cc or about 2/3 of the modern human brain size
b. Height of about five feet
c. Walks upright

In terms of cultural development, the homo erectus is :

a. believed to be more intelligent and more adaptable compared to homo habilis

b. known for making complex tools used for digging and cutting and scraping
c. famous for making and using hand axe tools for slicing, chopping and digging
d. considered skilful hunters
e. first homo to use fire and live in caves and small houses
f. able to live in cold and dark places
g. cook food and meat
h. used fire to protect them from attacking wild animals
i. first to use spoken language wherein they controlled environment, exchanged
ideas with each other, planned cooperative hunting and help others in doing
different activities.
j. give names to different objects, places, animals and plants.

The first fossil was found in Longgupo, China then another one found in Trinil,
Java known as the Java Man, then later found one in Zhoukoudian, China Known
as the Peking Man

3. Homo Sapiens (thinking man and considered as the modern human)- the last genus
in the evolution ladder and included the following species:

a. Homo sapiens of Africa

b. Homo heidelbergensis
c. Homo neanderthalensis
d. And the homo sapiens sapiens

Characteristics :

a. Large brain size (1,400 cc) that is almost similar to the brain of modern
humans
b. Lived in shelters
c. Food gatherers
d. Ate plants and fruits
e. Hunted animals
f. Learned to gather and cook shellfish (164,000 years ago)
g. Used fire
h. Crafted metals

Compared to other species, homo sapiens made sophisticated and smothered tools and
had more developed shelters and advanced technology. Able to make different stone tools that
include fishing tools (e.g. fish hooks), harpoons, bows and arrows, spear throwers and sewing
needles.
 Homo erectus developed oral language but the homo sapiens first to develop and use
oral language because they have more developed brains and speech organs.

The Homo neanderthalensis and the Cro-magnon were considered as examples of the
first group of homo sapiens but later the first was proven not the ancestor of modern humans
but the latter considered as the first fossil skeleton to be considered as a species of homo
sapiens found in France.

MUSEUMS AS VENUES FOR THE APPRECIATION OF THE COMPLEXITIES OF BIOCULTURAL AND

SOCIAL EVOLUTION

The biological, cultural, and social evolution of modern man can be studied through the artifacts
and fossils that have been excavated by archaeologists and anthropologists. Artifacts and fossils are
important sources of information in the reconstruction of human evolution. Fossils refer to preserved
human, plants, and animal remain. Examples of fossils include human or animal skulls, teeth and bones.
Artifacts, on the other hand, refer to objects that were made and used by humans. Examples of artifacts
include stone tools, metal tools, ceramics, earthenware, burial jars, and ornaments.

It may be difficult for us to have direct access to these artifacts and fossils but there are lots of
museums, historical sites, and archaeological sites that we can visit so that we can learn and appreciate
the significance of these venues in understanding our biological, cultural, and social evolution.

Museums are one of the most easily accessible places where we can see various artifacts, fossils,
and other evidences of our past. Museums are institutions that are primarily tasked to conserve,
communicate, and exhibit all material and nonmaterial heritages of human society.

In the Philippines, we have the National Museum of the Philippines which serve as an
“educational, scientific, and cultural institution that acquires, preserves, exhibits, and fosters scholarly
study and public appreciation of works of art, specimen, and cultural and historical artifact” of the
Filipino people (National Museum of the Philippines, 2016). Aside form the National Museums, we have
other public and private museums throughout the country that students and Filipinos must visit in order
to appreciate our prehistoric past and heritage. BY visiting museums, we get to appreciate the
evidences and proofs of modern human’s biological, social and cultural evolution.

Please answer the following questions on the answer sheet provided below, only the answer
sheet will be returned.

1. How would you differentiate biological and cultural evolution?

2. Can you differentiate hominids from the homo sapiens?
Reference :
Understanding Culture, Society & Politics :
Copyright. 2016 by Phoenix Publishing House, Inc.
and Antonio P. Contreras, Arleigh Ross D. Dela Cruz, Dennis S. Erasga
and Cecille C. Fadrigon

JAIME J. GILBUENA ERALLA B. MANALILI

Subject Teacher School Principal
ANSWER SHEET

JAIME J. GILBUENA ERALLA B. MANALILI

Subject Teacher School Principal