Paleoanthropology

Paleoanthropology is the scientific study of human evolution and its direct ancestors. This interdisciplinary branch of anthropology combines the methods and theories of archaeology, human biology, ethology, primatology, epistemology, and geology to understand the early development of the Homo sapiens species.

History

The term "paleoanthropology" was first used by French scientist Armand de Quatrefages in the late 19th century. The field gained prominence in the early 20th century with the discoveries of early human fossils in Africa and Europe. The most famous of these is the Taung Child, discovered by Raymond Dart in 1924.

Methodology

Paleoanthropologists use a variety of methods to study human evolution. These include the excavation and analysis of fossil remains, the study of ancient DNA, and the use of comparative anatomy and morphology to understand the physical characteristics of early humans.

Major Discoveries

Some of the most significant discoveries in paleoanthropology include the Australopithecus fossils found in Africa, the Neanderthal fossils found in Europe, and the Homo erectus fossils found in Asia. These discoveries have helped to shape our understanding of human evolution and the development of modern humans.

Current Research

Current research in paleoanthropology focuses on understanding the genetic and environmental factors that influenced human evolution. This includes studying the effects of climate change on early human populations, the role of diet in human evolution, and the genetic differences between modern humans and our closest living relatives, the chimpanzees and bonobos.

See Also

• Human evolution
• Archaeology
• Anthropology
• Fossil
• DNA

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  Portrait of Charles Darwin by Julia Margaret Cameron, c. 1868
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  Molars of Homo luzonensis
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  Zhoukoudian Peking Man Site
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  Australopithecus africanus skull
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  Fossil hominids