Evolutionary Trends

Age Range: 3.6 million years ago Digits: Opposable thumb however less mobile, bigger and heavier fingers (powerful grasp) Dentition & Prognathism: projecting jaw (ape like), large canines, thick molars and pre molars, vegetarian diet Skull: 450cm, low forehead, NO saggital crest, skull more rounded Foramen Magnum: more forward for erect posture Spinal curve: S shaped, double curvature Pelvis: more human like - bowl shaped, broader, shorter Knee/carrying angle, centre of gravity: femur angled like humans, carrying angle evident Foot: heel hitting ground first - heel –> ball weight distribution, longitudinal arch present , non opposable big, non prehensile

Age Range: 1.2 million years ago, HEAVY BUILD Digits: Greater precision grip, very powerful grasp Dentition & Prognathism: bigger molars, low forehead, , large jaw attached to skull by powerful chewing muscle s Skull: 542cm, SAGGITAL CREST Foramen Magnum: More forward for erect posture Spinal Curve: S shaped curve, double curvature Pelvis: more human like Knee, carrying angle, centre of gravity: femur angled like human, carrying angle evident Foot: heel hitting ground first - heel –> ball weight distribution, longitudinal arch present, strong non prehensile big toe

Age Range: 1.75 million years ago, first user of tools (oldwan tools) Digits: Greater precision grip, still had powerful grasp Dentition & Prognathism: teeth were smaller, still slightly larger canines, flat nose and brow ridge Skull: 590cm, NO SAGGITAL CREST, larger brain - increased awareness of surroundings, increased dev in frontal lobe Foramen Magnum: more of skill behind fm Spinal Curve: S shaped, double curvature Knee, carrying angle, centre of gravity: stood more erect, carrying angle present Foot: strong non prehensile big toe, shorter toes like humans,longutudinal arch

Age Range: 1.5 million - 200 000 years ago** First to leave Africa, USED FIRE –> MEAT EATERS Digits: greater precision grip, still powerful grasp Prognathism: flatter face due to expansion of brain, smaller teeth, decreased jaw size Skull: 1000cm, increased convolutions, increased frontal lobe, no chin, OCCIPITAL ROUNDED BUN Foramen magnum: more foward Spinal Curve: S shaped Knee, carrying angel, centre of gravity: stood more erect Foot: strong non prehensile big toe, shorter toes like humans,longutudinal arch

Age range: 250 000 - 30 000 years ago, survived the ice age Digits: greater precision grip, still powerful grasp Dentition & Prognathism: rounded skull, NOSE PROJECTED (thought to be due to environmental conditions), larger teeth Skull: 1485cm, larger brain size than humans, OCCIPITAL ROUNDED BUN, lacked a definite chin, low but large skull, more prominent forehead Foramen Magnum: more forward Spinal Curve: S shaped double curvature Pelvis: Bowl shaped, broader, shorter Knee, carrying angle, centre of gravity: centre of gravity falls in front of the knee for erect posture and striding gait Foot: Larger calcaneus bone, well developed longitudinal arch

Age Range: 100 000 years ago Digits: only opposable big thumb, greater precision grip (well developed), decrease power in grip Dentition & Prognathism: Flatter facial profile, size of jaw is smaller, smaller teeth, canines do not project, jaw is parabola shaped, shorter snout and nose Skull: 1350cm, rounded, NO SAGGITAL CREST OR OCCIPITAL ROUNDED BUN, increased convolutions and increased size of cerebral cortex, increased developed in frontal lobe, DEVELOPED CHIN Foramen magnum: located centrally under the skull, no need for large neck ,muscles as weight is borne by the vertebral column under centre of gravity Spinal Curve: Double curvature - S shaped, lumbar vertebrae wedged shaped making a forward jutting curve Pelvis: Broader, shorter, bowl shaped to support abdominal organs Knee, centre of gravity and carrying angle: large head of femur fits into Acetabulum, carrying angle - femur angled towards knee, weight distribution from femur at acetabulum via outer part of femur to outer knee hinge joint, centre of gravity falls in front of the knee, centre of gravity further up (pelvis) for erect posture Foot: lost prehensility, non opposable big toe, big toe aligned alongside others, longitudinal arch TRANSVERSE ARCH, larger calcaneus and talus bones