Prehistoric Cultures

Fossilized bones belonging to Orrorin tugenensis

Announcements

• Cave clue to 'first beachcombers' -- BBC News ( Wednesday, 17 October 2007) and the Duluth News Tribune ( Thursday, 18 October 2007)

     

Ochre specimens with scrape marks (Scale bars: 1cm)

 

When did modern humans evolve sophisticated behaviour?

• Due to the funeral of my brother the video Search for the First Human – A Secrets of the Dead Special (60 min., 2002, VC 4465), originally scheduled for today was shown on Tuesday, 09 October 2007 -- Tim Roufs

PCforum: Topic 6 -- Bigfoot or Big Story?

Monday, 15 October 2007,
Bigfoot researcher Robert Olson of Deer River
gave a presentation on the existence of Bigfoot in Northeastern Minnesota,
at noon,
at Lady Ocalat's Emporium,
31 West Superior Street,
Suite 304,
in Duluth, MN.

"Within the last two years, there have been about 20 documented sightings [of Bigfoot] across Northeastern Minnesota..." -- Robert Olson of Deer River, MN
(Duluth News Tribune, Saturday, 13 October 2007, p. B1).

"'We’ve had actual sightings near Bovey, Nett Lake and around here,' said Donald Sherman, a facilities manager at Cass Lake Hospital and a member of the Leech Lake Ojibwe band"

"Sherman believes 300 to 400 — perhaps even 500 — Bigfoot exist in Minnesota."
(Duluth News Tribune, Saturday, 13 October 2007, p. B2).

Robert Olson of Deer River holds a plaster casting that he made from what he says are footprints of Bigfoot beings in Northeastern Minnesota.
Saturday, 13 October 2007 -- Duluth News Tribune

Last June people were looking for Bigfoot in northern Michigan:
Team Heads to Michigan to Search for Bigfoot (27 June 2007) -- FOX News

A year ago February they were looking in Malaysia...
Hunting for Malaysia's 'Bigfoot' (28 February 2006) -- BBCNews

And before that in China...
'Bigfoot' spotted in China (30 June 2003) -- BBCNews

And elsewhere...
In search of Bigfoot (28 July 2005) -- BBCNews

Many think Bigfoot is actually a prehistoric primate known as
Gigantopithecus,
"The Giant Ape"

 

Read (1) the Duluth News Tribune article from 13 October 2007
on Bigfoot in Northern Minnesota.

(That article can be found at http://www.d.umn.edu/cla/faculty/troufs/anth1602/pcbigft.DNT.2007.10.13.html#title)

Then read at least (2) two other articles on bigfoot from the class Bigfoot page

(at http://www.d.umn.edu/cla/faculty/troufs/anth1602/pcbigft.html#title)

and (3) the short Wikipedia article on Gigantopithecus

(at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gigantopithecus)

Questions:

1. Do you believe Bigfoot, or a creature like Bigfoot (Sasquatch, Yeti...) exists?

2. Why? Or, why not?

 

Frame 352 from the Patterson-Gimlin film

Features of the Day

• Due to the funeral of my brother the video Search for the First Human – A Secrets of the Dead Special, originally scheduled for today was seen Tuesday, 09 October 2007 -- Tim Roufs
  
  
• nlt 02:45 video: Search for the First Human – A Secrets of the Dead Special
  (60 min., 2002, CC, VC 4465)
  

• Archaeological Methods and Dating Techniques, an introduction
  
  

  As you view the videos over the remainder of the semester pay attention to the actual content of the various finds archaeological field methods and techniques laboratory methods and techniques including reconstruction techniques, and . . . archaeological dating techniques theoretical / interpretative approaches including logic of analysis More information on methods is contained in the text and in the methods slides   Week CEE Day Methods and Techniques Slides   07 13 Some Important Concepts (slides 11B)     Special Skills: In the Field (slides 10A)       Special Skills: In the Lab (slides 10B)       Special Skills: In the Field and Lab (slides 10C)           12 24 Archaeological Dating Methods (slides 10D)       Other Methods of Analysis (slides 10E)

  
  
  

• Old Business

Old Business

• Return First Exam (review)

• individualized results
  
  
• eGradebookgrading
  
  
• Note: if you took or will take a makeup exam, it may take several days for you to get your exam back
  
  
  
• Discussion of Extra Credit Options
  
  
  

• Review "Terms / Concepts" and "Notes" from Search for the First Human – A Secrets of the Dead Special (60 min., 2002, VC 4465)
  
  
  
• Major Characteristics of Modern Physical Anthropology
  
  

  	Week CEE	Day		Slides
  	04	08		Genetics, Primatology, Physical Anthropology      Characteristics #1 - #6 (slides 07A)
  	04 or 07	08 or 13		Culture and Human Breeding Patterns      Characteristic #7 (slides 07B)
  				Population Studies      Characteristic #8 (slides 07C)
  				Biocultural Evolution and Sociobiology      Characteristics #9 - #10 (slides 08)

Assignments

Notes

• Ended Thursday, 18 October 2007, with end of slides 07A, Modern Physical Anthropology. Next: Culture and Human Breeding Patterns, Characteristic #7 (slides 07B).

Fossilized bones belonging to Orrorin tugenensis

Announcements

• Good Luck on the Exam!
  
  
  
• Cave clue to 'first beachcombers' -- BBC News ( Wednesday, 17 October 2007) and the Duluth News Tribune ( Thursday, 18 October 2007)

     

Ochre specimens with scrape marks (Scale bars: 1cm)

 

When did modern humans evolve sophisticated behaviour?

• "Tlingit tribes to get ancient remains," Rachel D'Oro, Associated Press, Reprinted in the Duluth News Tribune, Sunday, October 21, 2007, p. A12
  
  
  • "...A lengthy process ... included scientific analysis that determined the remains were 10,300 years old. Through DNA and other testing, researchers identified the remains as belonging to an indigenous man in his early 20s who subsisted primarily on seafood."

Features of the Day

• Exam #1 (5:00 - 6:30)

Use a #2 pencil (not ink)

 

Text Assignments Summary for Weeks 01 - 06 Text Resources from the Publisher

Sample Multiple-Choice Exam Questions Sample Essay Exam Questions (optional)

• nlt 07:25 video: Search for the First Human – A Secrets of the Dead Special
  (60 min., 2002, CC, VC 4465)
  

• Archaeological Methods and Dating Techniques, an introduction
  
  

As you view the videos over the remainder of the semester pay attention to the actual content of the various finds archaeological field methods and techniques laboratory methods and techniques including reconstruction techniques, and . . . archaeological dating techniques theoretical / interpretative approaches including logic of analysis More information on methods is contained in the text and in the methods slides   Week CEE Day Methods and Techniques Slides   07 13 Some Important Concepts (slides 11B)     Special Skills: In the Field (slides 10A)       Special Skills: In the Lab (slides 10B)       Special Skills: In the Field and Lab (slides 10C)           12 24 Archaeological Dating Methods (slides 10D)       Other Methods of Analysis (slides 10E)

 

• Major Characteristics of Modern Physical Anthropology
  
  

  	Week CEE	Day		Slides
  	04	08		Genetics, Primatology, Physical Anthropology      Characteristics #1 - #6 (slides 07A)
  	04 or 07	08 or 13		Culture and Human Breeding Patterns      Characteristic #7 (slides 07B)
  				Population Studies      Characteristic #8 (slides 07C)
  				Biocultural Evolution and Sociobiology      Characteristics #9 - #10 (slides 08)

Old Business

• tba

Assignments