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University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education, Madingley Hall, Cambridge, CB23 8AQ

www.ice.cam.ac.uk

A Journey Back: A Walk through Human Evolution

Start date 17 December 2010 End date 19 December 2010

Venue Madingley Hall

Madingley

Cambridge

Tutor Alex Piel Course code 1011NRX143

For further information on

this course, please contact

Linda Fisher, Academic Programme Manager on 01223 746218

Sandy Haylock, Administrative Secretary on 01223 746227

To book See: www.ice.cam.ac.uk or telephone 01223 746262

Tutor biography

Mr Piel has been studying wild primates for almost a decade, and has conducted research in four

different African countries, from Madagascar to Senegal. His current research centres on savanna

chimpanzees living in an open habitat in W. Tanzania, one that closely resembles that in which early

human ancestors evolved. His teaching style reflects a desire to share with students his passion for

Biological Anthropology as a subject, but also to engage them in the continually developing puzzle

that is our species rich and complex history.

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Course Programme

Friday 17 December 2010

Please plan to arrive between 4:30 and 6:30. You can meet other course members in the bar which

opens at 6:15. Tea and Coffee making facilities are available in the study bedrooms.

7.15 pm Dinner

8.30 pm 10.00 pm Lecture: introduction to course, important terms

10.00 pm Terrace bar open for informal discussion

Saturday 18 December 2010

8.00 am Breakfast

9.00 am 10.30 am Lecture: meeting the primates, just who ARE our closest relatives? (video)

10.30 am Coffee

11.00 am 12.30 pm Lecture: standing up and early hominins

1.00 pm Lunch

2.00 pm Free

4.00 pm Tea

4.30 pm 6.00 pm Lecture: Ardi, Lucy and the other Australopithecines...controversies and

criticisms

7.15 pm Dinner

8.30 pm 10.00 pm Lecture: the transition to Homo and ultimately, human

10.00 pm Terrace bar open for informal discussion

Sunday 19 December 2010

8.00 am Breakfast

9.00 am 10.30 am Lecture: Neandertals to lump or split?

10.30 am Coffee

11.00 am 12.30 pm Lecture: Language and complex culture... the defining of the human?

1.00 pm Lunch

The course will disperse after lunch

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Course syllabus

Aims:

This course offers an introduction to human evolution from the perspective of biological anthropology,

including evolutionary theory and the evolution of the primates, hominins (humans and their

ancestors, chimpanzees, and gorillas), and modern humans. Emphasis is placed on evidence fromarchaeological sites and fossil remains as well as behavioural reconstruction based on studies of

extant primates. The course investigates what it means to be an anthropoid, a primate, a hominin, a

human, etc. and examines the evolution of the Order Primates within a bioanthropological context.

Content:

A central question to biological anthropologists concerns the history of our species and its adaptation

to our current environment. Understanding human evolution begins with a consideration of the

fundamentals of evolutionary processes, from those at the cellular and genetic level, to those macro-

geographical processes that shape landscapes and species physical and behavioural adaptations.

This course will address these levels, by examining the intersection of the fossil and archaeological

evidence with what we know from living primates to ask questions about our own evolution.

In doing so, we will rely on our own (and others) interpretations of the evidence to reconstruct theforces (environmental, behavioural, cultural) that shaped the changes in our and other lineages over

the last few million years. The influence of contemporary times on interpretations will also be

addressed, as will the usefulness of models (e.g. chimpanzees) to better understand paleo-

anthropological conditions. Combined, we will attempt to answer the question of what it means to be

human.

Presentation of the course:

The course will be presented through lectures and class discussions. We will also draw on other

media (DVDs) to help describe and expand on class material. Students will have a chance to

respond to the issues and discuss, for example, the usefulness of extant (currently living) primates to

inform our understanding of the past, as well as interpretations and implications of early hominin

finds. I also hope to bring to class casts of bones (crania) from early hominins which we can use for

practice in identifying the anatomical features that distinguish them and to help refine our own

thoughts on humanness.

Outcomes:

Students will be challenged to practice and improve upon several important academic skills during

the course. Critical features for any scientist are the ability to assimilate and analyze scientific

theories and data, such as evolutionary processes and fossil evidence; to integrate information from

lectures and various readings; and to communicate understanding of the materials in class

discussions. Consequently, at the conclusion of the course, students should be able to demonstrate

the following skills:

Identify and describe the major finds in human evolution and the theories and methods thatsupport relevant interpretations of their importance;

Argue persuasively and cite appropriate evidence that supports an understanding of evolutionaryprocesses and patterns;

Use anatomical features of (crania and post-crania) casts and cultural artefacts in thearchaeological record to place specimens in specific time periods and/or contexts.

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Reading and resources list

Listed below are a number of texts that might be of interest for future reference, but do not need to be

bought (or consulted) for the course.

Author Title Publisher and date

Lewin, R. and Foley,

R.A

Principles of Human Evolution, 2nd Ed.Blackwell, 2003

Bramble, D.M. and

Leiberman, D.E.

Endurance running and the evolution of Homo. Nature, 432, 2004

Lovejoy, O.Re-examining Human Origins in Light ofArdipithecus ramidus

Science, 326, 2009

Aarssen, L.W.Some bold evolutionary predictions for the

future of mating in humansOikos, 2007

Hauser, M.D.,

Chomsky, N., Fitch,

W.T.

The faculty of language: What is it, who has it,

and how did it evolve?Science 298, 1569157

Note Students of the Institute of Continuing Education are entitled to 20% discount on books

published by Cambridge University Pres (CUP) which are purchased at the Press bookshop, 1 Trinity

Street, Cambridge (Mon-Sat 9am 5:30pm, Sun 11am 5pm). A letter or email confirming

acceptance on to a current Institute course should be taken as evidence of enrolment.

Information correct as of 13 September 2010