ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF MAN

Origin of man
The fossil evidences clearly indicate that human have been originated in the plains of central Asia from some
non-human or apes like form which lived 20-24 million years ago. Those ape like form were primitive eutherian
mammals which were terrestrial, insectivorous and shrew –like. Those mammals gave rise to the first primates
during Cenozoic era. The primates had following characteristics:

1. Large cranial capacity

2. Presence of opposable thumb
3. Presence of Nail instead of claws in advance form
4. Binocular vision of stereoscopic vision
5. Facial expression
6. Menstruation cycle in advanced female

The order primates were divided into two sub orders. They are: prosimians and anthropoids.
1) Prosimians
Sub order Prosimians are the lower primates which include lemuroids and tarsioides. Lemuroids
are arboreal mammals with grasping hand and feet, large eyes facing more in front, flat snouts
with short noses and a long bushy tail which help them in balancing. They gave rise to tarsioides.
Tarsioides are monkey-like nocturnal, insectivorous with flat snout, forwardly directed and
protruding eyes having binocular vision. They had advanced primate characters. Their
descendents diverged out in different directions and were ancestors of anthropoids.
2) Anthropoids
Sub order anthropoids include super family platyrrhini and catarrhini.
a) Platyrrhini: Platyrrhini or new world monkeys possessed a flat nose with widely separated
and outwardly directed nostrils. Limbs were not used for grasping. Example- howler spider
and squirrel monkey.
b) Catarrhini: Catarrhini can be divided into cercopithecoides and hominoids.
i) Cercopithecoides: They are the old world monkeys which possessed a narrow nose
with closely placed and downwardly directed nostrils. They used limbs for grasping.
Example: macaque, baboon, proboscis monkey.
ii) Hominoidea: The family homonoidea developed the terrestrial characters like
bipedalism, freeing of fore limbs which were used for purpose other than
locomotion, erect posture, absence of tail, well developed brain and stereoscopic
vision. Homonoidea is divided into three family. They are:
I) Hyalobatidea: This family includes gibbons. They were separated from the
main line of hominoidea about 10 million years ago.
II) Pongidae: This family includes gorilla, chimpanzee and orangutan. They
were separated from the main line of hominoidea about 4 million years ago.
 III) Hominidae: This family includes man. They were separated from the main
line of hominoidea about 2.3 million years ago.

In this way, human were originated from older primates.

Differences between old world and new world monkey:
New world monkey Old world monkey
It is a flat nose monkey. It is a narrow nose monkey.
Tail is long and used for grasping. Tail is short and used for balancing.
Nostrils are outwardly directed. Nostrils are downwardly directed.
Number of teeth is 36. Number of teeth is 32.
Oral pouch is absent. Oral pouch is present.

Evolution of man

Human evolution is the evolutionary process leading up to the appearance of modern humans from some
primitive mammals. The process for the evolution to form modern man can be studied in three different
headings. They are prior to ape men, ape men including prehistoric man and true men including the living
modern man.

Evolutionary trend

The following main morphological changes occurred in the ancestors of modern man:
1. Narrowing and elevation of nose.
2. Formation of chin
3. Reduction of brow ridges
4. Flattening it face
5. Reduction in body hairs
6. Development of curves in the vertebral column for erect posture
7. Increase in height
8. Attainment of erect posture and bipedal locomotion
9. Enlargement and rounding of cranium
10. Increase in brain size and intelligence
11. Broadening of forehead and with vertical elevation

A) Prior to ape
1. Dryopithecus: The fossil of Dryopithecus africanus was discovered from Miocene rocks of Africa
and Europe. It lived about 20-25 million years ago.

Characteristics

• It was more ape like but had arms and legs of the same length.
• Heels in its feet indicate its semi erect posture.
• It had large brain, a large muzzle and large canines.
• It was without brow ridges.
 • It was arboreal, knuckle walker and ate soft fruits and leaves.

Dryopithecus africanus is regarded a common ancestor of Ramapithecus, Kenyapithecus and

Australopithecus.

2. Ramapithecus: It has been evolved in late Miocene epoch Dryopithecus gave rise to
Ramapithecus which was on the direct line of human evolution. Ramapithecus survived from
late Miocene to Pliocene. Thus, it appeared about 14-15 million years ago. Fossil of
Ramapithecus was discovered by Edward Lewis from Pliocene rocks of Shivalik Hills of India.
Characteristics:
▪ Perhaps it walked erect on its hind feet.
▪ It was more man like and lived on the tree tops but also walked on the ground.
▪ Its jaws and teeth were like those of humans. Its small canines and large molars suggest
that it ate hard nuts and seeds like modern man.

It became extinct abut 7-8 million years back.

3. Kenyapithecus: It was discovered by L.S.B. Leakey from Pliocene rocks of Kenya (Africa). It was
similar to Ramapithecus. But Ramapithecus was older than Kenyapithecus.
There is a gap of about 9 to 10 million years in Ramapithecus and Australopithecus.

B) Ape men including Prehistoric Men

1) Australopithecus: It is the first human like form existed about 5 million years ago. Its fossil was
discovered by Raymond Dart (South African anthropologist). He discovered the fossil of Australopithecus
africanus (African Ape man) from Pliocene rock near Tuang in Africa. Actually skull discovered by Dart
was of 5-6 year old baby so it is also called tuang baby. Some fossils of A. africanus were also discovered
from Pleistocene epoch.
• Six species of Australopithecus are known at present. They are A. africanus (African Ape man,
Southern Ape or Tuang baby), A. afarensis (Lucy), A. ramidus, A. aethiopicus, A. robustus and A.
boisei. Australopithecus africanus gave rise to man like apes called Australopithecus robustus
and Australopithecus boisei along a separate line that ended blindly but Australopithecus
africanus existed until about 1.5 million years ago.

Characteristics
• Australopithecus africanus was about 1.5 meters high and had human as well as ape
characters.
• It was with bipedal locomotion omnivorous diet and had erect posture.
• It had human like teeth but it had more of an ape brain than a human brain. Its brain capacity
was about 500 c.c. similar to that of an ape.
• He lived in caves.
• Brow ridges projected over the eyes.
 • It did not have chin.
• There was lumbar curve in the vertebral column. The pelvic bone was broad.
Australopithecus africanus gave rise to Homo habilis about 2 million years ago.
3) Homo habilis: It is also known as able or skillful man or the tool maker . Its fossil was discovered by
L.S.B. Leakey and his wife Mary Leakey from Pleistocene rocks of Olduvai Gorge in East Africa. Homo
habilis lived in Africa about 2 million years ago.

Characteristics:

• It was about 1.2 to 1.5 meters tall.

• It had bipedal locomotion, moved erect and was omnivorous.
• It had about 700 c.c. cranial capacity. The teeth were like that of modern man.
• Homo habilis was the first tool maker and used tools of chipped stone extensively. It is also
called handy man because heaps of tools found with these fossils included sharpened stone
which indicates that Homo habilis was capable of making tools.
• He also led community life in caves and greatly cared for the young ones.

3) Homo erectus: It is also known as erect man. Homo erectus appeared about 1.7 million years ago
in middle Pleistocene. It evolved from Homo habilis.
Characteristics
• It was about 1.5- 1.8 meters tall. Homo erectus males were probably larger than females.
• He had erect posture.
• His skull was flattered than that of modern man.
• He had protruding jaws, projecting grow ridges and small canines and large molar teeth.
• The cranial capacity was 800 to 1300 cc. cranium was domed to accommodate the large
brain.
• He was omnivorous.
• He made more elaborate tools of stones and bones, hunted big game and perhaps knew use
of fire.

Homo erectus includes three fossils: Java ape man, Peking men and Heidelberg man.

I. Java ape man (Homo erectus erectus): Its fossil was discovered in 1891 by Eugene Dubois
from the rock of Java names “pithecanthropus” which means Ape man. It existed 6 lakhs
years ago.

Characteristics

• Body was 1.65 to 1.75 meters tall in height and weight was about 70 kg.
• Leg was long and erect but body was slight bent at moving.
• Prominent chin was absent and had broader nose.
• Fore head was low but brow ridge was like those of apes,
• Skull was thick and heavy, cranial capacity was 800-1000.
 • Lower jaw was heavy and large, teeth was like modern man except the sharp canine
teeth on lower jaw.
• Omnivorous and cannivals in nature
• First man to make use of fire for hunting, defense and cooking.
II. Peking man: Its fossil was discovered by W.C Pei in 1924 from the limestone of central
China. Later it was named as Homo erectus pekinensis. It was found in Pleistocene rocks
dated back to 6 lakhs years back.
Characteristics-
• Height was about 1.5-1.6 metre.
• Peking man as slightly shorter and little lighter and weaker.
• Large cranial capacity 850-1100 cc.
• Omnivorous and cannivals in nature.
• Lived in cave and use of fire.
• Use of sophisticated weapons.
[Link] man: Its fossil was discovered in Germany. It is also named as Homo erectus
heidelbergensis.
Characteristics
• It had lower jaw with all the teeth like modern man.
• The massive was like ape, used tools and fire.
• Cranial capacity was about 1300 cc.
• Intermediate between erect man and Neanderthal man.
C) True man
1) Neanderthal man: It is also named as Homo sapiens neanderthalensis. Its fossil was
found from the Neanderthal valley of Germany by C. Fuhlrott,1856 . It existed in late
Pleistocene.
Characteristics
• It had prognathous face, had low brow and high domed head.
• It walked upright.
• Their cranial capacity was 1,300 to 1,600 c.c.
• Neanderthals were adapted to a cold environment. They encountered he succession of
glaciers that passed over most of the northern temperate regions of the world
• . They were not only skilled hunters but true predators, a specialization that did not
occur among hominids before or after them.
• The Neanderthals were cannibals.
• They fashioned the skin into clothing to protect themselves against the harsh climate.
• Natural caves became campsites that were heated by fire.
• It is believed that he buried the dead bodies with flowers and tools.
• He might have developed a religion.

It is usually considered that Homo sapiens neanderthalensis did not evolve into Homo sapiens.
Neanderthals existed half a million years ago. They became extinct 30,000 years ago.
2. Cro-Magnon man (Homo sapiens fossilis) :It is known as Cro-Magnon man, because its fossils were
first discovered in 1868 from Cro-Magnon rocks of France by Mac Gregor. Cro-Magnon man emerged
about 34000 years ago in Holocene epoch. Thus, it is regarded as most recent ancestor of today’s man.
Characteristics:
• The Cro-Magnon man was like us, about 1.8 meters tall, well built body.
• Its face was perfectly orthognathous with an arrow elevated nose, broad and arched forehead,
moderate brow ridges, strong jaws like dentition and a well developed chin.
• Its cranial capacity was however, more than ours, being about 1650 c.c. It is believed that Cro-
Magnon man was somewhat more intelligent and cultured than the man of today.
• It could walk and run faster and lived in families in caves.
• It made excellent tools and even ornaments, not only of stone and bones, but also of elephant
tusks. Its tools included spears, bows and arrows, as he was omnivorous.
• Use of the skin clothes by this man is also confirmed.
• A number of cave painting done by Cro-Magnon man has been discovered.

It became extinct about 10,000- 11,000 years ago.

3)The Living Modern Man (Homo sapiens sapiens): Further evolution of man after Cro-Magnon
involves the evolution of culture rather than that of anatomy. It evolved 25000 years ago up to 10000
years ago.
Characteristics:
• Presence of skull cap, thinning of skulls and slightly reduction in cranial capacity to
1450 cc,
• Formation of four curves in the vertebral column

Today’s man appeared about 11000 years ago around Caspian sea. They moved in different directions.
Individuals that went westward changed into present day white race found in Europe, South-west Asia
and North Africa. The ones who moved eastward changed into the present day mongoloid race found in
the China and Siberia. The ones who migrated southwards changed into the present day Negroid face
found in India, South Africa and Malaysia.

Differences between apes and modern man

Apes Modern man

They have small brain capacity(100-520c.c) They have large brain capacity (1400-1450).
They have semi erect position. They have fully erect position.
Bipedal locomotion but takes support of Bipedal locomotion an freeing of forelimbs from
forelimbs. the ground.
Have strong jaw without prominent chin. Have smaller jaw with prominent chin.
Presence of prognathous face. Presence of orthognathous face.
Arms are longer than legs. Arms are shorter than legs.
Presence of flat nose. Presence o
f raising and narrow nose.
 Incisors and canine are large. Incisors and canine are small.
Eyebrow ridges are heavy and prominent. Eye brow ridges are not so prominent.
Homogenously distributed hair on the body. Sparsely distributed hair on the body.

Cultural evolution of man

Paleolithic age- It is the age of tools of stones and bones.
Mesolithic-It is the age of animal husbandry.
Neolithic- this age is characterized by agriculture and knowledge and the use of cloths and utensils.
Bronze-It is the age in which there was the use of tools made from metals especially from bronze.
Iron- It is the Modern age in which people use modern tools and equipments.