Ancient Footsteps Lab Handout
Anth 301 • Paleoanthropology Lab
Investigation 04
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Ancient Footsteps: Out of Africa
Mapping global Pleistocene dispersals of anatomically modern Homo sapiens using diagnostic paleoanthropological and cultural evidence.
Evidence Dossier
Laboratory Objective: Paleoanthropologists integrate two primary lines of empirical evidence: fossil remains (skeletal morphology, crania, dental wear, and ancient DNA) and cultural artifacts (lithic tools, ochre pigments, parietal cave art, marine shell ornaments, and hearth structures). Use the data dossier below to determine the chronology of human arrival on each continent, complete your global migration map (Page 2), and categorize archaeological findings in your evidence matrix (Page 3).
Global Site Dossier: Key Pleistocene Discoveries
Reference Data for Parts 1 & 2
1. Africa (Origin Hearth) ~300,000–70,000 YA
Key Fossil: Jebel Irhoud (Morocco, ~315,000 YA) facial bones showing modern human cranial features; Omo Kibish (Ethiopia, ~230,000 YA).
Cultural Artifact: Blombos Cave (South Africa, ~75,000 YA) engraved geometric red ochre blocks and perforated tick shell beads demonstrating symbolic thought.
2. Asia & Near East ~70,000–60,000 YA
Key Fossil: Skhul & Qafzeh (Levant, ~100,000 YA); Tam Pà Ling (Laos, ~65,000–70,000 YA) modern cranium; Tianyuan (China, ~40,000 YA).
Cultural Artifact: Advanced microblade stone industries and intentional ritual burials with ochre staining and pierced animal teeth at Batadomba-lena (Sri Lanka).
3. Australia (Sahul) ~65,000–50,000 YA
Key Fossil: Lake Mungo (Willandra Lakes, ~42,000 YA) "Mungo Man" and "Mungo Lady", representing the world's oldest ritual cremation and ochre ceremony.
Cultural Artifact: Madjedbebe rock shelter (~65,000 YA) dense ground-stone axes, high-grade hematite pigment; required open-ocean seafaring watercraft.
4. Europe ~45,000–40,000 YA
Key Fossil: Bacho Kiro Cave (Bulgaria, ~45,000 YA) and Cro-Magnon (France, ~30,000 YA) robust modern human skeletons showing Neanderthal co-existence.
Cultural Artifact: Chauvet Cave (~36,000 YA) figurative parietal wall paintings; Vogelherd carved ivory figurines; complex tailored hide-working bone needles.
5. North America ~23,000–16,000 YA
Key Fossil: White Sands (New Mexico, ~21,000–23,000 YA) tracks of fossilized human footprints in ancient lakebed mud alongside extinct ground sloths and mammoths.
Cultural Artifact: Gault & Friedkin sites (Texas, ~16,000 YA) pre-Clovis blades; followed by classic Clovis fluted projectile spear points (~13,000 YA).
6. South America ~15,500–14,500 YA
Key Fossil: Luzia Woman (Lapa Vermelha, Brazil, ~11,500 YA); early human skeletal materials exhibiting distinct early Paleoamerican cranial morphology.
Cultural Artifact: Monte Verde (Chile, ~14,500–18,500 YA) bog-preserved wooden tent stakes, masticated wild potato remains, hearth ash, and sewn hide scraps.
Proceed to Page 2 to map human migration routes and record arrival dates, then synthesize your findings in the Page 3 Evidence Chart.
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Part 1: Global Migration Mapping Activity
Cartographic Analysis
1 Draw Routes: Sketch arrows showing major migration pathways radiating out from Africa into each continent.
2 Record Timeline: In the boxes below, record how many years ago (YA) humans first reached each continent.
3 Note Evidence: Write the key diagnostic fossil or cultural artifact that proves human occupation there.
Map Task • Draw Coastal Route → • Draw Inland Steppe Route → • Mark Beringia [X]
Continent Arrival Timelines & Evidence Log Complete all fields using Page 1 data
Africa (Origin) Origin
First Reached: YA
Primary Site/Artifact:
Europe Arrival
First Reached: YA
Primary Site/Artifact:
Asia Arrival
First Reached: YA
Primary Site/Artifact:
Australia (Sahul) Arrival
First Reached: YA
Primary Site/Artifact:
North America Arrival
First Reached: YA
Primary Site/Artifact:
South America Arrival
First Reached: YA
Primary Site/Artifact:
Map Base: Cartographic Mercator Projection • Out of Africa Dispersal Model Next: Complete Evidence Chart & Synthesis on Page 3 →
Part 2: Fossil vs. Cultural Evidence Matrix
Taxonomic & Material Analysis
Complete the comparative matrix below by identifying the specific fossil evidence (skeletal anatomy, crania, teeth) and cultural evidence (lithics, art, hearths, seafaring) that document human colonization across each world zone.
| Continent / Region | Arrival Date (Years Ago) | Diagnostic Fossil Evidence (Anatomy / Remains) | Diagnostic Cultural Evidence (Tools, Pigments, Art) | Technological or Adaptive Significance |
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| Africa | | | | |
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| Asia & Near East |
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| Australia (Sahul) |
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| Europe |
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| North America |
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| South America |
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Part 3: Critical Anthropological Analysis
1. Taphonomic Bias & Material Evidence: Why are cultural artifacts (e.g., ground ochre, hearths, lithics) frequently discovered at early migration sites well before hominin skeletal remains are found? What taphonomic factors explain this discrepancy?
2. Maritime Crossing & The Wallace Line: Even during Last Glacial Maximum sea level drops, Sahul (Australia/New Guinea) was separated from Sunda (SE Asia) by deep open ocean trenches. What does the ~65,000 YA arrival date at Madjedbebe prove regarding early human cognition, communication, and technology?
3. Challenging Paradigms (The Americas): How did discoveries at White Sands, NM (~23,000 YA) and Monte Verde, Chile (~14,500 YA) overturn the traditional "Clovis-First" (~13,000 YA) hypothesis? What migration route (coastal kelp highway vs. ice-free corridor) does this empirical timeline favor?
Assessment: Cartographic Accuracy (30%) • Evidence Matrix (40%) • Synthesis (30%) Page 3 of 3 • Lab Submission Packet
