Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Synopsis This subject traces the evolution of humans in Africa from hominid precursors, through the current palaeontological evidence for the development of the genus Homo. Modern humans are defined in genetic and evolutionary terms as a close ape relative. The movement of humans out of Africa and subsequent world colonisation is reviewed, while the characteristics which set humans apart from other animals are discussed, with a focus on animal precursors to human behavioural traits. The archaeological evidence for the development of tool use and increasingly complex lifestyles is also critically reviewed. With this background the ecology of pre-industrial people, including Homo erectus but concentrating on Homo sapiens, provides a basis for exploring the long-standing relationships between people and environment. The outcomes of this relationship are illustrated with case studies of the early arrival and sustained ecological influence of people in Australia and the neighbouring land masses of South East Asia and the Pacific.
Assessment Written (3000 words): 30% + Tutorial paper presentation: 30% + Field report (3000 words): 40%