Laboratory Procedures for Hominoid/Hominin Osteometrics
- Read these materials BEFORE laboratory day and meet with the instructor, by phone or Zoom, PRIOR to laboratory if you need clarifications.
- Lots of measurements in this lab.
Equipment
- Online cranial and skull replicas 2. Paper rulers
Scenario
Ever since your brother sent you that dinosaur model, you have wanted to be a
paleoanthropologist. Of course, since then you have learned that dinosaurs did not live at the
same time as our hominin ancestors! At least now, you can laugh at all those B-rated movies.
It is the first day of your fossil identification course. Your instructor, Dr. Wolpoff, strides in and,
for a moment, you think that Neanderthals are still living. He is a stocky man, with heavy bone
structure and a cranium shape that strongly resembles a football. You shake your head, clear
your vision, and note the Armani suit. Relieved, you pull out your paper and pen, eyeing the lab
specimens with great anticipation.
Procedure
In this laboratory you are asked to use rulers to measure a number of cranial landmarks directly
on your computer screen.
Part 1:
General Familiarization with Hominin Skull Traits
- Use the list of links at the end of this handout as your specimens. Measure values directly on
your computer screen using your printed ruler and printed protractor.
- If you cannot perform a measurement due to working on screen or the cranium is incomplete,
mark as MD (missing data).
- I suggest you complete all entries for one specimen before you progress to next.
Step 1: For each skull, measure the set of anatomical traits identified in Tables 1A. 2A, and 3A
and 4A. Be sure to refer to Appendices A, B, and F.
Step 2: Once these data are collected, calculate each osteometric index listed in Tables 1B, 2B
and 3B and 4B.
- Special Note 1: The 3D may not be proportional, so the data for the set of anatomical traits
may not be to scale
- Special Note 2: Because osteometric indices are ratios, they should be accurate.
- Special Note 3: As in real situations, not all parts of each cranium are available. If this
occurs, mark MD for missing data.
Hominin Osteometrics Procedures 2
Part 2:
Online lab exercise
- The online option is more interactive. If possible, choose between Options 1-3.
- For Options 1-3, follow the instructions and record data in the online lab book (otherwise you cannot
move to next step). Before you move onto next step, print or screenshot the data you entered into the
online lab book.
- For Option 4, use the tables provided in the Data Collection handout.
Options:
- Option 1: Use Chrome:
o Go to <https://www.classzone.com/books/hs/ca/sc/bio_07/virtual_labs/virtualLabs.html> and
select the lab called “Comparing Hominoid Skulls”
o If you cannot open, try this: To enable Flash for the site, click the lock icon at the left side of the
Omnibox (address bar), click the “Flash” box, and then click “Allow.” Chrome prompts you to
reload the page—click “Reload.” Even after you reload the page, any Flash content won’t be
loaded—you have to click it to load it.
- Option 2: Use Internet Explorer:
- Go to <https://www.classzone.com/books/hs/ca/sc/bio_07/virtual_labs/virtualLabs.html> and
select the lab called “Comparing Hominoid Skulls”
- If you cannot open, follow this tutorial: <
player-windows.html>
- Option 3: Use Firefox.
- Go to<https://www.classzone.com/books/hs/ca/sc/bio_07/virtual_labs/virtualLabs.html> and
select the lab called “Comparing Hominoid Skulls”
- If you cannot open, follow this tutorial:
view-videos-animations-games
- Option 4. Perform this portion of the lab using this paper version:
<http://www.cynthiaclarke.com/anth215/215_Assignments/5_Hominin_Osteometrics/Paper_virtual_lab.pdf >
For Step 3
Cranial shape: Use these terms: dolichocephalic, mesaticephalic, and brachycephalic. Read more at this
link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cephalic_index#Mesaticephalic_animals
- Forehead: Does the forehead extend above the eyes (yes or no)? Is the brow ridge small, medium or
large?
- Face: Is the face sloped or is it flat?
- Canines: Are the canines long or short? Are they sharp or dull?
For Step 4
Is the foramen magnum to the front or the rear of the skull?
For Step 5
There is a series of 6 questions in the lab book. Type your responses directly into the lab book and then
print that page (or screenshot it) to submit with the data collection.
https://www.classzone.com/books/hs/ca/sc/bio_07/virtual_labs/virtualLabs.html
https://www.classzone.com/books/hs/ca/sc/bio_07/virtual_labs/virtualLabs.html
https://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/install-flash-player-windows.html
https://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/install-flash-player-windows.html
https://www.classzone.com/books/hs/ca/sc/bio_07/virtual_labs/virtualLabs.html
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/install-flash-plugin-view-videos-animations-games
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/install-flash-plugin-view-videos-animations-games
http://www.cynthiaclarke.com/anth215/215_Assignments/5_Hominin_Osteometrics/Paper_virtual_lab.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cephalic_index#Mesaticephalic_animals
Hominin Osteometrics Procedures 3
List of Links to Hominin Crania (no mandibles)
Species Link
Aegyptopithecus zeuxis d570e76e2f8344eab7576531f7a9464e
Sahelanthropus tchadensis
(Toumai)
cranium-3f0c2b5a202d4a9abdcde8d7c6b59dcc
Ardipithecus ramidus 822ddc3aca1246239dfe6b26377c7d3e
Kenyanthropus platyops https://africanfossils.org/hominids/knmer-1813?o=1
Australopithecus aethiopicus
[Paranthropus aethiopicus]cranium-b83e96198d5f4d0bb9867e566221984e
Australopithecus boisei
[Paranthropus boisei]b031af6a54e045fc8fd1ca459745cdb3 OR
https://africanfossils.org/hominids/oh-5?o=1
Australopithecus robustus
[Paranthropus robustus]86199602a4704a099da9c611a4d62e7c
Australopithecus afarensis
cranium-e940798227b343b6bec9704c7795e6f1
Australopithecus africanus
(STS 5)
cranium-7f8141ca7e664415bed7f877e346b963
Homo habilis
5c21649325634e3d821fd728ba489f74 OR
https://africanfossils.org/hominids/knmer-1813?o=1
Homo rudolfensis 5bc81b6b77cb40c6bd09fd320dc00c30 OR
https://africanfossils.org/hominids/knmer-1470?o=1 Homo erectus
(Dmanisi)
geogria-0c542938b0364748982e638ea1d80982
Homo heidelbergensis
(Kabwe 1)
cranium-6b3107c066594dc7b502d49b26e3c8fc
Homo neanderthalensis
(La Ferrassie)
ferrassie-cranium-3f1bd5e63dcf42888cd8e9697ff77449
https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/aegyptopithecus-zeuxis-cranium-d570e76e2f8344eab7576531f7a9464e
https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/aegyptopithecus-zeuxis-cranium-d570e76e2f8344eab7576531f7a9464e
https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/ardipithecus-ramidus-cranium-822ddc3aca1246239dfe6b26377c7d3e
https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/ardipithecus-ramidus-cranium-822ddc3aca1246239dfe6b26377c7d3e
https://africanfossils.org/hominids/knmer-1813?o=1
https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/australopithecus-boisei-cranium-b031af6a54e045fc8fd1ca459745cdb3
https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/australopithecus-boisei-cranium-b031af6a54e045fc8fd1ca459745cdb3
https://africanfossils.org/hominids/oh-5?o=1
https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/paranthropus-robustus-86199602a4704a099da9c611a4d62e7c
https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/paranthropus-robustus-86199602a4704a099da9c611a4d62e7c
https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/australopithecus-afarensis-cranium-e940798227b343b6bec9704c7795e6f1
https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/australopithecus-afarensis-cranium-e940798227b343b6bec9704c7795e6f1
https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/homo-habilis-cranium-5c21649325634e3d821fd728ba489f74
https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/homo-habilis-cranium-5c21649325634e3d821fd728ba489f74
https://africanfossils.org/hominids/knmer-1813?o=1
https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/homo-rudolfensis-cranium-5bc81b6b77cb40c6bd09fd320dc00c30
https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/homo-rudolfensis-cranium-5bc81b6b77cb40c6bd09fd320dc00c30
https://africanfossils.org/hominids/knmer-1470?o=1
Hominin Osteometrics Procedures 4
List of Hominin Skulls
Australopithecus afarensis
(Lucy)
lucy-da45bb3252fd4de39607639571dfa25e
Australopithecus africanus e2574f575b2a4af09d5895d363af9e25
Homo erectus https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:649628 OR
e39dfdb51c2b461f8e4c3aeb029da4cd
Homo naledi
homo-naledi-reconstructed-skull-46611
Homo floresiensis 4e424b65d4804a6f9be00215e5172128
https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/australopithecus-afarensis-lucy-da45bb3252fd4de39607639571dfa25e
https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/australopithecus-afarensis-lucy-da45bb3252fd4de39607639571dfa25e
https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/australopithecus-africanus-e2574f575b2a4af09d5895d363af9e25
https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/australopithecus-africanus-e2574f575b2a4af09d5895d363af9e25
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:649628
https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/homo-erectus-e39dfdb51c2b461f8e4c3aeb029da4cd
https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/homo-erectus-e39dfdb51c2b461f8e4c3aeb029da4cd
https://www.myminifactory.com/object/3d-print-complete-homo-naledi-reconstructed-skull-46611
https://www.myminifactory.com/object/3d-print-complete-homo-naledi-reconstructed-skull-46611
https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/lb1-homo-floresiensis-skull-4e424b65d4804a6f9be00215e5172128
https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/lb1-homo-floresiensis-skull-4e424b65d4804a6f9be00215e5172128
Name ___________________________________________________________ Anthropology &215
Grading: For each, use X if completed, P if partially completed, and 0 if not attempted.
_____ Table 1A (3 points) _____ Table 1B (1.25 points)
_____ Table 2A (3 points) _____ Table 2B (1.25 points) _____ Table 3A (3 points) _____ Table 3B (1.25 points)
_____ Table 4A (3 points) _____ Table 4B (1.25 points) _____ Table 5A (1 point) _____ Table 5B (1 point) _____ Table 5C (1 point)
_________________________________________________________________________________
Part 1:
Comparison of Traits and Osteometric Indices
Table 1A: Comparison of Traits for an Early Primate and Two of the Oldest Hominins (3 points)
Trait Aegyptopithecus zeuxis S. tchadensis A. ramidus
Maximum length ________ ________ ________
Maximum breadth ________ ________ ________
Basion-Bregma Height ________ ________ ________
Total facial height ________ ________ ________
Upper facial height ________ ________ ________
Bizygomatic breadth ________ ________ ________
Nasal height ________ ________ ________
Nasal Breadth ________ ________ ________
Orbital height ________ ________ ________
Orbital breadth ________ ________ ________
Bicondylar Breadth ________ ________ ________
Bigonial Breadth ________ ________ ________
Upper facial depth ________ ________ ________
Lower facial Depth ________ ________ ________
Table 1B: Osteometric Indices for an Early Primate and Two of the Oldest Hominins (1.25 points)
Aegyptopithecus zeuxis S. tchadensis A. ramidus
Cranial Index ________ ________ ________
Cranial Length-Height Index ________ ________ ________
Total Facial Index ________ ________ ________
Upper Facial Index ________ ________ ________
Nasal Index ________ ________ ________
http://projects.leadr.msu.edu/hominidfossils/exhibits/show/proto-hominids/aegyptopithecus-zeuxis
http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/sahelanthropus-tchadensis
http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/ardipithecus-ramidus
http://projects.leadr.msu.edu/hominidfossils/exhibits/show/proto-hominids/aegyptopithecus-zeuxis
http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/sahelanthropus-tchadensis
http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/ardipithecus-ramidus
Table 2A:
Comparison of Traits for Three Robust Australopithecus [Paranthropus] Species
(3 points)
Trait A. aethiopicus A. boisei A robustus
Maximum length ________ ________ ________
Maximum breadth ________ ________ ________
Basion-Bregma Height ________ ________ ________
Total facial height ________ ________ ________
Upper facial height ________ ________ ________
Bizygomatic breadth ________ ________ ________
Nasal height ________ ________ ________
Nasal Breadth ________ ________ ________
Orbital height ________ ________ ________
Orbital breadth ________ ________ ________
Bicondylar Breadth ________ ________ ________
Bigonial Breadth ________ ________ ________
Upper facial depth ________ ________ ________
Lower facial Depth ________ ________ ________
Table 2B:
Osteometric Indices for Three Robust Australopithecus [Paranthropus] Species
(1.25 points)
- aethiopicus A. boisei A robustus
Cranial Index ________ ________ ________
Cranial Length-Height
Index ________ ________ ________
Total Facial Index ________ ________ ________
Upper Facial Index ________ ________ ________
Nasal Index ________ ________ ________
http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/paranthropus-aethiopicus
http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/kenyanthropus-platyops
http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/paranthropus-robustus
http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/paranthropus-aethiopicus
http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/kenyanthropus-platyops
http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/paranthropus-robustus
Table 3A:
Comparison of Traits for Three Early Hominins
(3 points)
Trait Kenyanthropus platyops A. afarensis A. africanus
Maximum length ________ ________ ________
Maximum breadth ________ ________ ________
Basion-Bregma Height ________ ________ ________
Total facial height ________ ________ ________
Upper facial height ________ ________ ________
Bizygomatic breadth ________ ________ ________
Nasal height ________ ________ ________
Nasal Breadth ________ ________ ________
Orbital height ________ ________ ________
Orbital breadth ________ ________ ________
Bicondylar Breadth ________ ________ ________
Bigonial Breadth ________ ________ ________
Upper facial depth ________ ________ ________
Lower facial Depth ________ ________ ________
Table 3B:
Osteometric Indices for Three Early Hominins
(1.25 points)
Kenyanthropus platyops A. afarensis A. africanus
Cranial Index ________ ________ ________
Cranial Length-Height Index ________ ________ ________
Total Facial Index ________ ________ ________
Upper Facial Index ________ ________ ________
Nasal Index ________ ________ ________
http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/kenyanthropus-platyops
Hominin_Osteometrics_DataCollection_OL.rtf
http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/australopithecus-africanus
http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/kenyanthropus-platyops
Hominin_Osteometrics_DataCollection_OL.rtf
http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/australopithecus-africanus
Table 4A:
Comparison of Traits for Three Species in the Homo Line
(Pick from the List)
(3 points)
Trait Homo ______________ Homo ______________ Homo ______________
Maximum length ________ ________ ________
Maximum breadth ________ ________ ________
Basion-Bregma Height ________ ________ ________
Total facial height ________ ________ ________
Upper facial height ________ ________ ________
Bizygomatic breadth ________ ________ ________
Nasal height ________ ________ ________
Nasal Breadth ________ ________ ________
Orbital height ________ ________ ________
Orbital breadth ________ ________ ________
Bicondylar Breadth ________ ________ ________
Bigonial Breadth ________ ________ ________
Upper facial depth ________ ________ ________
Lower facial Depth ________ ________ ________
Table 4B:
Osteometric Indices for Three Species in the Homo Line
(Pick from the List) (1.25 points)
Homo _________ Homo ___________ Homo ____________
Cranial Index ________ ________ ________
Cranial Length-Height Index ________ ________ ________
Total Facial Index ________ ________ ________
Upper Facial Index ________ ________ ________
Nasal Index ________ ________ ________
Part 2: Online Lab
Table 5A:
Online Skull Comparisons (Supra-Orbital Heights)
(1 point)
Species BC AC X 100 Surpa-orbital Height
Pan troglodytes ________ ________ ________________
Australopithecus afarensis ________ ________ ________________
Homo sapiens sapiens ________ ________ ________________
Homo erectus ________ ________ ________________
Fossil skull ________ ________ ________________
Table 5B:
Cranial Observations
(1 point)
Species Braincase shape Forehead Face
Pan troglodytes ___________________ ___________________ ________________
Australopithecus afarensis ___________________ ___________________ ________________
Homo sapiens sapiens ___________________ ___________________ ________________
Homo erectus ___________________ ___________________ ________________
Fossil skull ___________________ ___________________ ________________
Table 5C:
Dental Observations
(1 point)
Species Canines Foramen magnum
Pan troglodytes ___________________ ___________________
Australopithecus afarensis ___________________ ___________________
Homo sapiens sapiens ___________________ ___________________
Homo erectus ___________________ ___________________
Fossil skull ___________________ ___________________
Extra Credit: Answer these questions concerning the online lab (2 points)
- To which of the four species does your fossil skull likely belong? Justify your answer with evidence.
- How does the shape of the face differ between Australopithecus afarensis and Homo sapiens?
- How do the canine teeth differ between Australopithecus afarensis and Homo sapiens?
- What do you think accounts for the differences you observed in the skulls and teeth of the hominoids?
- How did the skulls compare in terms of cranial size? What does this indicate about the brains of the different hominoids?
- In what way do you think the position of the foramen magnum relates to the movement of the hominoid?
Laboratory Procedures for Primate Osteometrics
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