25. archaic

Return to History 8 Human Origins Vocabulary

Oxford dictionary defines the term "archaic" as "very old or old-fashioned" and "of an early period." Archaic humans are early homo sapiens like Neanderthals. H. heidelbergensis began the transition into "archaic" humans around 300,000 years ago. Archaic humans are very close to modern humans anatomically.

Sources: Manual page 33 and 34, http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/archaic, http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/plateaus/images/bc65-c309.html, http://www.smithsonianmag.com/ist/?next=/science-nature/science-shows-why-youre-smarter-than-a-neanderthal-1885827/

For further Investigation: http://anthro.palomar.edu/homo2/mod_homo_3.htm, http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/archaic-homo-sapiens

-Mary VanLoh