{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"articleState":{"article":{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T21:21:28+00:00","modifiedTime":"2021-12-13T19:25:24+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:18:53+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Humanities","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33686"},"slug":"humanities","categoryId":33686}],"title":"Anthropology and Human Modernity","strippedTitle":"anthropology and human modernity","slug":"anthropology-and-human-modernity","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Modern humans have physical and behavioral differences from ancient humans. When you're studying anthropology — specifically, modernity in humans — keep these p","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Modern humans have physical and behavioral differences from ancient humans. When you're studying anthropology — specifically, modernity in humans — keep these points in mind. They highlight the most important characteristics of anatomical and behavioral human modernity:\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i>Anatomical modernity</i> is having anatomical characteristics indistinguishable from modern, living humans. Appearing by 100,000 years ago, these characteristics include a larger brain (averaging 1,450 cubic centimeters), a larger body overall, and the presence of a chin.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i></i><i>Behavioral modernity</i> is behaving in ways that are indistinguishable from modern humans; it appears by 100,000 to 50,000 years ago and includes symbolism (the use of one thing to represent another thing), complex language (with complex grammar), and complex tool use (such as the use of symmetrical tools).</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Modern humans colonized sub-Himalayan East Asia by 80,000 BP (before present, a term archeologists use), Southeast Asia and Australia by 40,000 BP, Europe at least by 30,000 BP, the New World by 14,000 BP, and the Pacific and Arctic by 1,000 BP.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>","description":"Modern humans have physical and behavioral differences from ancient humans. When you're studying anthropology — specifically, modernity in humans — keep these points in mind. They highlight the most important characteristics of anatomical and behavioral human modernity:\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i>Anatomical modernity</i> is having anatomical characteristics indistinguishable from modern, living humans. Appearing by 100,000 years ago, these characteristics include a larger brain (averaging 1,450 cubic centimeters), a larger body overall, and the presence of a chin.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i></i><i>Behavioral modernity</i> is behaving in ways that are indistinguishable from modern humans; it appears by 100,000 to 50,000 years ago and includes symbolism (the use of one thing to represent another thing), complex language (with complex grammar), and complex tool use (such as the use of symmetrical tools).</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Modern humans colonized sub-Himalayan East Asia by 80,000 BP (before present, a term archeologists use), Southeast Asia and Australia by 40,000 BP, Europe at least by 30,000 BP, the New World by 14,000 BP, and the Pacific and Arctic by 1,000 BP.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":10053,"name":"Cameron M. Smith","slug":"cameron-m-smith","description":" <p><b>Dr. Cameron M. Smith</b> has searched for early human fossils in East Africa, studied traditional hunting methods in Arctic Alaska, and more. His research has been published in <i>The American Journal of Physical Anthropology</i> and <i>The Journal of Field Archaeology</i>, and he is the author of <i>An Atlas of Human Prehistory</i>.</p> ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10053"}},{"authorId":10362,"name":"Evan T. Davies","slug":"evan-t-davies","description":"Evan T. Davies, PhD, has conducted fieldwork in Africa. Davies coauthored Anthropology For Dummies.","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10362"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33686,"title":"Humanities","slug":"humanities","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33686"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":[{"articleId":175788,"title":"Trig Identities for Pre-Calculus","slug":"trig-identities-for-pre-calculus","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","math","pre-calculus"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/175788"}},{"articleId":147241,"title":"How to Use the Z-Table","slug":"how-to-use-the-z-table","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","math","statistics"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/147241"}},{"articleId":192609,"title":"How to Pray the Rosary: A Comprehensive Guide","slug":"how-to-pray-the-rosary","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","religion-spirituality","christianity","catholicism"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/192609"}},{"articleId":232914,"title":"The Flop, Turn, and River Cards in Texas Hold'em","slug":"flop-turn-river-cards-texas-holdem","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","poker"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/232914"}},{"articleId":193770,"title":"How to Play Rummy: All You Need to Know","slug":"rummy-understanding-the-rules-and-starting-a-game","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/193770"}}],"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":209010,"title":"Anthropology For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"anthropology-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","humanities"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209010"}},{"articleId":192441,"title":"How Anthropologists Group the Early Hominids","slug":"how-anthropologists-group-the-early-hominids","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","humanities"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/192441"}},{"articleId":192439,"title":"Culture and Cultural Universals in Anthropology","slug":"culture-and-cultural-universals-in-anthropology","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","humanities"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/192439"}},{"articleId":192437,"title":"What Is Linguistic Anthropology?","slug":"what-is-linguistic-anthropology","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","humanities"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/192437"}},{"articleId":192438,"title":"Anthropology of Subsistence and Social Organization","slug":"anthropology-of-subsistence-and-social-organization","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","humanities"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/192438"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":284802,"title":"BIPOC—Complexities of Life in Color","slug":"bipoc-complexities-of-life-in-color","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","humanities"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/284802"}},{"articleId":284787,"title":"What Your Society Says About You","slug":"what-your-society-says-about-you","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","humanities"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/284787"}},{"articleId":209101,"title":"Sociology For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"sociology-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","humanities"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209101"}},{"articleId":209010,"title":"Anthropology For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"anthropology-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","humanities"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/209010"}},{"articleId":207753,"title":"Archaeology For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"archaeology-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","humanities"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/207753"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":281950,"slug":"anthropology-for-dummies","isbn":"9781119784203","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","humanities"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119784204/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119784204/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119784204-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119784204/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119784204/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/anthropology-for-dummies-2e-cover-9781119784203-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Anthropology For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"<p><b>Dr. <b data-author-id=\"10053\">Cameron M. Smith</b></b> has searched for early human fossils in East Africa, studied traditional hunting methods in Arctic Alaska, and more. His research has been published in <i>The American Journal of Physical Anthropology</i> and <i>The Journal of Field Archaeology</i>, and he is the author of <i>An Atlas of Human Prehistory</i>.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":10053,"name":"Cameron M. Smith","slug":"cameron-m-smith","description":" <p><b>Dr. Cameron M. Smith</b> has searched for early human fossils in East Africa, studied traditional hunting methods in Arctic Alaska, and more. His research has been published in <i>The American Journal of Physical Anthropology</i> and <i>The Journal of Field Archaeology</i>, and he is the author of <i>An Atlas of Human Prehistory</i>.</p> ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10053"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{"key":"cat","values":["academics-the-arts","humanities"]},{"key":"isbn","values":["9781119784203"]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b0dbd65c\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{"key":"cat","values":["academics-the-arts","humanities"]},{"key":"isbn","values":["9781119784203"]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b0dbe0e3\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Articles","articleList":null,"content":null,"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Advance","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2021-12-13T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":192440},"articleLoadedStatus":"success"},"listState":{"list":{},"objectTitle":"","status":"initial","pageType":null,"objectId":null,"page":1,"sortField":"time","sortOrder":1,"categoriesIds":[],"articleTypes":[],"filterData":{},"filterDataLoadedStatus":"initial","pageSize":10},"adsState":{"pageScripts":{"headers":{"timestamp":"2024-10-21T10:50:01+00:00"},"adsId":0,"data":{"scripts":[{"pages":["all"],"location":"header","script":"\r\n<script src=\"https://cdn.optimizely.com/js/10563184655.js\"></script>","enabled":false},{"pages":["all"],"location":"header","script":"\r\n<script>var _comscore = _comscore || [];_comscore.push({ c1: \"2\", c2: \"15097263\" });(function() {var s = document.createElement(\"script\"), el = document.getElementsByTagName(\"script\")[0]; s.async = true;s.src = (document.location.protocol == \"https:\" ? \"https://sb\" : \"http://b\") + \".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\";el.parentNode.insertBefore(s, el);})();</script><noscript><img src=\"https://sb.scorecardresearch.com/p?c1=2&c2=15097263&cv=2.0&cj=1\" /></noscript>\r\n","enabled":true},{"pages":["all"],"location":"footer","script":"\r\n<script type='text/javascript'>\r\n(function(){var g=function(e,h,f,g){\r\nthis.get=function(a){for(var a=a+\"=\",c=document.cookie.split(\";\"),b=0,e=c.length;b<e;b++){for(var d=c[b];\" \"==d.charAt(0);)d=d.substring(1,d.length);if(0==d.indexOf(a))return d.substring(a.length,d.length)}return null};\r\nthis.set=function(a,c){var b=\"\",b=new Date;b.setTime(b.getTime()+6048E5);b=\"; expires=\"+b.toGMTString();document.cookie=a+\"=\"+c+b+\"; path=/; \"};\r\nthis.check=function(){var a=this.get(f);if(a)a=a.split(\":\");else if(100!=e)\"v\"==h&&(e=Math.random()>=e/100?0:100),a=[h,e,0],this.set(f,a.join(\":\"));else return!0;var c=a[1];if(100==c)return!0;switch(a[0]){case \"v\":return!1;case \"r\":return c=a[2]%Math.floor(100/c),a[2]++,this.set(f,a.join(\":\")),!c}return!0};\r\nthis.go=function(){if(this.check()){var a=document.createElement(\"script\");a.type=\"text/javascript\";a.src=g;document.body&&document.body.appendChild(a)}};\r\nthis.start=function(){var t=this;\"complete\"!==document.readyState?window.addEventListener?window.addEventListener(\"load\",function(){t.go()},!1):window.attachEvent&&window.attachEvent(\"onload\",function(){t.go()}):t.go()};};\r\ntry{(new g(100,\"r\",\"QSI_S_ZN_5o5yqpvMVjgDOuN\",\"https://zn5o5yqpvmvjgdoun-wiley.siteintercept.qualtrics.com/SIE/?Q_ZID=ZN_5o5yqpvMVjgDOuN\")).start()}catch(i){}})();\r\n</script><div id='ZN_5o5yqpvMVjgDOuN'></div>\r\n","enabled":false},{"pages":["all"],"location":"header","script":"\r\n<script>\r\n (function(h,o,t,j,a,r){\r\n h.hj=h.hj||function(){(h.hj.q=h.hj.q||[]).push(arguments)};\r\n h._hjSettings={hjid:257151,hjsv:6};\r\n a=o.getElementsByTagName('head')[0];\r\n r=o.createElement('script');r.async=1;\r\n r.src=t+h._hjSettings.hjid+j+h._hjSettings.hjsv;\r\n a.appendChild(r);\r\n })(window,document,'https://static.hotjar.com/c/hotjar-','.js?sv=');\r\n</script>","enabled":false},{"pages":["article"],"location":"header","script":" <script src=\"//get.s-onetag.com/bffe21a1-6bb8-4928-9449-7beadb468dae/tag.min.js\" async defer></script>","enabled":true},{"pages":["homepage"],"location":"header","script":"<meta name=\"facebook-domain-verification\" content=\"irk8y0irxf718trg3uwwuexg6xpva0\" />","enabled":true},{"pages":["homepage","article","category","search"],"location":"footer","script":"\r\n<noscript>\r\n<img height=\"1\" width=\"1\" src=\"https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=256338321977984&ev=PageView&noscript=1\"/>\r\n</noscript>\r\n","enabled":true}]}},"pageScriptsLoadedStatus":"success"},"navigationState":{"navigationCollections":[{"collectionId":287568,"title":"BYOB (Be Your Own Boss)","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-entry-level-entrepreneur-287568"},{"collectionId":293237,"title":"Be a Rad Dad","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/be-the-best-dad-293237"},{"collectionId":295890,"title":"Career Shifting","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/career-shifting-295890"},{"collectionId":294090,"title":"Contemplating the Cosmos","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/theres-something-about-space-294090"},{"collectionId":287563,"title":"For Those Seeking Peace of Mind","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-those-seeking-peace-of-mind-287563"},{"collectionId":287570,"title":"For the Aspiring Aficionado","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-bougielicious-287570"},{"collectionId":291903,"title":"For the Budding Cannabis Enthusiast","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-budding-cannabis-enthusiast-291903"},{"collectionId":299891,"title":"For the College Bound","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-college-bound-299891"},{"collectionId":291934,"title":"For the Exam-Season Crammer","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/for-the-exam-season-crammer-291934"},{"collectionId":301547,"title":"For the Game Day Prepper","hasSubCategories":false,"url":"/collection/big-game-day-prep-made-easy-301547"}],"navigationCollectionsLoadedStatus":"success","navigationCategories":{"books":{"0":{"data":[{"categoryId":33512,"title":"Technology","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/technology-33512"},{"categoryId":33662,"title":"Academics & The Arts","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/academics-the-arts-33662"},{"categoryId":33809,"title":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/home-auto-hobbies-33809"},{"categoryId":34038,"title":"Body, Mind, & Spirit","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/body-mind-spirit-34038"},{"categoryId":34224,"title":"Business, Careers, & Money","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/books/business-careers-money-34224"}],"breadcrumbs":[],"categoryTitle":"Level 0 Category","mainCategoryUrl":"/category/books/level-0-category-0"}},"articles":{"0":{"data":[{"categoryId":33512,"title":"Technology","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/technology-33512"},{"categoryId":33662,"title":"Academics & The Arts","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/academics-the-arts-33662"},{"categoryId":33809,"title":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/home-auto-hobbies-33809"},{"categoryId":34038,"title":"Body, Mind, & Spirit","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/body-mind-spirit-34038"},{"categoryId":34224,"title":"Business, Careers, & Money","hasSubCategories":true,"url":"/category/articles/business-careers-money-34224"}],"breadcrumbs":[],"categoryTitle":"Level 0 Category","mainCategoryUrl":"/category/articles/level-0-category-0"}}},"navigationCategoriesLoadedStatus":"success"},"searchState":{"searchList":[],"searchStatus":"initial","relatedArticlesList":[],"relatedArticlesStatus":"initial"},"routeState":{"name":"Article2","path":"/article/academics-the-arts/humanities/anthropology-and-human-modernity-192440/","hash":"","query":{},"params":{"category1":"academics-the-arts","category2":"humanities","article":"anthropology-and-human-modernity-192440"},"fullPath":"/article/academics-the-arts/humanities/anthropology-and-human-modernity-192440/","meta":{"routeType":"article","breadcrumbInfo":{"suffix":"Articles","baseRoute":"/category/articles"},"prerenderWithAsyncData":true},"from":{"name":null,"path":"/","hash":"","query":{},"params":{},"fullPath":"/","meta":{}}},"dropsState":{"submitEmailResponse":false,"status":"initial"},"profileState":{"auth":{},"userOptions":{},"status":"success"}}

Anthropology and Human Modernity

By: Cameron M. Smith and Evan T. Davies and

Updated: 12-13-2021

From The Book: Anthropology For Dummies

Anthropology For Dummies

Book image

Explore Book Buy On Amazon

Modern humans have physical and behavioral differences from ancient humans. When you're studying anthropology — specifically, modernity in humans — keep these points in mind. They highlight the most important characteristics of anatomical and behavioral human modernity:

Anatomical modernity is having anatomical characteristics indistinguishable from modern, living humans. Appearing by 100,000 years ago, these characteristics include a larger brain (averaging 1,450 cubic centimeters), a larger body overall, and the presence of a chin.
Behavioral modernity is behaving in ways that are indistinguishable from modern humans; it appears by 100,000 to 50,000 years ago and includes symbolism (the use of one thing to represent another thing), complex language (with complex grammar), and complex tool use (such as the use of symmetrical tools).
Modern humans colonized sub-Himalayan East Asia by 80,000 BP (before present, a term archeologists use), Southeast Asia and Australia by 40,000 BP, Europe at least by 30,000 BP, the New World by 14,000 BP, and the Pacific and Arctic by 1,000 BP.

About This Article

This article is from the book:

Anthropology For Dummies ,

About the book author:

Dr. Cameron M. Smith has searched for early human fossils in East Africa, studied traditional hunting methods in Arctic Alaska, and more. His research has been published in The American Journal of Physical Anthropology and The Journal of Field Archaeology, and he is the author of An Atlas of Human Prehistory.

This article can be found in the category:

Humanities ,