4.1 The taung child

The turned-in knees of humans and of Australopithecus allow the feet to be aligned to the front.

This means that the ball of the foot and the big toe, in particular, plays an important role in walking.

Source C

Pelvic girdles and thighbones. The similarity of the human thighbone and that of Australopithecus is clearly identifiable. The vertical black line G indicates the axis along which the weight is transferred from the hip to the knee. A = os ileum (hipbone), B = socket for the thighbone, C = os pubis (pubic bone), D = os ischium, E = os sacrum, F = os femur (thighbone).

Source D

With Australopithecus the knee joints were turned inwards, as with modern human beings and their footprints formed a similar pattern to ours. The chimpanzee has a waddling gait when it walks on hind legs only.

Twelve years later, in 1936, Dr. Robert Boom discovered an adult skull at Sterkfontein (near Krugersdorp). He initially thought that he had found a female of a new species and named it Plesianthropus transvaalensis (Mrs. Ples). But further investigation revealed Mrs. Ples to be virtually identical to the Taung child.

Activity 2:

To understand time by showing that some communities changed because of particular circumstances, while other communities were unaffected

[lo 2.1]

a) Study the following and then answer the questions that are provided. First make a sketch illustrating similar circumstances at your home.

• Is it difficult to get hold of food ? Is food shared among the family members?
• What kind of clothing is worn?
• What is revealed about family life? Do adults care for their children?
• What equipment and weapons are used? Has technology brought about any changes?
• Is it possible to be safe while sleeping at night ?
• Do men and women have different tasks ?
• Do these people remain in one place for a long time?

b) Develop a comic strip or an art song to give expression to the above information.

Assessment

Memorandum

Activity 1

There are clear differences between apes and human beings. Man is the only primate to walk upright. The shape of the pelvis, the position of the femur, and the way in which the feet are put down, are very specific. A comparison between the build of the rest of the body and the brain indicates that the Australopithecus is related closer to man. There was a development pattern from Australopithecus through Homo habilis and Homo erectus to the modern day Homo sapiens .

Activity 2

Suppose this illustration is a representation of the Stone Age :

They lived in caves where they slept and kept food, and used tools, weapons and fire. Gathering food was the main activity. The men hunted and caught fish. The women and children gathered berries, wild fruit and root plants. They also hoarded food for the winter months and also prepared food. Tools were made of bone, stone and wood and gradually improved because they also manufactured arrows, axes and daggers. They could manufacture objects, e.g. “needles” that were used to sew clothing from wool and flax. Early man never stayed long in one place.