Question

All fossils of archaic Homo sapiens and earlier Homo erectus show:

1. continued reduction in skeletal robusticity and tooth size
2. increased height and overall body size
3. expansion of the brain and increased cultural complexity
4. 1 and 3
5. all of the above

Answer 1

Fossil records of archaic Homo sapiens and Homo erectus show a reduction in skeletal robusticity and tooth size, increased height and body size, plus brain expansion and cultural complexity. Option 5, 'all of the above', would be the most suitable answer as it encapsulates all observed evolutionary trends.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question concerns the trends observed in the fossil records of archaic Homo sapiens and Homo erectus. Specifically, it addresses skeletal robusticity, tooth size, body size, brain expansion, and cultural complexity. From the information provided, it is clear that:

• There was a continued reduction in skeletal robusticity and tooth size, partly due to the consumption of softer foods like cooked meats and plants, leading to smaller teeth with thicker enamel.
• Homo erectus and subsequent hominins, including archaic Homo sapiens, showed an increase in height and overall body size, with adaptations for bipedalism and long-distance running.
• Brain expansion is noted in the progression from H. erectus to archaic Homo sapiens, with brain size overlapping with that of modern humans. This increase in brain size is associated with increased cultural complexity.

Based on this evidence, the correct response to the question about the fossil records of archaic Homo sapiens and earlier Homo erectus would broadly encompass options 1, 3, and to some extent, 2. Thus, option 5 "all of the above" would be the most appropriate answer as it correctly includes the listed trends in human evolution.