Human Evolution

How do we know how humans evolved? This course investigates the evidence and methods used to reconstruct human evolution. We review eight million years of evolutionary history, focusing on the origins of defining features of our species such as bipedalism, tool use, language, art, and agriculture. We evaluate interpretations of the past using different lines of evidence including genetic and fossil data, the archaeological and ethnographic records, and comparisons with living primates. To gain first-hand experience in research methods, students work with fossils and artifacts from Harvard museums and complete exercises in Harvard laboratories.