Definition: Bipedal locomotion means walking on two legs in an upright position. Scientists identify whether a set of bones represents an animal who walked on two legs by examining the pelvis; bipedal locomotion is possible only with a specially adapted pelvis.
Bipedalism is one of the innovations of our hominid ancestors, the Australopithecus, and is one of the symptoms of being hominin, despite recent mechanical inventions.
Bipedalism is one of the innovations of our hominid ancestors, the Australopithecus, and is one of the symptoms of being hominin, despite recent mechanical inventions.
Sources
Knusel, C. J. 1992 The throwing hypothesis and hominid origins. Human Evolution 7(1):1-7.
Tobias, Phillip V. 1998 Ape-like Australopithecus after seventy years: Was it a hominid? Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute 4(2):284-307.
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Any mistakes are the responsibility of Kris Hirst.
