Later Human EvolutionLater Human Evolution

Homo erectusHomo erectus

Homo Homo erectus: Traitserectus: Traits Homo erectusHomo erectus lived from approximately lived from approximately

2 million to around 400,000 years ago.2 million to around 400,000 years ago. Homo erectusHomo erectus is a large brained species, is a large brained species,

with adult brains ranging from 900 to 1200 with adult brains ranging from 900 to 1200 cc. cc. • This size range means that the larger brained This size range means that the larger brained

individuals of this species exhibit a fifty-individuals of this species exhibit a fifty-percent increase in brain size over the older percent increase in brain size over the older Homo habilisHomo habilis. .

• The largest brain sizes of The largest brain sizes of H. erectusH. erectus fall within fall within the range of modern humans, although the the range of modern humans, although the H. H. erectuserectus brain is configured somewhat brain is configured somewhat differently than our own. differently than our own.

TraitsTraits

Were from the neck down almost exactly Were from the neck down almost exactly like modernslike moderns

Had no chin, thick and big brow ridges Had no chin, thick and big brow ridges Bigger teeth than modernsBigger teeth than moderns Males were much bigger than females, but Males were much bigger than females, but

this changes over timethis changes over time More robust bodyMore robust body Body SizeBody Size

• male:170cm,66kg male:170cm,66kg • female:150cm, 56kgfemale:150cm, 56kg

Height comparisonsHeight comparisons

Acheulian Hand AxesAcheulian Hand Axes

Homo erectusHomo erectus was an accomplished tool was an accomplished tool maker and tool user; hand-axes were maker and tool user; hand-axes were widely used in addition to sharp-edged widely used in addition to sharp-edged flakes. flakes.

The tools of The tools of Homo erectusHomo erectus are the first in are the first in the fossil record to show conscious design the fossil record to show conscious design of any complexity. of any complexity.

Wooden tools and weapons are also Wooden tools and weapons are also assumed to be present in the tool kit of assumed to be present in the tool kit of this species, but none has been preserved this species, but none has been preserved in the fossil record. in the fossil record.

Acheulian Hand AxeAcheulian Hand Axe

Controlled Use of FireControlled Use of Fire

H. erectusH. erectus may have been the first may have been the first species to use and control fire. species to use and control fire.

This milestone in human This milestone in human development occurred 1 to l.5 million development occurred 1 to l.5 million years ago. years ago.

Control of fire may have enabled Control of fire may have enabled humans to move out of Africa and humans to move out of Africa and into colder climates in Europe and into colder climates in Europe and Asia.Asia.

Use of FireUse of Fire

Homo erectusHomo erectus invented fireinvented fire

To cook food, scare To cook food, scare away animals and away animals and travel to colder travel to colder placesplaces

controlled firecontrolled fire

Migrate Out-of-AfricaMigrate Out-of-Africa

The earliest specimens of The earliest specimens of Homo erectusHomo erectus are found in Africa, but, sometime after 1 are found in Africa, but, sometime after 1 million years ago, million years ago, Homo erectusHomo erectus apparently migrated out of Arica. apparently migrated out of Arica.

Tools and remains of this species have Tools and remains of this species have been found widely distributed in Europe been found widely distributed in Europe and Asia.and Asia.

Homo erectusHomo erectus is thus the first human is thus the first human species to migrate out of Africa and adapt species to migrate out of Africa and adapt to a variety of Old World environments. to a variety of Old World environments.

Sites in & out of AfricaSites in & out of Africa

MigrationMigration The earliestThe earliest Homo erectus Homo erectus finds are in the Rift finds are in the Rift

Valley of Africa and in South Africa. Valley of Africa and in South Africa. Stone tools and camp sites are widely distributed Stone tools and camp sites are widely distributed

over Africa, including sites in what is now the over Africa, including sites in what is now the Sahara desert. By at least 1 million years ago, Sahara desert. By at least 1 million years ago, H. H. erectuserectus migrated out of Africa to Asia and migrated out of Africa to Asia and Europe. Europe.

Recent dating techniques applied to earlier finds Recent dating techniques applied to earlier finds in Java and the Caucasus mountains indicate in Java and the Caucasus mountains indicate dates much earlier than that and would place dates much earlier than that and would place Homo erectusHomo erectus in Asia over 2 million years ago. in Asia over 2 million years ago. • Such early dates would, if proven accurate, dramatically Such early dates would, if proven accurate, dramatically

overturn the currently accepted chronology of early overturn the currently accepted chronology of early human development. human development.

• At this date, however, the earliest claimed dates for At this date, however, the earliest claimed dates for H. H. erectuserectus outside of Africa are still highly controversial. outside of Africa are still highly controversial.

Habitat/MapHabitat/Map

Htttp://www.handprint.com/LS/ANC/disp.html

Homo Erectus

Asia (cold)

Australia (hot)

Africa (hot)

Europe (cold)

Important FindsImportant Finds

Turkana BoyTurkana Boy Discovered by Discovered by

Kamoya KimeuKamoya Kimeu

Peking ManPeking Man Was found Was found

near Beijingnear Beijing

Name used for Name used for the bones of an the bones of an extinct hominidextinct hominid

Reconstruction Reconstruction of Peking man of Peking man SkullSkull

Peking man picPeking man pic

Homo Erectus

http://www.inhandmuseum.com/LA/erectus/ergaster.html

VariationVariation Individual specimens of Individual specimens of

Homo erectusHomo erectus vary widely vary widely but some trends are visible but some trends are visible over time. over time.

These artist's reconstructions These artist's reconstructions of three faces from skulls of three faces from skulls show variations over a period show variations over a period of about a million years. of about a million years. • The oldest, approximately 1.5 The oldest, approximately 1.5

million years in age, is on the million years in age, is on the left, and the most recent, left, and the most recent, approximately .5 million years approximately .5 million years old, on the right. old, on the right.

• Seen together, these Seen together, these specimens show the specimens show the developmental trends within developmental trends within the species. the species.

• Over time, the face evolved Over time, the face evolved toward a flatter, more vertical toward a flatter, more vertical plane with a larger and more plane with a larger and more rounded cranium as brain size rounded cranium as brain size increased. increased.

Homo ergasterHomo ergaster By 1.9 million years ago, another lineage of the genus By 1.9 million years ago, another lineage of the genus

HomoHomo emerged in Africa. This species was emerged in Africa. This species was Homo ergasterHomo ergaster. . Traditionally, scientists have referred to this species as Traditionally, scientists have referred to this species as

Homo erectusHomo erectus and linked this species name with a and linked this species name with a proliferation of populations across Africa, Europe, and Asia. proliferation of populations across Africa, Europe, and Asia.

Yet, since the first discoveries of Yet, since the first discoveries of Homo erectusHomo erectus, it had , it had been noted that there were differences between the early been noted that there were differences between the early populations of "populations of "Homo erectusHomo erectus" in Africa, and the later " in Africa, and the later populations of Europe, Africa and Asia. populations of Europe, Africa and Asia.

Many researchers now separate the two into distinct Many researchers now separate the two into distinct species species Homo ergasterHomo ergaster for early African " for early African "Homo erectusHomo erectus", ", and and Homo erectusHomo erectus for later populations mainly in Asia. for later populations mainly in Asia.

Since modern humans share the same differences as Since modern humans share the same differences as H. H. ergasterergaster with the Asian with the Asian H. erectusH. erectus, scientist consider , scientist consider H. H. ergasterergaster as the probable ancestor of later as the probable ancestor of later HomoHomo populations. populations.

Homo ergaster: Homo ergaster: WT 15,000 WT 15,000 Narikatome BoyNarikatome Boy

Boy, 12 yearsBoy, 12 years Long legs narrow hips and shouldersLong legs narrow hips and shoulders Vertebrate opening sin spinal cord Vertebrate opening sin spinal cord

smaller than modernssmaller than moderns Brain size large (850-1100)Brain size large (850-1100) Front tooth size increase, back tooth Front tooth size increase, back tooth

decreasedecrease Tall (5-5.5 feet), thick bones.Tall (5-5.5 feet), thick bones. 1.6 mya-200 kya1.6 mya-200 kya

Narikatome BoyNarikatome Boy The nearly full skeleton at the The nearly full skeleton at the

right belonged to a teen-age right belonged to a teen-age boy, 12 or 13, who lived 1.65 boy, 12 or 13, who lived 1.65 years ago near what is now years ago near what is now Lake Turkana in east Africa.Lake Turkana in east Africa.

He was five feet, four inches He was five feet, four inches tall, and his body is tall, and his body is remarkably modern looking.remarkably modern looking.

This is the most complete find This is the most complete find of an ancient human ancestor of an ancient human ancestor yet discovered, and it has yet discovered, and it has provided a wealth of provided a wealth of information.information.

Yet this immature male had Yet this immature male had already surpassed a height of already surpassed a height of five feet at the time of his five feet at the time of his death, and probably would death, and probably would have attained a height of 6 have attained a height of 6 feet and a weight of roughly feet and a weight of roughly 150 lbs.150 lbs.

Homo ergaster Homo ergaster in Africain Africa ER 3733 represents a mature female of the early ER 3733 represents a mature female of the early

human species human species Homo ergasterHomo ergaster. . The gender identification comes from a The gender identification comes from a

comparison of the anatomical features of her face comparison of the anatomical features of her face with another Koobi Fora for a cranium KNM ER with another Koobi Fora for a cranium KNM ER 3883, and the KNM WT 15000 male, found on the 3883, and the KNM WT 15000 male, found on the opposite side of Lake Turkana. opposite side of Lake Turkana.

The features of KNM ER 3733 are markedly less The features of KNM ER 3733 are markedly less robust. It's known to be an adult on the basis of robust. It's known to be an adult on the basis of the cranial sutures (which were fully closed), the the cranial sutures (which were fully closed), the extent of the wear on the teeth, and the eruption extent of the wear on the teeth, and the eruption of the third molars before the individual's death. of the third molars before the individual's death.

Homo ergasterHomo ergaster (ER3733) (ER3733)

Note the difference in Note the difference in the shape of the the shape of the cranium. On the top, cranium. On the top, H. erectusH. erectus has a long has a long cranium with a cranium with a "transverse torus," a "transverse torus," a protruding area of protruding area of bone at the back of bone at the back of the braincase. the braincase.

H. ergasterH. ergaster has a has a more globe-shaped more globe-shaped braincase that lacks braincase that lacks this torus. this torus. • Although the African Although the African

cranium and the East cranium and the East Asian reconstruction Asian reconstruction both depict females, both depict females, the later H. erectus the later H. erectus (right) exhibits larger (right) exhibits larger browridges. browridges.

H. erectus

H. ergaster