Homo erectus 1

Some scientists devide the African (Homo ergaster) and Asian (Homo erectus sensu stricto) fossils of this taxon, while others bond them together as Homo erectus sensu lato. There is general agreement that it descended from an earlier species of Homo (e.g., Homo habilis) and represents one of the widest dispersals of early humans in our evolutionary history. It is likely that distinct populations of Homo erectus sensu lato led to the emergence of later homininspecies, such as Homo heidelbergensis, and to our own species, Homo sapiens.

At the beginning of its time range, around 1.9 Mya, H. erectus coexisted in East Africa with several other early human species including Homo rudolfensis, Homo habilis, and Paranthropus boisei. Sometimes they were even found at the same fossil sites. At the end of its time range, around 70,000 years ago, it coexisted with Homo floresiensis and possibly Homo sapiens in Indonesia.

· Homo erectus (1.8 million - 250,000 years ago)- Brain far bigger than Lucy’s (cranial capacity almost 900 cl)

· Long, slim body

· Two legs

· Straight back

· Short forearms

· Lower forehead

· Large supra orbital torus

· Post-orbital constriction suggests less development in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain

· An occipital bun

· A large jaw with a wide ramus

· No chin

· The skull is lower

· Brow ridges

From the neck down the Homo erectus fossils appear like human skeletons and stood about 5 ft 6 in. A ridge along the top of the skull, the sagittal keel, is common in H. erectus , but it is not associated with muscles, it is simply a raised midline bony feature. Homo erectus species show sexual dimorphism which suggests that they might have had multiple partners, because difference in size between males and females are often related to monogamy.

Height:

Ranges from 4 ft 9 in - 6 ft 1 in (145 - 185 cm)

Weight:

Ranges from 88 - 150 lbs (40 - 68 kg)

Homo erectus had a recognizable tool culture, called the Acheulean tool tradition. They term pebble-tools of the

earlier Homo habilis Oldowan.

A handaxe that fits into the hand is the classic Acheulean tool, but they shaped these to serve as scrapers, side scrapers, backed knives, small choppers, picks, points and borers.

With the evolution of H. erectus , their tools became more standardized indicating improved communication and cognition between individuals. Tools differ within geographic regions where Homo erectus lived. They used fire as a source of energy. They used it for light, warmth, scaring night predators, cooking and socializing. Their diet consisted mostly of meat. Were they hunters or scavengers remains questionable. The producer of early art was the homo erectus, even before the Neanderthal man.