Chapter 9 Human Spe

1.Early Hominins in Africa 2.Around 2 mya expands to other areas Old World

Referred to collectively as “Homo erectus”

Variation but shared several common traits a) Body Size Increase height and weight Robust b) Brain Size Cranial size most obvious difference from early Homo c) Cranial Shape Cranial bone: thick Brow ridge: large Nuchal torus: back of skull Forehead : low Width of Cranium: wide at base

An almost complete skull was discovered in east Turkana

• The most complete H. erectus skeleton ever found was uncovered in west Turkana. • Frequently called “Homo ergaster”

• Louis Leakey unearthed a fossil skull at Olduvai

Early Travelers Emigration out of African earlier than previously thought 1) Homo erectus appears East African 2)Similar homininsat Dmanisi site 3) Found in Java, Indonesia

• Easternmost Europe • Republic of Georgia • New discovered fossils dated radiometrically to 1.75 m.y.a. • Front of skull looks more like the smaller “early Homo” specimens from East Africa • Stone tools not as advanced as “Acheulian” tools associated with Homo erectus Possibilities • Dmanisi seems to be early primitive form of Homo erectus

Discovered Next year a human femur

• Dubois called find “Pithecanthropus erectus” • His view of an “ape man” was criticized • But now agreed it is H. erectus

• Sites yield H. erectus fossils. • Early dates range 1.8 m.y.a. to 1.6 m.y.a. • And some unusually recent dates

• (ancient mammal bones sold in apothecary shop) • Geological Survey of China investigated sites where bones collected • Discovered fossils at Zhoukoudian cave

Largest collection of H.erectus material anywhere

• More than 100,000 artifacts recovered • Cave site occupied for thousand of years

• Traditionally described as • “Hunter-gatherer” who killed deer and horses • (note keyword is “hunter”) • And used fire • This interpretation now rejected by some