Homo erectus Discovered: 19th century in China, Java; later in Africa Age range: 1.8 my – 350,000 years Geographic distribution: China, S.E. Asia, E. Africa, S. Africa, N. Africa, possibly Europe Type specimen: Turkana Boy (1.6 myo) by Richard Leakey in Kenya; most complete hominid skeleton Cranial capacity: 750 – 1250 cc Features: weight/height increases; heavy body build

Homo erectus Features: Cranial features are very distinct; sagittal ridge Notes: First hominid to leave Africa (around 1.7 – 1.5 mya) First hominid to USE fire (500,000 ya) Cook meat, keep warm, light, socialize Made Acheulian stone tools multipurpose hand axes (1.4 mya in Africa) Modified flake tools Language centers developed – capable of speech

Acheulian Hand Axes

Classifying Homo erectus Based on cranial & behavioral features Homo ergaster – African species Homo erectus – Asian species; did not make hand axes Homo antecessor – European species dated at 780,000 ya in Spain

Scavenging vs. Hunting H. habilis = evidence supports scavenging H. erectus = scavenging, hunting, cooking of meat

Recap of Defining the Genus Homo Anatomical differences from Australopithecines Larger, more rounded braincase Less projecting face Smaller back teeth Eventually, larger body

2. Cultural changes More animal based diet Expanding ranges/territories w/growing populations More food processing with tools Intelligence becoming primary survival strategy Conclusion: Bio-cultural evolution firmly established with genus Homo hominids

Australopithecus sediba Discovered 2008 in South Africa; publicized in 2010 Dated at 2 myo Within range of Early Homo & robust australopithicenes More than 220 bones (more than any early Homo bones combined); all ages & both sexes represented Evidence that human like traits did not evolve as “full package” A. sediba shows mix of australopith & later Homo traits Primitive heel bones – more primitive than Lucy Is A. sediba from another lineage? Analysis of skin may provide DNA Analysis of teeth may have remains of food

Australopithecus sediba

Evolutionary Turning Points Bipedalism – defining hominid feature Manufacture of Stone Tools Meat eating Brain expansion More sophisticated tools Better/safer hunting opportunities = more meat More reliance on cultural innovations Language More complex social organization