Chapter 8 Homo erectus and the Emergence of Hunting and Gathering

Chapter Outline  Who Was Homo erectus?  What were the cultural capabilities of Homo erectus?  What were the consequences of Homo erectus’ improved abilities to adapt through culture?

Who Was Homo erectus?  The direct descendant of early members of the genus Homo.  Populations of Homo erectus were widespread between about 1.8 million and 400,000 y.a.

Cultural Capabilities of Homo erectus  Tools were better made, and there was a greater variety of tool types.  Tool kits varied regionally.  Developed the use of fire, and improved organizational skills.

Names For Homo erectus Fossils  Homo antecessor - Coined for the earliest fossils from Spain; antecessor is Latin for “explorer” or “pioneer.”  Homo heidelbergensis - Coined for the Mauer jaw but now used for all European fossils from about 500,000 y.a. until the appearance of the Neandertals.

Sites of Homo erectus Remains

H. habilis and H. erectus  If one evolved from the other, at some point the full range of variation included individuals that resembled H. habilis, whereas others were taking on the appearance of H. erectus.

Homo erectus: Physical Characteristics  Skeleton differs only subtly from that of modern humans.  Heavily muscled, rib cage conical rather than barrel-shaped, and narrower hips.  Stature seems to have been in modern range.

Homo erectus: Physical Characteristics  Long legs and short toes made for effective long-distance walking.  Notably larger than Homo habilis, displayed significantly less sexual dimorphism.  Cranial capacity ranged from 700 to 1,225 cubic centimeters.

Homo erectus: Physical Characteristics  Head was long and narrow with width greater than height.  Shape of the inside of the braincase showed near modern development of the brain.  Sloping forehead and receding chin.  Powerful jaws with large teeth, a protruding mouth, and huge neck muscles.

Acheulean Tools  10% of the shaped tools in a typical Acheulean assemblage are the forms drawn here.

Homo erectus’ Ability to Cross Open water  Evidenced by the presence of stone tools on the Indonesian island Flores.

Regions of the Human Brain

Hypoglossal Canal

Homo erectus: Culture  Refinement of stone tool making technology.  Fire was used for protection, warmth and cooking.  Improved organization and planning abilities.

Acheulean Tool Making  Hand axe: a teardrop-shaped tool pointed at one end with a sharp cutting edge all around.  In East Africa, the earliest hand axes are about 1.6 million years old.  Shapes of hand axes and other Acheulean tools are more standardized, reflecting preconceived designs.

Use of Fire  Firecracked basalt cobbles were found with artifacts and bones in a 700,000- year-old rock shelter in Thailand.  The rocks were not native to the shelter and were probably carried in by hominines.  The bones in the hearth show evidence of butchering and burning.

Aspects of Homo erectus Culture  Increasingly sophisticated shelter construction.  Use of clothing for warmth.  Learning to hunt and organizing hunt parties.  Developed symbolic life.