1. Earliest Dispersal of the Genus Homo: Homo erectus and Contemporaries

2. Homo erectus About 2 mya hominids expanded widely out of Africa into other areas of the Old World About 2 mya hominids expanded widely out of Africa into other areas of the Old World These hominids were much larger, were more committed to a completely terrestrial habitat, used more stone tools, and perhaps ate meat. These hominids were much larger, were more committed to a completely terrestrial habitat, used more stone tools, and perhaps ate meat. Less diversity than in pre-Australopithecines and Australopithecus Less diversity than in pre-Australopithecines and Australopithecus H. erectus changed little anatomically until 800,000-700,000 years ago H. erectus changed little anatomically until 800,000-700,000 years ago By half a million years ago, some H. erectus moved into seasonally cold temperate zone of Asia and Africa By half a million years ago, some H. erectus moved into seasonally cold temperate zone of Asia and Africa

3. Pleistocene Epoch 1.8 mya-10,000 years ago 1.8 mya-10,000 years ago More extreme world cooling and recurrent glaciations (ice ages) More extreme world cooling and recurrent glaciations (ice ages) Long lasting ice sheets spread out from N. and S. poles and the high mountains Long lasting ice sheets spread out from N. and S. poles and the high mountains Warmer interglacials Warmer interglacials Lasted tens of thousands of years Lasted tens of thousands of years Northern hemisphere mostly effected Northern hemisphere mostly effected Sea levels 300-400 feet lower than today Sea levels 300-400 feet lower than today

5. Homo erectus (“upright human”) Clear presence in Africa 1.8 mya Clear presence in Africa 1.8 mya Some researchers see differences between African specimens and Asian specimens Some researchers see differences between African specimens and Asian specimens –African fossils referred to as Homo ergaster –H. erectus/ergaster represents a grade of evolution  An evolutionary grouping of organisms showing a similar adaptive pattern  Increase body size and robustness  Similar adaptive pattern  Changes in limb proportions  Greater encephalization H. ergaster

6. Homo erectus Morphology Cranial capacity 750 - 1250 cc (mean 900 cc) Cranial capacity 750 - 1250 cc (mean 900 cc) Adults over 100 lbs. Adults over 100 lbs. Stature approx. 5 feet 6 inches Stature approx. 5 feet 6 inches Quite sexually dimorphic Quite sexually dimorphic –Although reduction compared to early Homo and australopithecines Increase in robusticity Increase in robusticity

7. Homo erectus Morphology Cranial shape Cranial shape –Thick cranial bones (Asian specimens) –Large browridges (supraorbital tori) –Brain case (cranial vault) is long and low –Cranium wider at base compared to earlier or later species of Homo –Maximum cranial breadth is below the ear opening (external auditory meatus) when viewed posteriorly (from behind)

8. Homo erectus Morphology Dentition Dentition –Similar to H. sapiens, but somewhat larger  But reduction in size compared to early Homo –Shovel-shaped incisors  Similar to contemporary Asians and Native Americans)

10. Cultural Remains: Acheulean Industry Replaced Oldowan tradition 1.4 mya Replaced Oldowan tradition 1.4 mya Large proportion of bifacial tools Large proportion of bifacial tools Hand axe or cleaver-all purpose tool Hand axe or cleaver-all purpose tool Flatter core than earlier Oldowan pebble tool Flatter core than earlier Oldowan pebble tool Cut, scrape, pound, dig Cut, scrape, pound, dig Also included some smaller tools Also included some smaller tools Common in Africa, Southwest Asia and western Europe Common in Africa, Southwest Asia and western Europe “Swiss Army Rock” “Swiss Army Rock” ACHEULEAN TOOLS (left to right): cleaver stone (Bihorei oest, France); lanceolate hand ax (Briqueterie, France); large hand ax (Olduvai Gorge).

11. Controlled Use of Fire? No firm support for fire before 500 kya No firm support for fire before 500 kya Zhoukoudian Cave site in China (670-410 kya) Zhoukoudian Cave site in China (670-410 kya) Possible accumulation of H. erectus due to ancient hyena activity? Possible accumulation of H. erectus due to ancient hyena activity? Tools and animal bones with cut marks also found in cave Tools and animal bones with cut marks also found in cave Soil studies do not support controlled use of fire Soil studies do not support controlled use of fire Chinese Tools From Middle Pleistocene Sites

12. Construction of Shelter –Using caves –No evidence for construction of shelter until 300 kya –Most likely built temporary shelters

13. Who were the earliest African immigrants? Hominids who migrated to Asia and Europe generally assumed to be their immediate ancestors Hominids who migrated to Asia and Europe generally assumed to be their immediate ancestors Possibly expanded rapidly in thousand years Possibly expanded rapidly in thousand years Java 1.8 and 1.6 mya Java 1.8 and 1.6 mya –Possibly late survival: 50-25 kya –Comtemporary w/ H. sapiens

14. The Dmanisi Hominids Republic of Georgia 1.75 mya 4 well-preserved crania w/ mixed pattern of characteristics The most complete specimen has a less robust and thinner browridge, a projecting lower face, and a large upper canine. All three Dmanisi crania have small cranial capacities

15. Homo floresiensis Indonesian island of Flores 38 -18 kya 1 m. in height Cranial capacity 417 cc Used stone tools and fire Hunted pygmy elephants, Komodo dragons, giant rats Evolve from Dmanisi hominids? Dwarf form of H. erectus? Island dwarfing

17. The Big Picture Brains enabled H. erectus to exploit the savannas to a greater extend than any other hominids before them. Brains enabled H. erectus to exploit the savannas to a greater extend than any other hominids before them. They probably had a more complex social organization They probably had a more complex social organization Shifting to greater reliance on hunting? Shifting to greater reliance on hunting? Evidence of cooperative assistance Evidence of cooperative assistance Instraspecific variation between individuals from Dmanisi raises fundamental issues of interpreting H. erectus and H. ergaster as separate species Instraspecific variation between individuals from Dmanisi raises fundamental issues of interpreting H. erectus and H. ergaster as separate species Generally assumed that H. erectus populations evolved into later premodern humans Generally assumed that H. erectus populations evolved into later premodern humans “The appearance and expansion of H. erectus represented a major change in adaptive strategy that influenced the subsequent process and pattern of human evolution” (Richard Foley) “The appearance and expansion of H. erectus represented a major change in adaptive strategy that influenced the subsequent process and pattern of human evolution” (Richard Foley)