Human Species Study Guide Hominids in Transition As Australopithecus transitions into Homo there are two trends an increase in encephalization brain capacity and a decrease in dentition These changes took place between 3 0 2 5 mya Similar in body plan to australopiths but with a bigger brain and smaller chewing complex There are two early homo species H Habilis and H Rudolfensis Early Homo Homo Habilis First seen increase in brain size in Homo Habilis Widely distributed Tanzania Kenya Ethiopia Malawi and South Africa TEAM K Fossil dates range from 2 4 1 6 mya First discovered by the Leakey s at Olduvai Gorge Tanzania in 1960 OH 7 Type specimen from Olduvai Gorge 1 75 mya Named handy man and thought to be the first stone tool user until A garhi came along OH 24 Twiggy Discovered in Tanzania in 1968 1 8 mya Larger brain 631cc mean across the species Less prognathic than the australopiths KNM ER 1813 Discovered in Kenya in 1973 1 9 mya that they still spent some time in trees Oldowan Stone Tools Longer arms and shorter legs than humans along with curved hands and toes which meant Best behavioral dividing line between Homo and Australopithecines Oldest tools were from about 2 5 mya Typically simple cores whole flakes flaking debris simple to make tools These tools allowed for more meat in the diet Were they used for scavenging or hunting Discovered in 1972 by Richard Leakey in Koobi Fura Kenya east side of Lake Homo Rudolfensis KNM ER 1470 Turkana 2 mya Larger brain 775cc Homo Habilis vs Homo Rudolfensis Much debated topic Both originated around 2 mya H Rudolfensis brain size is much larger Facial and teeth measurements differ Culture becomes increasingly important over time Tool use becomes critical to survival More meat and wider variety of plants in diet This dietary plasticity improves chance of survival Australopithecines survived on instincts while Homo is reliant on culture Homo Erectus First discovered by Eugene Dubois in Java in 1891 Later found in China Georgia Europe and throughout Africa Homo Erectus in Africa KNM WT 15000 Turkana Boy or Nariokotome Skeleton Found in 1984 by Richard Leakey An 80 complete skeleton of an 11 year old boy More modern proportions short arms long legs Cranial capacity is over 900cc 6ft in height as an adult Tall and thin frame an adaptation for a hot environment Bodo Skull Found in Ethiopia 600 000 BP Stone tool marks on the left cheek eye orbit and nasal bones Peri mortem around death vs post mortem after death Ritualism or Cannabalism Funeral rituals perhaps reminds us of ourselves Moving Out of Africa Georgia by 1 75 mya Southeast Asia by 1 7 mya China by 6 mya Europe by 8 mya Homo Erectus in Asia First species to leave Africa into Europe and Asia Most ancient undisputed fossils out of Africa Dates from 1 8mya to 200 000 First hominid adapted to both tropical and temperate climates Average brain size of over 1000cc Dmanisi Republic of Georgia Evidence of Homo Erectus from approximately 1 75 mya MNI 20 One fairly complete skull one large mandible and two partial skulls Resemblance to East African homo erectus suggests a rapid spread by 1 7 mya of early Homo out of Africa and into Eurasia Java Man Eugene Dubois discovered skull cap and femur at Trinil Java Named it Pithecanthropus erectus which means upright ape man Later renamed Homo erectus Zhoukoudian Dragon Bone Hill China 1899 fossil tooth located among dragon bones Used for medicines and aphrodisiacs First skull turned up in 1929 Davidson Black started the first study The skeletal remains discovered represented an upward of 40 male and female adults The site was occupied over 200 000 years ago 600 400kya Charred bits of wood and bone indicate controlled use of fire and children Zhoukoudian Discovered by Franz Weidenreich Made casts and drawings of materials Many fossils the remains of up to 40 individuals were lost at that time due to the Japanese invasion during WWII Homo Erectus in Europe Earliest evidence from Gran Dolina Spain and Ceprano Italy dated around 800 kya Gran Dolina Stone tools animal remains hominid fossils MNI 6 includes a male juvenile cranium European Fossil Debate Lumpers focus on similarities Stone tool cut marks on animal and hominid fossils suggest cannibalism 800 500 kya specimens are Homo Erectus 500 40 kya specimens are Archaic Homo Sapiens including Neaderthals The textbook is a lumper Splitters focus on the differences Some early specimens like Ceprano 800kya are Homo Erectus Specimens at Gran Dolina 600kya could be Homo antecessor Mauer Boxgrove Atapuerca and others 500 are Homo Heidelbergensis Homo Neaderthalensis appears about 200 kya Professor Pete is a splitter therefore I am too Homo Erectus Culture First to reach 1000cc brain capacity average of 950cc First evidence of simple shelters Earliest occupation of cave sites Widespread evidence for controlled use of fire possibly as early as 700kya Specialized stone tools and other tools represent the increased dependence on culture to hunt and survive Tools Acheulian Tool Kit Bifaced works on both sides Cut scrape pound and dig Found with remains of large animals Target design of tool standardization Earliest Acheulian tools were found 1 6mya Tool Use and the Homo Erectus Mind New social structures to facilitate group cooperation in hunting were critical Acheulian tools were more refined than the Oldowan tools demonstrates a mental Homo Erectus was replaced in Africa and in Europe by about 500kya by Homo Homo erectus continues to live fat dumb and happy in East Asia until about 130kya template Homo Heidelbergensis Heidelbergensis Homo Heidelbergensis 800 000 100 000 years ago Height and weight were essentially in modern range Brain capacity of 1 280cc Found in Africa Asia and Europe With highly variable morphological traits Mauer Jaw Discovered in 1907 in Mauer sand pits in Germany Massive mandible with both primitive robust and derived teeth smaller molars For a long time this was the oldest European fossil 500 000 years old Traits Incipient chin beginning Cranial plexing teeth are underneath the skull Massive brow ridges Compared to Homo Erectus Smaller and more separated brows Less prognathic face Thinner vault bones Smaller teeth Atapuerca Sima de Los Huesos Homo Heidelbergensis sit from 400 kya Dozens of individuals recovered from a cave shaft where they were apparently intentionally deposited What Happened to Homo Heidelbergensis In Africa evolved into Archaic Homo Sapiens and eventually into us In