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Homo habilis: first species of the genus Homo
Discovered by Louis Leakey at Olduvai Gorge
Earliest date: 2.5 mya
“Handy Man”- associated tools
Found in Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Malawi, South Africa
Immediate ancestor unconfirmed (Tim White suggests A. garhi)
Bigger brain, smaller chewing complex

Homo habilis:
Homo habilis:
Larger brain to body size ratio (EQ)- 650 cc
Arm to leg length ratio similar to Australopithecines
Pelvis and legs show bipedal anatomy
Changes in cranial morphology
More gracile dentition
Facial prognathism, but no sagittal crest or ridge
Debate over classification of these fossils

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Homo habilis:
Homo habilis:
Anatomical evidence from the hand bones suggests precision grip
Tools becoming fundamental to survival, unlike for australopithecines
Habitat change and adaptive flexibility:
Spread of warm season grasses and increasing habitat diversity
Skull and tooth morphology suggest dietary variability in Homo habilis
Stone tools important for obtaining food resources as well as for processing foods

Distribution of fossils nearly identical to Australopithecines
Similar habitat- mixed woodland/savannas, lakesides
Oldowan tools used more extensively
Diet- Plants foods, likely scavenging, increased animal protein
Expensive brain
Social life- probably lived in small bands; more complex social interactions

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First Homo fossils discovered in Java in 1891 by Eugene DuBois
Homo erectus
Dates between 1.8 mya and 300 kya
Represents a dramatic shift in hominid evolution
First hominid to move into new geographical regions (Europe and Asia)
Large morphological and behavioral changes
Wider array of material culture (Acheulean tools)

Physical characteristics of Homo erectus:
Larger brains: average cranial capacity 950cc
Larger bodies
Modern limb proportions
Long straight phalanges
Modern body plan
Smaller teeth
Log, low cranium
Robust browridge
Sagittal keel in many
Increased cranial thickness

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Homo erectus in Africa:
Homo erectus fossils have been found in Africa, Europe, Indonesia, China and Vietnam
Earliest fossils are found in East and South Africa and have been dated to around 1.8 mya
Most famous is “Nariokotome Boy”:
nearly complete skeleton
11 or 12 year old boy
might have grown to be 6’1”
cranial capacity of 900cc.

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Key Homo erectus fossils in Africa:
OH 9- Olduvai Gorge, 1.2 mya
Bouri and Buia crania- Ethiopia and Eritrea, 1 mya
African fossils characterized by robust features and thick cranial bones
Bodo skull- Ethiopia 600 kya
Stone tool marks on the left cheek, eye orbit, and nasal bones
Ritual or cannibalism?

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Key Homo erectus fossils in Asia (1.8mya-.3mya):
Key Homo erectus fossils in Asia (1.8mya-.3mya):
Dmanisi, Georgia- date to 1.7 mya
Smaller bodied
Smaller brain size
Oldowan tools
Signs of longevity in some fossils
Indonesia-
Sangiran - 1.8-1.6 mya? 1,000 cc, thick cranial bones, brow ridge
Sambungmacan and Trinil- 900 kya or older
Asian forms have pronounce sagittal Keel

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Key Homo erectus fossils in Asia:
Key Homo erectus fossils in Asia:
Gongwangling, China- 1.2 mya, earliest hominid site in China
Large browridge, thick cranial bones
800 cc.
Animal bones with cut marks
Stone tools date to 1.7 mya
Zhoukoudian, China- over 50 individuals, 600,000–400,000 kya*
* Recent dates of 800 kya
Lived in caves
Many (100k) stone tools and evidence of plant and animal processing
Controlled use of fire
Shovel-shaped incisors

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Key Homo erectus fossils in Europe (800 kya and 400 kya):
Key Homo erectus fossils in Europe (800 kya and 400 kya):
Atapuerca, Spain: 800 kya
Gran Dolina- oldest site
Earliest Homo erectus fossils in Europe
Stone tools, animal remains, hominid fossils
Stone-tool cut marks on animal and hominid fossils
Ceprano, Italy- limited fossils dated to 700 kya
Boxgrove, England (500 kya)
Mauer, Germany (500 kya)
Some argue these fossils represent a mix of Homo erectus and archaic Homo sapiens traits

H. erectus fossils and stone tools were discovered on the island of Flores
H. erectus fossils and stone tools were discovered on the island of Flores
Homo floresiensis
Date to between 95 kya and 12 kya
3 ft tall; 380 cc cranial capacity
Two recent finds at sites in Java date H. erectus fossils to between 27 kya and 53 kya
Did Homo erectus coexist with moderns?
 

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Acheulean tools- these are complex tools that require a complex brain. Dated between 1.7 mya and 100 kya.
Acheulean tools- these are complex tools that require a complex brain. Dated between 1.7 mya and 100 kya.
Acheulean handaxe: bifacial, complex, and used for many different tasks
Evidence of controlled use of fire at least 600 ky
Construction of shelters- caves, other types
Need for higher-quality food sources- collective hunting
Social life: small cooperative social groups
Social coordination requires a complex, social brain
 

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Patterns of Evolution
Patterns of Evolution
African fossils are the most robust and are similar to Dmanisi forms
Earlier forms have smaller brains than forms dated later
Cranial capacity ranges from 650 cc to 1200 cc.
Skull robusticity declined
Reliance on tools and tool use changed structure of face and jaws as a result of food processing
Changes in social structure and dispersal patterns, and increasing reliance on culture for survival
 

Why did they leave Africa?
Why did they leave Africa?
New tools?
Population pressure?
Climatic change and animal migration
We may not know why, but we know that this represents Biocultural Evolution