The fossil context / early hominins
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Chapter10slides.pptxChapter 10
Early Members of the Genus Homo
Bonnie Yoshida-Levine, Ph.D.
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Describe early Pleistocene climate change
Identify the characteristics of the genus Homo
Describe the skeletal anatomy of Homo habilis
Describe the skeletal anatomy of Homo erectus
Identify key sites for early Homo
Describe the adaptive strategies and tool use of early Homo
Learning Objectives
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Large brain size
Smaller, flatter face
Smaller jaws and teeth
Increased use of culture
Larger overall body size
Longer legs/shorter arms
Decline in sexual dimorphism
Defining the Genus Homo
“Nariokotome Boy”
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2.6 mya to 11,000 years ago
“Ice Age”
Cycles between interglacial (warm/wet) and
glacial (cool/dry)
Pleistocene Epoch
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Pleistocene Epoch
Geography and climate affect hominin migration
Paleoclimate of Africa
Grassland: expanded and shrunk
Homo adaptations
New foods
Cultural solutions
Behavioral adaptations
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Homo habilis: Earliest Members of Our Genus
2.5mya - 1.7 mya
East and South Africa
Brain size
~650cc
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Homo habilis: Key Traits
Rounded skull
Less facial prognathism
Dentition
Smaller teeth
Thinner enamel
Parabolic dental arcade
Postcrania similar to Australopithecus
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Homo habilis: Key Sites
| Key Sites | Dates |
| Ledi-Gararu, Ethiopia | 2.8 mya |
| Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania | 1.7 - 1.8 mya |
| Koobi Fora, Lake Turkana Basin, Kenya | 1.9 mya |
| Sterkfontein and other possible South African cave sites | Approx. 1.7 mya |
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Homo habilis: Homo or Australopithecus ?
Brain size?
More arboreal?
Body proportions?
Au. behaviors?
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How Many Species of Homo habilis?
Homo habilis
Homo rudolfensis
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Homo habilis: Culture and Lifeways
Oldowan
Oldest stone tool industry
2.5-1.6 mya
“Flake and chopper” tools
Purpose
Butchering animals
Meat-eating
More protein and calories
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Homo habilis: Summary Features
| Dates | 2.5 mya to 1.7 mya |
| Region(s) | East and South Africa |
| Key Discoveries | Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania; Koobi Fora, Kenya; Sterkfontein, South Africa |
| Brain Size | 510 cc to 775 cc (650 cc average) |
| Dentition | Smaller teeth, thinner enamel than Australopithecus; parabolic dental arcade |
| Cranial Features | Rounder cranium and less facial prognathism than Australopithecus |
| Postcranial Features | Small stature; similar body plan to Australopithecus |
| Culture | Oldowan tools |
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Homo erectus: Biological and Cultural Innovations
1.8 mya to approx. 200,000 ya
Africa, Asia, and Europe
Larger brain (~900cc)
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Homo erectus: Key Traits
Long, low skull
Thick cranial bones
Sagittal keel
Less prognathism
Smaller teeth
Receding chin
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Homo erectus: Key Traits
More modern body size and proportions
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Homo erectus: Regional Comparisons
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Homo erectus: Tool Making and Use
Acheulean tool industry, 1.5 mya
Symmetrical, bifacial flaking
Planning, skill
Coordination, cooperation
Forms
Handaxes
Scrapers
Cleavers
Flake tools
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Homo erectus: Subsistence and Diet
More meat-eating
Large brain
Brains consume 20% of caloric intake
Scavenging vs hunting?
Dietary variability
Primary foods: roots, bulbs, tubers
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Homo erectus: Tool Use, Cooking, Fire
Cooking food →
Smaller tooth and jaw size
Larger brain
Larger body
Smaller gut
Earliest fire?
Koobi Fora, Kenya
1.5 mya
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Homo erectus: Summary Features
| Dates | 1.8 mya - 200,000 ya |
| Region(s) | East and South Africa; West Eurasia; China; Southeast Asia |
| Key Discoveries | Lake Turkana, Kenya; Zhoukoudian, China; Dmanisi, Republic of Georgia |
| Brain Size | 650cc - 1,100cc (900cc average) |
| Dentition | Smaller teeth than H. habilis |
| Cranial Features | Long, low skull; thick cranial vault bones; large brow ridges; sagittal keel; occipital torus |
| Postcranial Features | Larger body size than H. habilis; body proportions similar to H. sapiens |
| Culture | Acheulian tools (Africa); more hunting; more meat-eating; use of fire; migration out of Africa |
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| Slide # | Figure # | Attribution |
| 3 | 10.1 | KNM-WT 15000 Turkana Boy Skeleton by Smithsonian [exhibit: Human Evolution Evidence, Human Fossils, Fossils, KNM-WT 15000] is copyrighted and used for educational and non-commercial purposes as outlined by the Smithsonian. |
| 4 | 10.2 | Five Myr Climate Change by Dragons flight (Robert A. Rohde), based on data from Lisiechi and Raymo (2005), is used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 License. |
| 5 | 10.3 | Savanna grasslands of East Africa by International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)/Elsworth is used under a CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 License. |
| 6 | 10.5a | Homo habilis: OH 24 lateral right view by eFossils is copyrighted and used for non-commercial purposes as outlined by eFossils. |
| 7 | 10.7 | Figure 10.7 Homo rudolfensis Cranium KNM-ER 1470 by ©BoneClones is used by permission and available here under a CC BY-NC 4.0 License. |
| 7 | 10.5c | Figure 10.5c Homo habilis OH 7 Jaw by ©BoneClones is used by permission and available here under a CC BY-NC 4.0 License. |
| 8 | 10.4 | Figure 10.4 Homo habilis site map original to Explorations: An Open Invitation to Biological Anthropology by Chelsea Barron at GeoPlace, California State University, Chico is under a CC BY-NC 4.0 License. |
| 9 | 10.5b | Figure 10.5b Homo habilis: KNM-ER 1813 lateral right view by eFossils is copyrighted and used for non-commercial purposes as outlined by eFossils. |
Attributions
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| Slide # | Figure # | Attribution |
| 10 | NA | Homo habilis Cranium KNM-ER 1813 by ©BoneClones is used by permission and available here under a CC BY-NC 4.0 License. |
| 10 | 10.7 | Homo rudolfensis Cranium KNM-ER 1470 by ©BoneClones is used by permission and available here under a CC BY-NC 4.0 License. |
| 11 | 10.9 | Chopping tool by José-Manuel Benito Álvarez is used under a CC BY-SA 2.5 License. |
| 12 | 10.8 | Summary features of Homo habilis original to Explorations: An Open Invitation to Biological Anthropology is under a CC BY-NC 4.0 License. Some text modifications. |
| 13 | 10.10 | Homo erectus: Sangiran 17 lateral left view by eFossils is copyrighted and used for non-commercial purposes as outlined by eFossils. |
| 14 | NA | Homo erectus Skull - Tattersall-Sawyer Recreation by ©BoneClones is used by permission and available here under a CC BY-NC 4.0 License. |
| 15 | 10.1 | Figure 10.1a KNM-WT 15000 Turkana Boy Skeleton by Smithsonian [exhibit: Human Evolution Evidence, Human Fossils, Fossils, KNM-WT 15000] is copyrighted and used for educational and non-commercial purposes as outlined by the Smithsonian. |
| 16 | 10.11 | Figure 10.11 Homo erectus site map original to Explorations: An Open Invitation to Biological Anthropology by Chelsea Barron at GeoPlace, California State University, Chico is under a CC BY-NC 4.0 License. |
Attributions
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| Slide # | Figure # | Attribution |
| 17 | 10.13 | Hand axe spanish by Locutus Borg has been designated to the public domain (CC0). |
| 19 | NA | camping-farm-fire-54156/ by Mayur Patel has been designated to the public domain (CC0). |
| 20 | 10.12 | Summary features of Homo erectus original to Explorations: An Open Invitation to Biological Anthropology is under a CC BY-NC 4.0 License. Some text modifications. |
Attributions
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This presentation was developed by the editors of Explorations: An Open Invitation to Biological Anthropology.
Unless otherwise specified, all content is made available under a Creative Commons license: CC BY-NC
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