Analysis of the Homo Erectus
1
2 Dr. Elizabeth Mitchell. “Homo Erectus Had Skillfully Designed Tools.” Answers in Genesis.
February 23, 2013. Accessed February 19, 2018. http://answersingenesis.org/human-evolution-
what-makes-us-human/homo-erectus-had-skillfully-designed-tools/.
Abstract
The goal of this analysis is to inform about the history behind the Homo erectus. More
specifically, the focus will be directed on different interpretations as well as the significance of
this fossil. There are many different conclusions that can be drawn from an evolutionary view
and from a young-Earth creationist view of this fossil. An advantage of considering opposite
viewpoints is that it will lead the reader to form his/her own conclusions, while simultaneously
teaching about the significance of the fossil. Hopefully, learning about this fossil will be helpful
when considering the intricacy and beauty behind all the other fossils known to mankind.
Overview of Homo erectus
The Homo erectus fossil is unique in the fact that it is the oldest know fossil to have
modern human-like body proportions. It was first discovered in Indonesia in 1891, but it is also
known to live in Northern Africa, Eastern Africa, Southern Africa, Western Asia, and East Asia.
Finally, according to an old-Earth view, this fossil existed about 1.89 million and 143,000 years
ago.1 However, there is not significant evidence according to the website that is able to
reasonably describe when the fossil lived. Now, the anatomy of the Homo erectus is certainly
unique. According to an article on Homo erectus, “Homo erectus’s name means ‘upright man’ to
denote his unquestionable bipedality”2. In this statement, bipedality refers to the fossil’s ability to
move using its rear legs, therefore moving in an upright manner. Furthermore, it is considered to
be varying in height, but typically taller than other fossils found during its time. However, there
1 Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History. Homo erectus | The Smithsonian Institutions Human Origins
Program. March 01, 2010. Accessed February 19, 2018. http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-
fossils/species/homo-erectus
2
3 Dennis M. Bramble and Daniel E. Lieberman. “Endurance Running and the Evolution of
Homo.” Nature 432, no. 7015 (2004): 345-52. doi:10.1038/nature03052
are still questions to be discovered about the fossil, such as whether or not the direct ancestors of
the Homo erectus are Homo sapiens and which factors played into forming the body shape that
the Homo erectus holds.
Conventional Understanding of Homo erectus
Conventional understandings of the Homo erectus are primarily concerned with the
striding bipedalism of the fossil, as this style of movement is a significant derived behavior.
According to a journal on the evolution of Homo, “Most research on the evolution of human
locomotion has focused on walking. There are a few indications that the earliest-known hominids
were bipeds and there is abundant fossil evidence that australopithecines habitually walked by at
least 4.4 million years ago”3. Once again, the fact that the Homo erectus is one of the earliest
fossils to adjust to this new form of movement adds to the importance of this fossil. Now, as
mentioned in the anatomy of this fossil, the Homo erectus is proportionally larger than other
fossils. Not only is this evident in the long leg size but also in the size of the brain. A conventional
understanding would suggest that this fossil formed this anatomy as a means of adapting to its
surroundings. This supports the ideology behind an evolutionary viewpoint because it suggests
that over the course of time, fossils were in fact able to evolve as a result of their environment.
Perhaps this fossil type needed to use its running capabilities to find food or a source of energy
that would help sustain itself.
Creationist Understanding of Homo erectus
A creationist is quick to be critical about the fossils they are considering. Is the fossil
human or nonhuman? Has this fossil really evolved into what it is now? According to a book on the
creationist perspective of human fossils, “If human evolution were true, the fossils should
3
6
4 Lubenow, Bones of contention, 19.
5 Wood, Journal of Creation, 17.
6 Yancey, Philip, and Tim Stafford. NIV, Student Bible, eBook. Zondervan, 2011.
have fallen roughly in a line going from the australopithecines, through some form of Homo
habilis, on up to Homo erectus, then through some form of early Homo sapiens, and finally on to
anatomically modern Homo sapiens. Instead, the fossils were all over the place without any
definite evolutionary progression. Even using the evolutionists’ own dates and assignments, it
became obvious to the students that the fossil evidence actually falsified the concept of human
evolution”4. Although, this book would consider the Homo erectus as human, based on the
upright standing nature of the fossil, it would argue that it has not necessarily evolved from other
fossil forms. The problem is that there is no missing link, so to speak, to show that there is a
fossil form in between two generic fossil categories. Now, most creationists would agree that the
Homo erectus is considered human, but of course there are those who would disagree.
Not only is the evolutionary aspect of fossil forming problematic, but similarly, and old-
Earth perspective is also problematic when considering fossils. According to a journal on Homo
from a young-age creationist perspective, “Fossils classified as “early” Homo are supposed to
reveal the origin of our own genus from australopith ancestors. As new fossils are discovered that
expand our evidence of “early” Homo, some experts in human evolution emphasize the
“bushiness” of evolution rather than the ladder like progression popularized by the “march”
cartoon”5. The idea behind a creationist perspective is that since all fossils are unique in nature,
there is no evolution of fossils occurring over some long time period. A creationist would suggest
that fossils were formed after God created man. Consider what the Bible suggests about creation.
The Bible states the following in Genesis 1:1-2, “In the beginning God created the
heavens and the Earth. Now the Earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of
the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters”. A young-Earth perspective would
4
Bibliography
Bramble, Dennis M., and Daniel E. Lieberman. “Endurance Running and the Evolution of
Homo.” Nature 432, no. 7015 (2004): 345-52. doi:10.1038/nature03052
support the idea that God created the Earth and all the fossils within the last 10,000 years. This
form of reasoning supports the genealogies of creation found throughout the Bible.
Conclusion
Although both a creationist perspective and a conventional perspective have valid
opinions to offer, I would have to lean towards a creationist perspective. Ultimately, science has
never accurately been able to trace a fossil back to more than 10,000 years ago. Furthermore, the
evolution behind fossils changing from one kind of species into another begins to form several
questions that appear too difficult to explain. A creationist perspective seems to encompass all
factors of creation most clearly, and I believe that Christians should be able to support their
perspective with scripture. God calls mankind to think critically and to have faith that He
ultimately knows what is best for His creation. I have enjoyed learning about the Homo erectus,
specifically in the uniqueness of its anatomy and historical background; it is amazing how this
fossil can have such a widespread geographic while still carrying consistent attributes.
5
Lubenow, Marvin L. Bones of contention: a creationist assessment of human fossils. Baker
Books, 2004.
Mitchell, Dr. Elizabeth. “Homo Erectus Had Skillfully Designed Tools.” Answers in Genesis.
February 23, 2013. Accessed February 19, 2018.
http://answersingenesis.org/human-evolution/what-makes-us-human/homo-erectus-had-
skillfully-designed-tools/.
Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History. Homo erectus | The Smithsonian Institutions
Human Origins Program. March 01, 2010. Accessed February 19, 2018.
http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/homo-erectus.
Yancey, Philip, and Tim Stafford. NIV, Student Bible, eBook. Zondervan, 2011.
Wood, T. C. “An evaluation of Homo naledi and “early” Homo from a young-age creationist
perspective.” Journal of Creation Theology and Science Series B: Life Sciences 6 (2016):
14-30.
