Homo Habilis

By Elizabeth, Jenny, Jessica, and Rachel

Introduction

Homo Habilis means “Handy Man” because these humans were the first to use tools. (1) They lived approximately 2.5 million to at least 1.6 million years ago. (2) Since they did not have very big brains, they were not able to develop things as easily as we do. They did not have religion, but they managed to survive without it. Join us on our journey through East Africa to meet the Homo Habilis.

Dates and Places of Existence

Homo Habilis lived about 2.5 million to 1.6 million years ago.(3) They were one of the earliest species of humans to live. They lived in the Olduvai Gorge in East Africa. The Olduvai Gorge was dry, but had some plants and rocks. Homo Habilis always lived close to water so they could survive. (4)

Physical Appearance

Homo Habilis looked like apes. They had half the size of a modern human’s brain and they were only 4.5 feet tall. They had a more rounded skull than Australopithecus did. Homo Habilis had a human looking face and pelvis. Their legs and feet had been fully adapted to walking upright. (5)

Food

Homo Habilis ate meat from animals, bird eggs, fruit, nuts, roots, plants, and vegetables. They got their meat from animals by killing them with their homemade tools. The meat was eaten raw since fire was not discovered yet. They got the bird eggs by stealing them from the nests when birds weren’t there. (6) Homo Habilis had to hunt for their food. To make the hunts easy, they had to organize themselves into groups. (7)

SheltersHomo Habilis had simple huts made from branches and these were held in place by stones. Their huts were not made for traveling, but were made for long-lasting use. The dome-shaped huts protected the Homo Habilis from animals and the wind. The huts were not very big, so the Homo Habilis had to keep their belongings in smaller spaces. Overall, the huts lasted a long time. (8)

Daily Life

Homo Habilis men were hunters and the women were gatherers. In the morning, the Homo Habilis women would go down to the river to get water that they would carry in large gourds. Along the way, they gathered pods and fruit. Some men would go hunt for food while other men would stay back at the huts and help the women and children. They would also make more tools and keep everyone safe when unwanted guests visited/invaded. (9)

Tools

Homo Habilis had tools. One of their very useful tools was the hammer stone. The hammer stone would break other stones into smaller pieces. Another tool was a stone ax that was used for cutting animals to get food. Most of the tools were made of rocks and bones. (10)

FireHomo Habilis could not make fire on their own. They had to wait for natural fires to occur such as a lightning strike. Otherwise, the meat would be raw because there was no fire. Homo Erectus was the first species to create fire on their own without natural fires. Homo Habilis was an earlier species, but survived fine without fire. (11)

Religion and Ceremonies

Homo Habilis had no religion or ceremonies. They were too busy hunting or finding food on their own. Their brains were not developed enough to even think about having religion or ceremonies. Scientists also know that they were not capable of talking, so we don’t know how they would have religion and ceremonies. (12)

Development of Language

Homo Habilis did not have written language. They were not capable of speech. Since they didn’t have written language, they communicated by using primitive gestures and simple sounds. Language made it easier for the humans to work together to solve problems. (13) Greater cooperation made it easier for humans to survive. Their language was very useful. (14)

Clothing

Homo Habilis did not have clothing. Their first clothing wasn’t clothes at all, but hair. Later on, they would use animal skin for clothing. Before they thought of the animal skin as clothing, they didn’t wear anything. The Homo Habilis didn’t think of using animal skin for clothing, but they were hunting animals and so began to drape the skins over themselves in cold weather. (15)

Are You Smarter than Homo Habilis?

1. What does Homo Habilis mean?2. Why were Homo Habilis given their name by

scientists?3. Name three things Homo Habilis ate.

Answers1. Homo Habilis means handy man.2. Scientists named Homo Habilis

this because that group is believed to be the first group of Early Humans to use tools.

3. Homo Habilis ate roots, nuts, fruits, raw meat.

Conclusion

Now that are journey meeting the Homo Habilis is over, we must travel back to our time. We hope you enjoyed our magnificent, fact-filling PowerPoint by Elizabeth, Jenny, Jessica, and Rachel.

Endnotes1. Kearns, Marsha, “Homo Habilis,” Early Humans, Creative Teaching Press ,

CA, 1993.2. Ibid.3. Ibid.4. California Visits Ancient Civilizations, Macmillan/ Macmillan/McGraw-Hill,

New York, NY, 2007, p. 72.5. Kearns, Marsha, “Homo Habilis,” Early Humans, Creative Teaching Press ,

CA, 1993.6. Ibid.7. Facchini, Fiorenzo, “A Day with Homo Habilis”, Twenty-First Century Books,

Connecticut, 2003, p. 26.8. Kearns, Marsha, “Homo Habilis,” Early Humans, Creative Teaching Press ,

CA, 1993.9. Facchini, Fiorenzo, “A Day with Homo Habilis, Twenty-First Century Books,

Connecticut, 2003, p. 24.

10. California Visits Ancient Civilizations, Macmillan/McGraw-Hill, New York, NY, 2007, p. 74.

11. Kearns, Marsha, “Homo Habilis,” Early Humans, Creative Teaching Press , CA, 1993.

12. “Homo habilis,” Homo habilis, http://www.earlyhumans.mrdonn.org/.13. Kearns, Marsha, “Homo Habilis,” Early Humans, Creative Teaching Press , CA,

1993. 14. California Visits Ancient Civilizations, Macmillan/ Macmillan/McGraw-Hill,

New York, NY, 2007, p. 74.15. “Homo habilis,” Homo habilis, http://www.earlyhumans.mrdonn.org/.16. Kearns, Marsha, “Homo Habilis,” Early Humans, Creative Teaching Press , CA,

BibliographyCalifornia Visits Ancient Civilizations.

Macmillan/MacGraw Hill: New York, NY, 2007.

Facchini, Fiorenzo. A Day with Homo Habilis. Books: Connecticut, Twenty-First Century, 2003.

“Homo Habilis.” Homo habilis. http://www.earlyhumans.mrdonn.org/.

Kearns, Marsha.“Homo Habilis.” Early Humans. Creative Teaching Press: CA, 1993.