The Earliest Dispersal of the Genus Homo: Homo Erectus and

Contemporaries

Chapter 12

Introduction

The Life and Times of Homo erectusThe oldest specimens of H. erectus have

been found in East Africa, they’re dated to approximately 1.8 mya.

These new East African hominids used the same stone tools as their ancestors.

They lived in lakeshores, riversides, forests, and grasslands.

They scavenged and ate at least some meat, as evidenced by cut-marked bone.

Major Homo Erectus Sites and Localities of Other Contemporaneous Hominids

Major Homo Erectus Sites and Localities of Other Contemporaneous Hominids

Morphology of Homo erectus Brain size is related to overall body size.Body size dramatically increased compared

to earlier hominids. Cranium had a distinctive shape with a

thick cranial bone and large brow ridges.Shovel-shaped incisors suggest an

adaptation in hunter-gatherers.

Morphology and Variation inHomo erectus

Discoveries in East AfricaLouis Leakey unearthed a fossil skull at

Olduvai.An almost complete skull was

discovered in east Turkana.The most complete H. erectus skeleton

ever found was uncovered in west Turkana.

In Ethiopia, an abundance of Acheulian tools have been found as well as a robust mandible dating to 1.3 m.y.a.

East African Homo erectus East African specimens have thinner

cranial bones than those found in Asia.Some scientists argue that the African

and Asian erectus finds should be classified as separate species.

The African and Asian populations are separated by more than one million years.

East Lake Turkana, Kenya

Nearly complete skull of Homo erectus from East Lake Turkana, Kenya; dated to approximately 1.8 mya.

Nariokotome, Kenya

WT 15000 from Nariokotome, Kenya: the most complete H. erectus specimen yet found.

Olduvai GorgeLocation of a very robust skull

discovered by Louis Leakey in 1960. Dated at 1.4 mya, the cranial capacity

is the largest of all the African H. erectus specimens.

The browridge is the largest known for any hominid, but the walls of the braincase are thin. This differs from Asian H. erectus, in

which cranial bones are thick.

Gona and Daka

Key Homo erectus Discoveries from Africa

Site Dates (y.a.) Human Remains

Bouri 1.0 my Well-preserved cranium

Olduvai 1.4 myPartial cranium and a few

postcranial pieces

Nariokotome 1.6 myMostly complete adolescent

Skeleton

E. Lake Turkana

1.8 myOne nearly complete cranium and a few postcranial pieces

The Dmanisi HominidsThe discovery of the Dmanisi materials

began in the early 1990s.The Dmanisi crania have similarities to

H. erectus, while some characteristics are different from other hominid finds outside of Africa.

Dmanisi Crania

Dmanisi crania discovered in 1999 and 2001 and dated to 1.8–1.7 mya.Specimen 2282.

Dmanisi Crania

Dmanisi crania discovered in 1999 and 2001 and dated to 1.8–1.7 mya.

Specimen 2280.

Dmanisi Crania

Dmanisi crania discovered in 1999 and 2001 and dated to 1.8–1.7 mya.

Specimen 2700

Dmanisi Cranium

Most recently discovered cranium from Dmanisi, almost totally lacking in teeth (with both upper and lower jaws showing advanced bone resorption).

Questions Raised by the Dmansi Discoveries1. Was Homo erectus the first hominid to

leave Africa—or was it an earlier form of Homo?

2. Did hominids require a large brain and sophisticated stone tool culture to disperse out of Africa?

3. Was the large, robust body build of H. erectus a necessary adaptation for the initial occupation of Eurasia?

Discoveries in JavaEugene DuboisSix sites in eastern Java have yielded all

the H. erectus fossils found on this island. Dates range from 1.8 m.y.a. to 1.6 m.y.a.The Ngandong individuals date from

50,000 to 25,000 y.a.If the Ngandong dates are correct it

would make Homo erectus and Homo sapiens contemporaries.

In Java, no artifacts have been found that can be associated with Homo erectus.

Trinil Skullcap

The famous Trinil skullcap discovered by Eugene Dubois near the Solo River in Java.

This is the first time a fossil human was found outside of Europe or Africa.

Discoveries in ChinaZhoukoudian Cave

“Dragon bones” used as medicine and aphrodisiacs were ancient bones.

40 male and female adults and children have been found

The site was occupied for 250,000 years.

40% of the bones were from individuals less than 14 years old, 2.6% were from individuals between 50-60 years.

Zhoukoudian

Composite cranium of Zhoukoudian Homo erectus, reconstructed by Ian Tattersall and Gary Sawyer of the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

Reconstructed Cranium of Homo erectus

(a) Reconstructed cranium of Homo erectus from Lantian, China, dated to approximately 1.15 mya. (b) Hexian cranium.

Key Homo Erectus Discoveries From Asia

Dates Site Evolutionary Significance

50,000–25,000 ya

Ngandong (Java)

Very late survival of H. erectus in Java

670,000–410,000 ya

Zhoukoudian(China)

Most famous H. erectus site; shows some populations well

adapted to the cold

1.6 mya SangiranFirst discovery of H. erectus; shows dispersal out of Africa

by 1.6 mya

Africa vs. AsiaEast Africa

Thinner cranial bonesLess butressed craniaHomo ergaster?

Daka discovery

Later Homo erectus in EuropeSpain and ItalyAtapuercaGran DolinaCeprano

Gran Dolina

Ceprano Homo Erectus Cranium

From central Italy, provisionally dated to 800,000–900,000 ya.

This is the best evidence for Homo erectus in Europe.

Key Homo erectus Discoveries from Europe

Site Dates (y.a.) Human Remains

Ceprano 900–800 ky Well-preserved cranium

Gran Dolina 850–780 ky Fragmentary remains

Dmanisi 1.75my4 crania plus a few postcranial

remains

Time Line for Homo Erectus Discoveries and Contemporary Hominids

Chinese Tools From Middle Pleistocene Sites

Technological Trends in Homo erectus Expansion of the brain enabled H.

erectus to develop sophisticated tools: Biface - stone that was worked on

both sides and used to cut, scrape, pound, and dig.

Thousands of Acheulian hand axes have been found with remains of large animals.

Homo erectus is seen as a potential hunter and scavenger.

Small Tools ofthe Acheulian Industry

(a) Side scraper(b) Point(c) End scraper(d) Burin

Acheulian Biface

A basic tool of the Acheulian tradition.

Butchering

A Middle Pleistocene butchering site at Olorgesailie, Kenya, excavated by Louis and Mary Leakey who had the catwalk built for observers.

Acheulian Tools

Acheulian tools, mainly hand axes, found at Olorgesailie in Kenya. Thousands of similar tools were found at-this site.

Trends in Homo erectusHomo erectus liked to travel. Stone tools found on the island of Flores,

suggest that H. erectus constructed ocean-going vessels.

Homo erectus embraced culture as a strategy of adaptation.