By: Jane

Early Man Appearance

When humans first were created they were not like they are today. Humans originally evolved from apes. Apes as you may know are in the monkey family, and walk with a hunched back, and their body is covered in hair. Humans evolved from this eventually creating what we are today. There are many different stages or periods of people that were on this planet a long time ago. These humans had so many different qualities about them, and appearance is a major part of history about them. The six main groups that have been discovered are the Australopithecus afarensis, Homo habilis, Homo Erectus, Homo sapiens Neanderthalensis, Homo sapiens Cro-Magnon, and Homo sapiens sapiens. These groups have amazed us in many different ways, but I personally think that the way they dress, and their appearance is the most interesting to study.

Introduction

evolution of man

Modern Human Skull

Ape Like Skull

They looked more ape-like than human like

They had a tiny brain so they must have had a small head

Their teeth are similar to the ones that we have now but had larger back teeth

They were not able to make clothes

Clothes were not needed because they had lots of hair

They were quite slender because they didn’t eat a lot of meat

Had apelike face with a low forehead, a bony ridge over the eyes, a flat nose, and no chin

Females were smaller that males by a lot

Had long and curved toes and fingers

Were about 75 lbs

Walked on two legs most of the time

Australopithecus afarensis Lucy

Model

Lucy Model Apelike Skull

They stood upright and not as much hunched over

They looked like the first real human

They still had long arms that dangled down

Their brain was only two thirds as large as ours

An average adult was about 1.5 meters tall

Started to have smaller back teeth but still bigger that modern humans

Brain started to look more like ours

Only weighed about 100 lbs.

Had quite large molars that are bigger than modern humans

Males were much larger than females

Looked similar to homo erectus

Didn’t really wear clothes

Homo habilis

Homo habilis without clothing

Homo habilis skull starting to

look more human like

Had good knowledge of surroundings and could make tools and shelter(Large brain and pretty big head)

They carried tools that they used for hunting on their clothes

They are about the same size range as a human now

Had the ability to make and construct clothes that

were very basic

They were about as tall as us but were much stronger than

humans today

Had a much larger brain than Homo habilis

Molars in back started to shape

Started to have clear eyebrows not just a hairy forehead

Bones were sturdier than Homo habilis

Were more efficient when walking

Clothes were usually parts of leaves and animal skins

Homo erectus

Basic clothes

Carried tools

around

Clothes were animal skins

They walked completely upright almost always

They were taller and much stronger that modern humans

They were extremely smart and intelligent with big brain(Large head)

Carried around tools and weapons while traveling and hunting

Brain size is larger than modern humans

Had a jaw that was almost exactly the same as today

Had a weak chin

Had really thick and heavy bones

They knew how to dress daily, but the clothes were pretty basic

Homo sapiens Neanderthalensis

Homo sapiens Neanderthanlen

sis skull

Wore appropriate clothing for

climates

Modern human skull vs. Homo

sapiens Neanderthalensi

s skullModern Human Skull

Homo sapiens Neanderthalensi

s Skull

The wore various types of jewellery

They had a sense of style- different shoes, clothes and jewellery that they sewed or made

Learned how to construct garments and beads and could put into clothes and other cultural inventions

Stood straight up and looked like modern humans

Round head that stuck up

Had a projecting chin

Eyebrows were clear with not much hair on

the forehead

Homo sapiens Cro-Magnon

Skull is large and rounded at

the back

Homo sapiens

Cro-Magnon Skull

Skeleton of a homo sapiens Cro-Magnon

Could make more advanced clothing

Stood completely upright with long legs

The forehead rises sharply

Eyebrow ridges are very small

The chin is prominent and sticks out

The skeleton is very massive

Used beads in clothing and had a sense of fashion

Teeth-Front teeth are for meat and tearing and back teeth

are for grinding and chewing herbs

Muscles are large and strong

Appearance varied depending on person

DNA is only part ape but mostly human

Homo sapiens sapiens

Modern Human Skull

Modern Human

Skeleton

Homo sapiens sapiens clothing

Hominids as you can see are one of the most interesting topics! If you enjoy learning about the past and how we became who we are today then I suggest that you learn more about them. The early man was a fun and interesting topic to study because now I have a clear understanding of why I look this way, and how we evolved from apes. If you think about it, it is just truly amazing to realize that over a massive period of time we became more developed, and we learned more things. Just think what it will be like in a hundred years when they start digging us up to find out more of the history of humans! Anyways as you can see the six main hominid groups (Australopithecus afarensis, Homo habilis, Homo Erectus, Homo sapiens Neanderthalensis, Homo sapiens Cro-Magnon, and Homo sapiens sapiens) have wonderful features about their appearance, and clothing. Overall these wonderful groups of hominids are extrodinary to study!

Closing

Byebye!

Hominids from all around the

world

Hominid Model

Clipart

Australopithecus afarensis @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/26796550@N00/3384517818

Homo sapiens Neanderthalensis comparison @ http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sapiens_neanderthal_comparison.jpg

Lucy @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/carlos_lorenzo/2164321316/

Lucy @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/42311564@N00/3573294008/

Evolution of Man @ http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6ePWwidMRIJZBPXGW042SQ

Human skull @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/perpetualplum/3935842631/

Ape Like Skull @ http://www.wasdarwinright.com/earlyman.htm

Homo habilis @ http://www.teachersnetwork.org/powertolearn/web/Prehistory%20Web%20Quest/homo_habilis.htm

Hominid model @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/65819965@N00/460940880

Bibliography for Pictures

Homo habilis skull @ http://www.ideacenter.org/contentmgr/showdetails.php/id/1146

Homo erectus and clothing @ http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rhodesian_Men.jpg

Homo sapiens Neanderthalensis @ http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Homo_sapiens_neanderthalensis.jpg

Homo sapiens Cro-magnon @ http://www.elephant.se/cro-magnon.php?open=Man%20and%20elephants

Homo sapiens Cro-Magnon skeleton @ http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Monaco.Mus%C3%A9e_d'Anthropologie002.jpg

Modern Human Skull @ http://www.savalli.us/LSC294/Labs/15.HumanEvol.html

Modern Human Skeleton @ http://www.fotopedia.com/items/flickr-2559398597

T-shirt @ http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/gCD3nR0CV-BnKkdyVuysqQ

Pants @ http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/7jWnVp2ZaRixRJSivsY4Yw

Bibliography for Pictures Cont.

http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Australopithecus

http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/homs/species.html#afarensis

http://www.columbia.edu/itc/anthropology/v1007/2002projects/web/australopithecus/austro.html

http://0-www.worldbookonline.com.catalogue.westvanlibrary.ca/student/article?id=ar260855&st=homo+habilis

http://0-www.worldbookonline.com.catalogue.westvanlibrary.ca/student/article?id=ar038560&st=australopithecus+afarensis

http://www.wasdarwinright.com/earlyman.htm

http://www.elephant.se/cro-magnon.php?open=Man%20and%20elephants

http://earlyhumans.mrdonn.org/cromagnon.html

Textbook-Ancient World

Textbook-Other Places, Other Times

Bibliography for Information