Chapter 11 Homo erectus and Contemporaries

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Chapter 11Homo erectus and Contemporaries

• Homo erectus Terminology and geographical
  distribution
• The Pleistocene (1.8 m.y.a. - 10,000 y.a.)
• Morphology of Homo erectus
• Overview of Homo erectus Discoveries
• Technological and Population Trends in the Middle
  Pleistocene

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Introduction

• Hominid evolution has been characterized by
  biocultural interaction.
• The behavioral capacities of H. erectus along
  with the morphological changes help us understand
  its success as a hominid species.

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Homo erectus Terminology

• Discoveries of Homo erectus fossils go back to
  the 19th century.
• Javanese remains were called Pithecanthropus.
• The fossils found in china were called
  Sianthropus.
• After World War II, the taxonomic splitting was
  combined in the classification Homo erectus.

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The Pleistocene (1.8 m.y.a.. - 10,000 y.a.)

• Also known as the ice age.
• Glacial advances and retreats influenced hominid
  migrations.
• During glacial advance, sea levels lowered
  exposing land bridges.
• Homo erectus appeared and disappeared during the
  Pleistocene.

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Morphology of Homo erectus

• Brain size is related to overall body size with a
  mean of 900 cm3.
• 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.

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Discoveries in Java

• Six sites in eastern Java yielded all theH.
  erectus fossils that were found on the 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.

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Discoveries in Peking

• Dragon bones used by the Chinese as medicine
  and as aphrodisiacs were actually ancient mammal
  bones.
• Over 40 adults and children and 100,000
  artifacts, were found near Zhoukoudian,
• The site was occupied for almost 250,000 years.

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Cultural Remains at Zhoukoudian

• Earliest Stages - (460,000-420,000 y.a.) Tools
  are large and made of soft stone.
• Middle Stage (370,000 -350,000 y.a.)Tools become
  smaller and lighter.
• Final Stage (300,000 -230,000 y.a.)Tools are
  small and materials are better quality.

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Discoveries in East Africa

• Louis Leakey unearthed a fossil skull at Olduvai.
• 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.

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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 a million years.

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Technological Trendsin the Pleistocene

• Expansion of the brain enabled H. erectus to
  develop sophisticated tools
• The biface, a stone worked on both sides, was
  used to cut, scrape, pound, and dig.
• Thousands of Acheulian hand axes were found with
  remains of large animals.
• Homo erectus is seen as a potential hunter and
  scavenger.

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Trends in the Pleistocene

• Homo erectus liked to travel.
• Stone tools found on the island of Flores, 375
  miles east of Java, suggest that H. erectus have
  constructed ocean-going vessels.
• Homo erectus embraced culture as a strategy of
  adaptation.