Homo erectus
Homo erectus is a species of extinct hominids that lived between 1.9 million and 200,000 years ago. First discovered in Indonesia by Eugene Dubois in 1891, erectus initially went by the names Pithecanthropus (for Indonesian remains) and Sinanthropus (for Chinese specimens). Although the oldest specimens are from east Africa, remains have also been found in north and south Africa, as well as mainland Asia, Indonesia, and Europe. Many believe erectus represents the first migration of hominids out of Africa.
H. erectus had a body height similar to that of modern humans. Although only limited amounts of post-cranial material are avaiable for Homo erectus, remains which have been found indicate a post-cranial skeleton that was very similar to that of modern humans. Their average cranial capacity is about 30% less than the average for modern humans, however many specimens of Homo erectus had brain sizes that fall well within the range of normal modern human variation. Additionally, erectus is characterized by a more robust skeleton compared to modern humans.
Culturally, homo erectus remains are commonly associated with a hand axe-like stone tool technology, often called the “bi-face,” used for chopping, chiseling, scraping, pounding, and digging. This technology takes various forms over the history of erectus, however it indicates that erectus had increased intelligence over apes, and may have been both a hunter and a scavenger.
Although erectus is typically classified as its own species, some have considered it to be a subspecies of our own species Homo sapiens. Additionally, various paleoanthropologists have suggested that were Homo erectus alive today, it might very well be able to interbreed with modern humans.
Web Resources On Homo erectus
Human Ancestors Hall: Homo erectus
Book Resources On Homo erectusThe Evolution of Homo Erectus by G. Philip Rightmire
Homo Erectus by Edward Proffitt
The Nariokotome Homo Erectus Skeleton by Alan Walker, Richard Leakey
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