ARCH 131 Lecture 8: 9: Homo erectus

• School: Simon Fraser University
• Department: Archaeology
• Course: ARCH 131
• Professor: Dennis Sandgathe

Document Summary

First species to look a lot like us. First hominin species that left africa, made it to lower asia. Appears in africa 2mya and h. erectus like fossils continue . Debate over similarities between african/asian h. erectus fossils. All the fossils can be lumped into a single, widespread species with some notable regional variability (lumpers) They should be split into two species, african + asian (splitters, most common approach) Fossils in asia (china + indonesia) remain homo erectus as this was where it was first used. African fossils given new name: homo ergaster. Homo erectus likely evolved directly from habilis or rudolfensis. Seems sure we evolved from homo erectus, but with at least once species between. Modern postcranium features, but with thicker cortical bones. Homo ergaster 850cc/homo erectus 1000cc/homo sapiens 1350cc. Taurodontism: enlarged pulp cavity in molars of some fossils. Cranium has pentagonal shape (like a greenhouse), widest point near the base.