ANTH 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Australopithecus, Homo Erectus, Olduvai Gorge
Document Summary
First members appeared during a pronounced drying trend 2. 5-2mya: gracile been around for less time. Early homo species lived alongside robust australopithecines in eastern africa. Recognized for having brains greater than the 400-550cm3 seen in the australopithecines. First recognized at olduvai gorge in 1963 by louis leakey. Skull from olduvai gorge had a brain size of 680 cm3. Leakey named the species homo habilis or handy man . Early homo exhibit the earliest defined stone-tool making style called the oldowan tradition. Homo erectus brains averaged 1000 cm3 within the range of modern humans. Molars were smaller and jawbones less robust than early homo. Postcranial skeleton was similar to modern humans, other than being more robust. Acheulian tools, including hand axes are found in africa and europe. Homo erectus in eastern asia used flakes and bamboo instead of hand axes. Homo erectus controlled use of fire has been found on some sites.
