![]() Finally, there is growing evidence that the evolution of the genus Homo proceeded in a mosaic pattern: in other words, these characteristics did not appear all at once in a single species rather, they were patchily distributed in different species from different regions and time periods. Second, early Homo fossils appear quite variable in brain size, facial features, and teeth and body size, and there is not yet consensus about how to best make sense of this diversity. First, many fossil specimens dating to this time period are incomplete and poorly preserved, making them difficult to evaluate. While these criteria seem relatively clear-cut, evaluating them in the fossil record has proved more difficult, particularly for the earliest members of the genus. There is also an apparent decline in sexual dimorphism (body-size differences between males and females). Some researchers would include larger overall body size and limb proportions (longer legs/shorter arms) in this list. ![]() increased reliance on culture, particularly the use of stone tools, to exploit a greater diversity of environments (adaptive zone).a relatively large brain size, indicating a high degree of intelligence.There is general agreement that species classified as Homo should share characteristics broadly similar to our species. However, there is disagreement about which of those criteria should be prioritized, as well as how specific fossils should be interpreted in light of the criteria. When grouping species into a common genus, biologists will consider criteria such as physical characteristics (morphology), evidence of recent common ancestry, and adaptive strategy (use of the environment). But ever since scientists have acknowledged the existence of extinct species of humans, they have debated which of these display sufficient “humanness” to merit classification in our genus. In the present-day classification, the apes and monster people have long been removed, and our species, Homo sapiens, remains as its only living representative. In the 1758 publication Systema Naturae, Linnaeus assigned humans the genus name Homo, meaning “person.” Under this classification scheme, Linnaeus included several ape species, as well as wild children and mythical humans such as cave-dwelling troglodytes. The genus is the next level up from species in the classification system originally devised by Carolus Linnaeus. Since our discipline is fundamentally concerned with what makes us human, defining our own genus takes on special significance for anthropologists. This chapter introduces the earliest members of the genus Homo, focusing on the species Homo habilis and Homo erectus. The previous chapter described our oldest human ancestors, primarily members of the genus Australopithecus who lived between 2 million and 4 million years ago. This is the most complete hominin fossil from this time period ever found. Today, a stone monument with an inscription in three languages-English, Swahili, and the local Turkana language-marks the site of this momentous fossil discovery.įigure 10.1 Skeleton of a young male Homo erectus known as “Nariokotome Boy,” along with an artist’s depiction of how he may have looked during his life. Now known as Nariokotome Boy, after the nearby lake village, the skeleton has provided a wealth of information about the early evolution of our own genus, Homo (see Figure 10.1). This small skull fragment led to the discovery of what is arguably the world’s most complete early hominin fossil-a youth identified as a member of the species Homo erectus. In the 1980s, fossil hunter Kimoya Kimeu, working on the western shore of Lake Turkana, Kenya, glimpsed a dark colored piece of bone eroding in a hillside. His bones fossilized and lay undisturbed for 1.5 million years. After death, his slender, long-limbed body sank into the mud of the lake shallows. The boy was no older than 9 when he perished by the swampy shores of the lake. Describe what is known about the adaptive strategies of early members of the Homo genus, including tool technologies, diet, migration patterns, and other behavioral trends.Assess opposing points of view about how early Homo should be classified.Describe the skeletal anatomy of Homo habilis and Homo erectus based on the fossil evidence.Identify the characteristics that define the genus Homo.Describe how early Pleistocene climate change influenced the evolution of the genus Homo.
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