Homo Erectus Essay

The Homo erectus was an early species of Homo and the likely descendant of the H. Habilis; the first Hominin species to move out of Africa into Asia and Europe. These were the Hominins that began to develop the characteristics behaviors that we see in living humans, that increasingly engaged intelligence and displayed adaptive flexibility, and the first depended on material culture. During the early Homo’s evolution, hominins began to colonize areas of the world outside Africa. The H.Habilis had a smaller chewing complex and a larger brain, and combined it gave the H. Habilis’s skull a rounder appearance. The H. Erectus has the anatomical characteristics from the distinguished H. Habilis. These Hominins collectively date to about 1.8 my-300,000 yBP. During this dynamic period of human

evolution, hominins first left Africa, colonized vast areas of Asia and Europe, and underwent fundamental changes in Culture and adaptations. For example the striking characteristics of the combination of short arms and long legs, displays the modern characteristics of the living human. This change in limb proportion signals the beginning of a major alteration in the pattern of bipedal locomotion; adapting to a fully modern stride. The pelvis and leg bones of H. erectus strongly indicate the modern form of walking, adapting for activities required to travel, such as hunting and long-distance walking, behaviors likely seen with H. erectus. 1.8 mya, indicates that H. erectus colonized western Asia very soon after it began to evolve in Africa. The rapid spread of the Hominin’s illustrates the hominins high degree of adaptive success a factor likely related to increasing intelligence, increasing reliance for survival on both material culture and tools, and overall greater ability at acquiring resources and food. In terms of both culture and biology, H. erectus evolved the contextual behavior- hunting, successful dispersal across large territory, adaptive success, and increasing, and increasing dependence on culture and effective use of culture as a means of survival. The increase dependence on culture and the dominance of behaviors requiring technology in acquiring and processing food increased the diversity of environments occupied by the H. erectus. The expansion of resources acquired and habitats occupied, coupled with the high degree of mobility, laid the basis for a high level of gene flow.

Deep in a cave system in South Africa, believed to be a burial chamber, There was an important discovery of a new human-like species; indicating that these individuals were capable of ritual behavior.

The species has been classified in the genus of homo and has been named naledi.Scientist suggest they could have lived in Africa up to 3 million years ago and are insinuating that the naledi is a bridge between more primitive bipedal primates and humans

The skull of the naledi, shows similarities to the modern skull, The similarities include the pronounced brow and small teeth like the modern human. The skull of the naledi has a smaller brain cavity, then the modern human skull. The wrist and palm are quite similar to the modern human hand except the naledi has fingers that are slightly curved. The H. Naledi belongs between the H. Habilis, and H. Erectus, in the chronology of human evolution.

The remains were found in what is believed to be a burial chamber. The H. Naledi people appear to have carried individuals deep into the cave system and deposited them in the chamber –possibly over generation. This suggest that they were capable of ritual behavior and possibly symbolic

thought.