Homo Erectus Research Paper

The best and the worst thing about a question like, “who was the first real human?” is that it is impossible to answer. There is no universally accepted, definitive trait that defines humanness. Consequently, I can attempt to answer this question, but intrinsic in the question is the inability to answer it. Each possible theory may have strong evidence to support it, but it will also have strong evidence against it. In this paper I will assert that Homo erectus is the first official human. I will explore Homo Erectus’s control of fire, use of acheulian tools, morphological and anatomical advances, and human like diet as evidence to support my theory. Although there are flaws in my theory, I am inclined to believe that Homo erectus was the first

human as they were pioneers in the use of innovative tools, human-like diets, and anatomy similar to contemporary human features.
When looking at the anatomical and morphological advances of the species Homo erectus three of the most crucial new features are: the alteration in ratio of arms to legs, the overall body size increase, and the body to brain size shift. All three of these features can be seen in one of the first pieces of fossil evidence found of the H. erectus species, the Nariokotome boy. Found in Africa, the Nariokotome boy dates back around 1.6 million years (Larson, 336). As a larger species, H. erectus lived from around 1.8 million years ago to 0.3 million years ago. The first noticeable feature or the Nariokotome fossil was that it’s proportion of arms to legs was very similar to that of a modern human, in that it had relatively short arms with long legs (Larson, 336). As displayed in the Nariokotome boy, H. erectus was the first species to have a near human ratio of arms and legs. This derived characteristic is extremely important, because it was necessary in enabling the complete shift to bipedalism which shows that H. erectus was fully over life in the trees.
Next, the Nariokotome boy showed that H. erectus also grew hugely in body size from that which was seen in Homo habilis, which is another step towards the human-like body structure. Thirdly, the Nariokotome boy showed that H. erectus had a significant increase in brain to body size ratio. Despite the large increase H. erectus still did not have a brain the size of humans today, but it did have a brain larger than living nonhuman primates (Bio Anth Reader, 110). Interestingly enough, the bigger brains seen in H. erectus was actually a direct result of an extraordinary shift in diet. The brain needs an unbelievable amount of energy (in the form of calories) to support it, which is why brain expansion to the extent we see with H. erectus was not possible until there was a change in diet quality.
In fact, the shift in diet necessary for brain size growth had everything to do with H.

erectus being the first species to have a more human-like diet via the hunter gatherer model (Bio Anth Reader, 110). The hunter-gatherer model, founded by H. erectus, led to meat becoming a large portion of their diet. This dietary change is supported in fossil records, as it was found that during this period there was a notable increase in animal bones found in H. Erectus sites (Bio Anth Reader, 110). Another source of evidence for this change in the fossil records is the smaller molars and more delicate jaws seen on H. erectus fossils, both of which indicate a diet that consisted of less plants and more meat (Bio Anth Reader, 110). Transitioning to high consumption of meat was the food based energy H. erectus needed to support large brain growth. All in all being the first hunters enabled H. erectus to assume a more human-like diet and allowed for the growth of a larger

brain.
An additional aspect of this shift in diet, that is also supported in the fossil record, is the use of innovative tools to cut up game animals and control of fire to cook the meat in.

One thing that differentiates humans from other species is our intelligence (Lecture, 3.24). Intelligence, as defined in lecture, is the ability to solve novel problems (Lecture, 3.24). H. erectus displayed true human intelligence with their development of acheulian tools (Lecture, 4.14). Although they were not the first to come up with the idea of using tools, H. erectus were the first to create the innovative and advanced acheulian tools, which can be most easily explained as a stone hand axes that are meticulously and purposefully handmade (Lecture, 4.14). Not only was H. erectus the first to create advanced tools, but they were also the first to control

fire.
Fire might be the most impressive tool that H. erectus acquired control over, as well as one of the strongest pieces of evidence in support of the humanness of their species. With the power of fire H. erectus was able to further advance themselves in terms of diet, protection, and shelter. When it came to diet cooking their food was another reason, in addition to eating meat, that H. erectus was able to have enough bodily energy to develop larger brains (Bio Anth Reader, 111). Cooking their food also was an example of how H. erectus had a more human-like way of eating, as today we consider cooking to be a central aspect of the food we eat. Controlling fire also empowered H. erectus as it is an extremely powerful form of protection from potential predators. As a protective tool fire is an excellent example of human intelligence, because it is the solution for the novel problem of predation. Lastly, fire provides a mobile shelter in the form of warmth. An aspect of shelter is to provide protection from elements such as cold. The warmth of a fire can thus be seen as a form of shelter, as it protects from the cold. By harnessing the portable warmth of the fire, H. erectus enabled themselves to move their shelter with them. This could be one of the innovations that allowed H. erectus to be the first species to travel, another piece of evidence supporting their humanness (Lecture, 4.14).
In spite of all the evidence I have provided to support my theory that H. erectus is the first human, it is still just a theory and as such has flaws. Included in the information that is contrary to my beliefs is the fact that the tool technology of H. erectus does not continue to develop overtime and that the fossils found of travelling H. erectus’s displayed smaller brain sizes. Whilst the creation of acheulian tools can be seen as proof of humanness, the lack of continuous tool development and innovation is not (Lecture, 4.14). Moreover, H. erectus may have been the first species to travel, but the fossils of their species found in Asia (specifically Dmanisi) showed brain sizes far smaller than that of what was seen in African H. erectus (Larson, 343). Both of these facts stand in contrast to the theory that H. erectus was the first human, but I still hold my theory because the evidence in support of it is far stronger.
The evidence in support of my theory is drawn from H. erectus’s innovative tools, human-like diet, and morphological resemblances to that of modern humans. The morphological similarities between modern humans and H. erectus can be seen in the fossil records through the Nariokotome boy (Larson, 336). Similarities include: shorter arms and longer legs (allowing for complete bipedalism), bigger body sizes, and larger brain to body ratio. The increasingly human-like diet was the result of H. erectus being the first species to hunt. This too is supported in the fossil records as it was found that there was a significant amount of animal bones in the H. erectus sites and the fact that H. erectus had smaller molars and weaker jaws than their predecessors- indicating a shift in diet from lots of plants to lots of meat (Bio Anth Reader, 110). Lastly, H. erectus were the first to control fire and to develop the highly advanced acheulian tool (Lecture, 4.14). H. erectus was able to use human intelligence and solve novel problems by creating new tools as well as harnessing the power of fire. Although the question of “who is the first human?” is for the time being inconclusive, there is an incredible amount of strong evidence to support that H. erectus was.