What is the significance of Homo ergaster?
Various fossils found in Eurasia at Dmanisi in the Republic of Georgia may belong to Homo ergaster. These Dmanisi fossils are significant because they currently represent the earliest evidence for the emergence of early humans from Africa into Eurasia 1.75 million years ago.
What new things did Homo ergaster erectus do?
Homo erectus were very successful in creating cultural technologies that allowed them to adapt to new environmental opportunities. They were true pioneers in developing human culture and in expanding their geographic range beyond Africa to populate tropical and subtropical zones elsewhere in the Old World.
What happened to Homo ergaster?
Homo ergaster is believed to have diverged from the lineage of Homo habilis between 1.9 and 1.8 million years ago, and remained stable for approximately 500,000 years in Africa before disappearing from the fossil record around 1.4 to 1.3 million years ago.
Who was the first true man?
Pithecanthropus is considered as the first upright man having a lot of traits of human characters while also some of apes and hence a true man.
What color was the first human?
Color and cancer These early humans probably had pale skin, much like humans' closest living relative, the chimpanzee, which is white under its fur. Around 1.2 million to 1.8 million years ago, early Homo sapiens evolved dark skin.
What was the biggest human species?
GigantopithecusGigantopithecus Temporal range: Early–Middle Pleistocene ~Order:PrimatesSuborder:HaplorhiniInfraorder:SimiiformesFamily:Hominidae11 more rows
What was the first human species?
Homo erectus characteristics erectus is the oldest known species to have a human-like body, with relatively elongated legs and shorter arms in comparison to its torso. It had an upright posture.
What was the biggest human species?
GigantopithecusGigantopithecus Temporal range: Early–Middle Pleistocene ~Order:PrimatesSuborder:HaplorhiniInfraorder:SimiiformesFamily:Hominidae11 more rows
Who discovered the fire?
Claims for the earliest definitive evidence of control of fire by a member of Homo range from 1.7 to 2.0 million years ago (Mya). Evidence for the "microscopic traces of wood ash" as controlled use of fire by Homo erectus, beginning roughly 1 million years ago, has wide scholarly support.
Who is said to have first made tools like the hand AXE?
The hand- axe were first made by earlier species of man, such as Homo erectus and Homo Neanderthal Man, it was one of their most important tools. Longest-surviving human species, Homo erectus was the first hominin to evolve a truly human-like body shape. They can be said as an ancestor of modern humans (Homo sapiens).
What species first appeared to walk upright?
Australopithecus was an early species of humans, that is believed to be, at this time, the first to walk upright, but it is Homo Erectus, an ancestor of modern Homo Sapiens (anatomically modern human beings) that walked on two feet, all the time, around 2-million years ago.
Why is the Homo Ergaster called Homo Ergaster?
This name was used because large stone tools were found near some of its fossils. Distribution. Fossils of this species have been found in Africa and Eurasia.
What is the name of the first human?
Homo ergaster was the first of our ancestors to look more like modern humans. These people were generally tall and slender and may also have been relatively hairless. Not everyone accepts this species name, some still prefer to use the term African Homo erectus. Background to discovery. Age.
What is the significance of the Dmanisi fossils?
These Dmanisi fossils are significant because they currently represent the earliest evidence for the emergence of early humans from Africa into Eurasia 1.75 million years ago.
How old was Ergaster when he developed?
Once it was determined that he was only eight years old yet 5´3˝ tall, it was apparent that H. ergaster developed at a much faster rate, more like a chimp than a human.
Where did Ergaster evolve?
H. ergaster is thought to have evolved from either H. habilis or H. rudolfensis in East Africa. However, it is possible that H. habilis may have been the first to leave Africa, after which it may have evolved into a pre- ergaster / erectus form that then moved into Africa and Asia. If H. habilis was in our ancestry, the latter scenario might explain how the more modernly proportioned H. ergaster appeared in the fossil record contemporary with H. habilis in East Africa. Of course, the hit and miss nature of the fossil record and fossil and species discoveries could also explain that phenomenon, i.e. the seeming lack of transitional forms in Africa.
What is the difference between Ergaster and Habilis?
ergaster was derived, H. ergaster possessed a longer skull vault, a larger brain (however, see previous paragraph), a smaller temporal fossa (the opening formed by the zygomatic arch where jaw muscles pass through and/or attach), a shorter face, a larger nose, reduced dentition and jaw robusticity, and a heavier nuchal region.
What are the characteristics of H. ergaster?
H. ergaster exhibited robust craniofacial characteristics relative to modern humans, but overall we see the continued reduction in dentition and masticatory apparatus. Their brains were large, with a maximum cranial capacity of 1200 cc and a range of 800–1200 cc, based on the material from the three continents. However, the relative brain size of early specimens may not have been much greater than that seen in early Homo. They had fairly robust supraorbital and nuchal regions. The skull vault was long and low, termed platycephalic, with a low maximum width. Our vaults are much higher, and we have high maximum width, due to subsequent cerebral expansion. The shape of the vault in cross-section has been described as that of a turtle shell. H. ergaster, like all hominins before and especially the robust australopiths, exhibits postorbital constriction between the orbits and the cranial vault. Their temporal lines were more pronounced than ours (see Figure 28.4), indicating that they had more powerful jaw muscles and chewing capabilities. They did not have much of a forehead due to several of the aforementioned craniofacial characteristics. Their nasal bones suggest a human-like, projecting nose. This would have been adaptive in arid as well as cold conditions. In addition to warming and humidifying inhaled air, the moisture in warm exhaled air condenses on the cooler nasal membranes, resulting in water conservation. The jaws were somewhat prognathic in the alveolar region, i.e. the bone that houses the teeth, and the mandibles were robust. They lacked a chin, a characteristic seen only in anatomically modern humans.
Where is Ergaster's skeleton found?
The earliest H. ergaster material is from the East Lake Turkana site of Koobi Fora in Kenya. Richard Leakey is credited with this 1.8 mya discovery. Other sites outside of Africa are contemporary with African sites, e.g. the 1.8 mya Dmanisi site in the Republic of Georgia and the 1.8–1.6 mya site of Modjokerto in Java. (Note: There are problems with the Javanese dates because the fossil-containing layers are not conducive to more reliable dating methods.) The almost complete Nariokotome or Turkana Boy (see Figure 28.2) from the West Lake Turkana region of Kenya was discovered in 1984 by Kamoya Kimeu and dated to 1.6 mya. The skeleton has been extremely important for reconstructing body morphology and limb proportions. The boy is thought to have been eight years old based upon tooth development patterns. He was formerly thought to be as old as 15, based on his height, stage of bone development, and hypothesized growth trajectories. However, dental calculations can accurately determine age due to the daily pattern of enamel deposition during tooth development. Scientists can count the microscopic, bead-like deposits that are laid down daily during the course of a tooth’s development. Once it was determined that he was only eight years old yet 5´3˝ tall, it was apparent that H. ergaster developed at a much faster rate, more like a chimp than a human. Had Turkana Boy lived to adulthood, he would have been over 6´ tall. His morphology was adapted to the hot, dry conditions in equatorial East Africa, i.e. tall and long-limbed, similar to modern peoples of the region.
How tall were H. ergaster?
While the thorax may still have been somewhat conical, they had more of a waist, demonstrating an uncoupling of the lower limb from the torso. The small birth canal relative to adult brain size suggests a long period of postnatal brain growth, as seen in subsequent hominins, especially our own species. They were tall, achieving heights of over 6´. They were also more robust than premodern humans that, in turn, were more robust than modern humans. Males were 20–30% larger than females. While the lifespan tended to be short, some individuals lived to be 50 to 60 years of age. There was high infant mortality, with 40% of fossil remains estimated to be less than 14 years of age.
What is the skull vault called?
They had fairly robust supraorbital and nuchal regions. The skull vault was long and low, termed platycephalic, with a low maximum width.
Why is the Homo Ergaster classification contentious?from abc.net.au
But Professor Herries said the entire classification of Homo ergaster was contentious, because it hinges on just one fragment from the face of a single specimen. " Homo ergaster is used by some people to mean 'African Homo erectus' as a separate thing, but it's not used ubiquitously by everybody," he said. "Fossils that have been defined as Homo in ...
Where are the oldest hominins found?from britannica.com
One of the oldest European hominin fossils is an isolated mandible (lower jawbone) with teeth, found in 1907 in a sandpit just north of Mauer, Germany, near Heidelberg. Dating to about 500,000 years ago, it has been given a variety of names over the years ( see Heidelberg jaw ), but its exact relationship to other fossils remains uncertain, partly because no associated cranium was found. Some investigators have come to regard the Mauer mandible as representing H. erectus. Although its age is perhaps comparable to that of the older Zhoukoudian hominins in China, this European specimen shows more modern structural features than do the Asian and African jaws of H. erectus. The exact significance of these features in the Mauer jaw is still being debated, and some consider it a separate species ( H. heidelbergensis) that is slightly more advanced in its anatomy than the African and Asian populations. Another fossil that may tentatively be grouped with the Mauer mandible is a lower leg bone (tibia) found in 1993 during excavations at Boxgrove, West Sussex, England.
Why does H. erectus not exhibit the same degree of maternal investment or child-rearing behaviours as?from en.wikipedia.org
Because H. erectus children had faster brain growth rates , H. erectus likely did not exhibit the same degree of maternal investment or child-rearing behaviours as modern humans.
How long did H. erectus and H. habilis coexist?from en.wikipedia.org
erectus evolved from H. habilis about 2 Mya, though this has been called into question because they coexisted for at least a half a million years.
What does H. erectus track mean?from en.wikipedia.org
H. erectus tracks near Ileret, Kenya, also indicate a human gait. A humanlike shoulder suggests an ability for high speed throwing. It was once thought that Turkana boy had 6 lumbar vertebra instead of the 5 seen in modern humans and 11 instead of 12 thoracic vertebrae, but this has since been revised, and the specimen is now considered to have exhibited a humanlike curvature of the spine ( lordosis) and the same number of respective vertebrae.
Why does H. erectus have a large brain?from en.wikipedia.org
erectus, because the large ape gut is used to synthesize fat by fermenting plant matter which was replaced by dietary animal fat, allowing more energy to be diverted to brain growth. This would have increased brain size indirectly while maintaining the same caloric requirements of ancestor species. H. erectus may have also been the first to use a hunting and gathering food collecting strategy as a response to the increasing dependence on meat. With an emphasis on teamwork, division of labor, and food sharing, hunting and gathering was a dramatically different subsistence strategy from previous modes.
What is the oldest fossil?from abc.net.au
Skull of a toddler is the oldest known fossil of the earliest human, Homo erectus. The skull of a two to three-year-old Homo erectus toddler was reconstructed from 150 fragments.
Where did Homo Ergaster live?
The deposits found so far indicate that its habitat was in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Eritrea. In that area, the climate of the time was very arid, with a drought that lasted for about one hundred thousand years.
How tall is Homo Ergaster?
The anatomy of Homo ergaster represents an evolutionary leap over previous species. Thus, their stature stands out, which could reach 1.8 meters. Likewise, their cranial capacity is especially relevant, well above that of their ancestors. Many authors consider that the higher consumption of meat explains this increase.
What caused H. ergaster to lose body hair?
Other physical aspects. As noted before, in this species there was an important change in its way of regulating the internal temperature. The development of sweating caused H. ergaster to lose body hair in the medium term, while that of the head appeared. Similarly, the lungs also developed.
Which hominids developed articulate language?
Articulate language. Although the experts do not strictly confirm it, part of the scientific community thinks that H. ergaster could be the first hominid to develop an articulate oral language. To affirm this they rely on brain structures, which certainly allowed the hominid to communicate orally.
Where was the first H. ergaster found?
The first finds of H. ergaster were made in 1975, in Koobi Fora (Kenya). An expedition found two skulls there, one possibly female, KNM-ER 3733, and the other male, KNM-ER 3883. The dating of the remains showed that they were 1.75 million years old. However, the most important discovery took place years later, in 1984.
What was the diet of H. ergaster?
ergaster was omnivorous, with a diet that was based on the elements that it could obtain in its closest geographical environment. The main elements were vegetables and meat.
Why did Homo Ergaster increase meat consumption?
Their utensils began to be more complex and of higher quality, favoring hunting and other social activities.
What is the H. erectus?
At other localities, broken animal bones and stone tools have indicated the presence of the species, though there are no traces of the people themselves. H. erectus was a human of medium stature that walked upright. The braincase was low, the forehead was receded, and the nose, jaws, and palate were wide. The brain was smaller and the teeth larger ...
Where did H. erectus originate?
H. erectus most likely originated in Africa, though Eurasia cannot be ruled out. Regardless of where it first evolved, the species seems to have dispersed quickly, starting about 1.9 million years ago (mya) near the middle of the Pleistocene Epoch, moving through the African tropics, Europe, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
How long ago did Homo sapiens live?
Artist's rendering of Homo erectus, which lived from approximately 1,700,000 to 200,000 years ago .
Important Fossil Discoveries
What The Name Means
- Homo, is a Latin word meaning ‘human’ or ‘man’. It is the same genus or group name as the one given to modern humans, which indicates the close relationship between this species and our own. The word ergaster is based on a Greek word meaning ‘work’, so the name Homo ergastermeans ‘workman’. This name was used because large stone tools were found near som…
Distribution
- Fossils of this species have been found in Africa and Eurasia. Important sites include regions around Lake Turkana and Lake Victoria, Koobi Fora, Nariokotome, Olorgesailie, Swartkrans and Dmanisi, Georgia.
Relationships with Other Species
- Some people do not recognise Homo ergaster as a species and instead classify these fossils as Homo erectus. Those who do accept Homo ergaster consider this species to be the common ancestor of two groups of humans that took different evolutionary paths. One of these groups was Homo erectus, the other group ultimately became our own species Homo sapiens. Some fo…
Key Physical Features
- This species’ tall, long-legged body, with a flatter face, a projecting nose and a somewhat expanded brain was well along the evolutionary path leading to modern humans but it still possessed a number of intermediate features. Body size and shape 1. the body is usually considered to be tall and slender with long legs which may have been an adaptation to maximis…
Culture and Technology
- The technology of Homo ergasterbecame more advanced with the production of new kinds of stone tools. Other aspects of their behaviour also showed some significant changes, including the possible use of fire and increased levels of physical activity.
Tools
- Large stone tools including hand axes, cleavers and picks (classified as Mode 2 technology) were manufactured. To make these tools, large stone flakes were produced and these were then shaped on two sides to produce sharp edges. This improved technology created more durable tools that maintained their sharpness longer than earlier types of tools. Microscopic examinatio…
Fire
- Fire may have been used as long as 1.5 million years ago for cooking and warmth but whether this was a controlled use of fire is not certain. Charcoal, burnt earth, and charred bones found associated with Homo ergasterfossils may have resulted from naturally occurring fires rather than from intentionally lit and controlled fires. Recent reports (Current Anthropology vol 52, 4, August …
Social Behaviour
- None of the Homo ergasterskeletons that have been found so far were deliberately buried. There is evidence however, that they did care for living members of their group who were sick or injured, but they did not seem to be concerned with their welfare after death. It is probable that these people lived in social groups based on family bonds. A comparison with groups of primates livin…
Environment and Diet
- About 1.8 million years ago, the climate over most of Africa became drier and more seasonal with extensive savannahs. Homo ergaster was the first human species to take advantage of these more arid and open environments. This species’ narrower pelvis and rib cage suggests that they had a smaller gut than earlier species such as Australopithecus afarensis. The development of …
Phylogeny
- H. ergaster is thought to have evolved from either H. habilis or H. rudolfensis in East Africa. However, it is possible that H. habilis may have been the first to leave Africa, after which it may have evolved into a pre-ergaster/erectus form that then moved into Africa and Asia. If H. habilis was in our ancestry, the latter scenario might explain how the more modernly proportioned H. er…
Discovery and Geographic Range
- The earliest H. ergaster material is from the East Lake Turkana site of Koobi Fora in Kenya. Richard Leakey is credited with this 1.8 mya discovery. Other sites outside of Africa are contemporary with African sites, e.g. the 1.8 mya Dmanisi site in the Republic of Georgia and the 1.8–1.6 mya site of Modjokerto in Java. (Note: There are problems with the Javanese dates bec…
Physical Characteristics
- H. ergaster exhibited robust craniofacial characteristics relative to modern humans, but overall we see the continued reduction in dentition and masticatory apparatus. Their brains were large, with a maximum cranial capacity of 1200 cc and a range of 800–1200 cc, based on the material from the three continents. However, the relative brain size of e...
Environment and Way of Life
- The environment of East Africa during the Pleistocene was hot and arid. Savannas had expanded and forests had become increasingly fragmented. There was increased volcanic activity in the Great Rift zone, and that is one hypothesis as to why at least a portion of the population moved out of the area. It is of great interest as to how and why H. ergaster(or a predecessor) first left E…
Content
General Characteristics of Thehomo Ergaster
Dating and Geographic Scope
Physical Characteristics
Other Physical Aspects
Behavior
Socialization
Articulate Language
- Although the experts do not strictly confirm it, part of the scientific community thinks that H. ergaster could be the first hominid to develop an articulate oral language. To affirm this they rely on brain structures, which certainly allowed the hominid to communicate orally. However, some remains seem to deny such a possibility, since the cervica...
Feeding
Cranial Capacity