Homo erectus is an extinct species of hominin that lived in North and East Africa and the Eurasian continent in the Pleistocene period between 19 million and 143,000 years ago. Homo erectus is sometimes referred to as the "upright man" due to its bipedalism and the fact that it stood more erect than its predecessors.
Homo erectus represents a huge turning point in the evolutionary journey of humans, as it is believed to be the first species of Homo to have left Africa, thus introducing Homo to Europe and Asia. Although this species was not as technologically advanced as modern humans, it was still much more advanced than the preceding Homo species.
Homo erectus is one of the most significant species in human evolution. Here are five examples of Homo erectus that highlight how important it is for understanding the history of human development:
1. Dmanisi Skulls: Found in Dmanisi, Georgia in 2000, five Homo erectus skulls with their associated mandibles were discovered. The skulls are one of the earliest known specimens of Homo erectus outside of Africa, and evidence suggests that they all belonged to a single population.
2. Java Man: Java Man is the name given to a skullcap, mandible, and limb bones discovered on the Indonesian island of Java in 1891. This specimen has been extensively studied, and is one of the most important finds of Homo erectus.
3. Peking Man: Peking Man, also known as Sinanthropus pekinensis, is one of the most important Homo erectus specimens ever discovered. This species was discovered in 1921 at a site near Beijing, China.
4. Turkana Boy: The Turkana Boy is a nearly complete skeleton of an individual Homo erectus that was discovered in 1984 in Kenya. This specimen is one of the most important finds of Homo erectus, as it provides an insight into the physical development of this species.
5. Nariokotome Boy: Nariokotome Boy is an almost complete Homo erectus skeleton discovered in 1984 at Nariokotome, Kenya. This specimen is the most complete Homo erectus skeleton ever found and provides an unprecedented level of knowledge about the physical development of Homo erectus.
Homo erectus is one of the most important species in human evolution, and the five examples mentioned above provide invaluable insight into the development of this species. Evidence from these specimens has showed that Homo erectus had some humanlike characteristics, such as large brains and the ability to use tools. This species also spread throughout Africa and Eurasia, thus demonstrating the potential of Homo erectus to adapt to new environments.