Human Evolution II

Paranthropus aethiopicus

• The “Black Skull”

• West Turkana, Kenya, 2.5mya

• Brain size = 410cc

Paranthropus robustus

• Swartkrans, South Africa

• 1mya

• Brain size = 500cc

Paranthropus boisei

• OH5

• “Zinj”

• Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania

• 2.1-1.7mya

• Brain size = 500cc

Homo habilis from South Africa and Olduvai Gorge

• Brain = 600cc

Homo habilis KNM-ER 1813

Koobi Fora, Kenya, 1.8-

1.6myaBrain = 510cc

Kenyanthropus platyops and KNM-ER 1470, Homo rudolfensis

Dmanisi, Georgia - 1.75mya

Science, 5 July 2002

The Nariokotome Boy

(“Turkana Boy”)WT150001.6mya

Adult brain size would have been

909cc

Achievements of H. erectus

• Increased body size and more efficient bipedalism.

• Embraced culture as a strategy of adaptation.• Brain was reshaped and increased in size to

within H. sapiens range.• Efficient scavenger and hunter with greater

dependence on meat.• Evolution of the human nose!

Homo erectus from Java Brain size 813-1,059cc

Sangiran, 1.6mya

Homo erectus from Java

Zhoukoudian Homo erectus

Advantages of Use of Fire

• Warmth.• Cooking.• Fire-

hardening wood.

• Aiding in the production of stone tools.

• Chasing predators from caves.

• Illuminating caves and extending usable light into the night.