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10 Genus Homo

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Prof. Mattson
Prof. Mattson

This document summarizes the emergence and evolution of genus Homo from early hominins to modern humans. It describes key species including Homo habilis, Homo erectus, Homo heidelbergensis, Homo neanderthalensis, and Homo sapiens. Key points are that Homo habilis was the first to use stone tools, Homo erectus was the first to migrate out of Africa, Neanderthals lived in Europe during the last ice age, and modern humans emerged in Africa around 150,000 years ago before migrating worldwide.

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Genus Homo
• Hominin = a habitually bipedal primates.
Early Hominins • All the early hominins were found in Africa. They all were relatively small brained and used comparatively simple technology.
Emergence of Genus Homo • Around 2.2 million years ago, we start seeing the emergence of Genus Homo in Africa.
10 Genus Homo
Genus Homo: the generalities • Larger brains than Early Hominins • Skulls are less ape-like. • More complex culture, including the use of stone tools.
Homo habilis • Homo habilis (literally: handy man) is one of the earliest members of Genus Homo to be identified. • Despite having a larger brain then earlier hominins, Homo habilis still had archaic features.
Archaic Features • Brow Ridges • Sloping Forehead • Prognathism • Lack of a chin
Homo habilis • Had an average brain size of around 680ml, nearly 50% larger than previous hominins. • First fossil we associate with the use of stone tools.
Homo habilis skull (left) vs. Australopithecus (right)
Stone Tools
Homo ergaster 1.9-1.4 mya • Homo ergaster is a possible ancestor of Homo erectus and possibly also an ancestor of Homo heildebergensis.
Homo erectus 1.8 mya to 50,000 years ago.
Homo erectus • Larger brain: 1000ml on average (and as large as 1250ml). • Prominent brow ridges and prognathism
Migration • Homo erectus is widely believed to be the first hominin to migrate out of Africa.
“Tuang Child” Endocast
Endocast Reconstruction of Homo erectus
Brain Regions
Speech • The bones attached to the larynx and pharynx indicate Homo erectus had the ability to make the sounds necessary for speech… • Furthermore the neural structures for speech production and recognition are present in the brains of Homo erectus.
Homo heidelbergensis • Found about 400- 600,000 years ago • Was possibly the first hominin to bury their dead. • May be the direct ancestor of both Homo sapiens and Neanderthals.
Homo neanderthalensis • Homo neanderthalensis or Neanderthals: between 225,000 and 28,000 years ago. • Neanderthals lived through the Pleistocene a period characterized by a series of glacial advances (Ice Age).
Neanderthals • Large brains • Heavy brow ridges and sloping forehead • Built heavier and stockier than contemporary humans
10 Genus Homo
Neanderthal Adaptations to the Cold • Short, stocky bodies: conserved heat in the core. • Long, broad noses would have warmed the cold air that they inhaled.
Humans vs. Neanderthal
Interbreeding? • There is evidence that the majority of people of non-African origin have between 2 and 4% Neanderthal DNA. • This means, that modern humans and Neanderthals were the same species. They should be referred to as Homo sapiens sapiens and Homo sapiens neanderthalensis.
Modern Humans • Modern Humans (Homo sapiens) probably emerged around 150,000 years ago. • Have flat faces • Lack heavy brow ridges • Have “globular” skulls rather than elongated ones. • Presence of a chin
Modern Humans • The earliest anatomically modern humans are found in Africa.
Modern Human Skull
10 Genus Homo
Bering Strait Land Bridge

More Related Content

10 Genus Homo

  • 2. • Hominin = a habitually bipedal primates.
  • 3. Early Hominins • All the early hominins were found in Africa. They all were relatively small brained and used comparatively simple technology.
  • 4. Emergence of Genus Homo • Around 2.2 million years ago, we start seeing the emergence of Genus Homo in Africa.
  • 6. Genus Homo: the generalities • Larger brains than Early Hominins • Skulls are less ape-like. • More complex culture, including the use of stone tools.
  • 7. Homo habilis • Homo habilis (literally: handy man) is one of the earliest members of Genus Homo to be identified. • Despite having a larger brain then earlier hominins, Homo habilis still had archaic features.
  • 8. Archaic Features • Brow Ridges • Sloping Forehead • Prognathism • Lack of a chin
  • 9. Homo habilis • Had an average brain size of around 680ml, nearly 50% larger than previous hominins. • First fossil we associate with the use of stone tools.
  • 10. Homo habilis skull (left) vs. Australopithecus (right)
  • 12. Homo ergaster 1.9-1.4 mya • Homo ergaster is a possible ancestor of Homo erectus and possibly also an ancestor of Homo heildebergensis.
  • 13. Homo erectus 1.8 mya to 50,000 years ago.
  • 14. Homo erectus • Larger brain: 1000ml on average (and as large as 1250ml). • Prominent brow ridges and prognathism
  • 15. Migration • Homo erectus is widely believed to be the first hominin to migrate out of Africa.
  • 19. Speech • The bones attached to the larynx and pharynx indicate Homo erectus had the ability to make the sounds necessary for speech… • Furthermore the neural structures for speech production and recognition are present in the brains of Homo erectus.
  • 20. Homo heidelbergensis • Found about 400- 600,000 years ago • Was possibly the first hominin to bury their dead. • May be the direct ancestor of both Homo sapiens and Neanderthals.
  • 21. Homo neanderthalensis • Homo neanderthalensis or Neanderthals: between 225,000 and 28,000 years ago. • Neanderthals lived through the Pleistocene a period characterized by a series of glacial advances (Ice Age).
  • 22. Neanderthals • Large brains • Heavy brow ridges and sloping forehead • Built heavier and stockier than contemporary humans
  • 24. Neanderthal Adaptations to the Cold • Short, stocky bodies: conserved heat in the core. • Long, broad noses would have warmed the cold air that they inhaled.
  • 26. Interbreeding? • There is evidence that the majority of people of non-African origin have between 2 and 4% Neanderthal DNA. • This means, that modern humans and Neanderthals were the same species. They should be referred to as Homo sapiens sapiens and Homo sapiens neanderthalensis.
  • 27. Modern Humans • Modern Humans (Homo sapiens) probably emerged around 150,000 years ago. • Have flat faces • Lack heavy brow ridges • Have “globular” skulls rather than elongated ones. • Presence of a chin
  • 28. Modern Humans • The earliest anatomically modern humans are found in Africa.