Early Human Notes

Australopithecus

Lived from 3.9 to 3 million years ago Located in Tanzania (East coast of Africa) Brain cavity was 75% smaller than ours Average height was around 4 feet tall

Australopithecus (con.)

Intelligence level is comparable to modern apes

Bipedalism (walks on two legs) set it apart from other primates which were quadrupeds (walks on four legs)

Diet consisted of both plants and animals (omnivore)

Scientific Classification Kingdom:Animalia

Phylum:ChordataClass:MammaliaOrder:PrimatesFamily:HominidaeGenus:AustralopithecusSpecies: (Various)A. afarensis ("Lucy")A. africanusA. anamensisA. bahrelghazaliA. garhi

Homo Habilis

“Handy Man” Lived 2.4 to 1.6 million years ago Remains found in Tanzania and other east

Africa sites Brain cavity approximately half the size of

modern human Average height was around 4’3” Used fire but did not control it

Homo Habilis Remains are often found with primitive stone

tools Began to expand out from eastern Africa to

the Sahara region of Africa Both Homo Habilis and Australopithecus

were a favorite meal for Dinofelis

Homo Hablilis

Scientific classificationKingdom:AnimaliaPhylum:ChordataClass:MammaliaOrder:PrimatesFamily:HominidaeGenus:HomoSpecies:H. habilis

Homo Erectus

“Upright Man” Existed from 2 million to 1 million years ago Brain was about 25% smaller than modern

humans Average height was 5’10” (fairly tall) Found throughout Africa, Europe and Asia

Homo Erectus

Was able to make primitive tools and was a true hunter-gatherer

Some evidence that Homo Erectus had control of fire Kingdom:Animalia

Phylum:ChordataClass:MammaliaOrder:PrimatesFamily:HominidaeGenus:HomoSpecies:H. erectus

Homo Neanderthalensis

Named after Neander Valley where first remains were found

Existed from 500,000 to approximately 25,000 years ago

Similar height to modern humans but were stockier and stronger

Brain was slightly larger than modern humans

Average height of 5’5”

Homo Neanderthalensis

Used weapons, built complex structures and controlled fire

Buried their dead with simple ceremonies

“Out of Africa” theory

Scientific Classification

Kingdom:AnimaliaPhylum:ChordataClass:MammaliaOrder:PrimatesFamily:HominidaeGenus:HomoSpecies:H. neanderthalensis

Homo Sapiens Sapiens

“Modern Man” 120,000 years ago until present Were physically smaller than Neanderthals,

but with a larger frontal cranial cavity (associated with decision making)

Homo Sapiens Sapiens

Earliest modern Homo Sapiens are sometimes referred to as Cro-Magnon (named after the cave where remains were found)

Anatomically modern, ate a balanced diet of plants and animals

Adept at weaving, painting and hunting Coexisted with Neanderthals until they went

extinct

Scientific Classification

Kingdom:AnimaliaPhylum:ChordataClass:MammaliaOrder:PrimatesFamily:HominidaeGenus:HomoSpecies:H. sapiensSubspecies:H. s. sapiens