ARCH 131 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Homo Ergaster, Homo Erectus, Homo Heidelbergensis

• School: Simon Fraser University
• Department: Archaeology
• Course: ARCH 131
• Professor: Dennis Sandgathe

Document Summary

Fossils found all over africa and south asia and western europe. There is variability between african asian and european homo erectus. Today, all european fossils that were once called homo erectus have different species name. Debate is mainly over similarity between african and asian h. erectus fossils. Either 1) all the fossils can be lumped into a single, widespread species with some notable regional variability or 2) they should be split into two species: african and asian. Currently, most researchers favor splitting the genus into two species. The fossils in asia remain homo erectus. Those in africa are given the name homo ergaster (oldest ones) Seems sure sapiens evolved from erectus with one species in between heidelbergensis. Modern looking proportions: arm:leg (intermembral index 70) leg:body proportions, arm:body proportions etc. Thick cortical bone in their limbs (stronger muscle structure in legs) Cranial capacity: mean 900cc (ergaster = 850, erectus 1000)