Chapter 3
Australopithecines; oldest well known representatives of the human tribe the Hominins
8 -6 million years ago australopithecine and chimpanzee lineages diverged
2.5 mya humans who created the Oldowan cultural complex
1.8 – 1.7 mya the first “true humans” with small brains though; Homo erectus (in Africa
Homo ergaster)
1.65 mya H. ergaster created the hand axes and other tools Acheulean culture + first
human species to expand to Eurasia
Three different human lineages emerged
- 1 mya - Homo erectus – eastern Asia
Homo heidelbergensis common ancestor to;
- 6 – 500 000 ya - H. neanderthalensis – Europe
- 6 – 500 000 ya - H. Sapiens – Africa
Homo ergaster
- Strictly African species
- 1.8 – 1.7 mya – 600 000 ya
- Turkana boy; pre – adult male (1.56 mya), 1.62/1.82 meter, nose & brow ridge, no chin &
short arms, narrowing of the pelvis, 8 - 11-12 years old
- No major dimorphism
Narrowing pelvis; bipedalism, barrel-like chest, constricted birth canal reduction in brain
growth before birth, reduces volume of digestive track.
H. ergaster shaped for a hot and dry climate colonizing hotter environments
H. habilis Homo ergaster 1.7 mya together until 1.45 mya then ergaster alone until
600.000 ya H. heidelbergensis
Oldowan flakes, but no effort to shape core
H. ergaster hand axe/ biface, completely flaked over both surfaces
Hand axes, cleavers & similar large bifacial tools Acheulean cultural tradition
Oldest Acheulean tools 1.65 mya (Ethiopia & Kenya)
Acheulean tradition 1.6 -1.4 mya widely established in eastern Africa
- Also large flakes (30cm) were made hand axes
- 1.65 mya – 250 000 ya
Australopithecines; oldest well known representatives of the human tribe the Hominins
8 -6 million years ago australopithecine and chimpanzee lineages diverged
2.5 mya humans who created the Oldowan cultural complex
1.8 – 1.7 mya the first “true humans” with small brains though; Homo erectus (in Africa
Homo ergaster)
1.65 mya H. ergaster created the hand axes and other tools Acheulean culture + first
human species to expand to Eurasia
Three different human lineages emerged
- 1 mya - Homo erectus – eastern Asia
Homo heidelbergensis common ancestor to;
- 6 – 500 000 ya - H. neanderthalensis – Europe
- 6 – 500 000 ya - H. Sapiens – Africa
Homo ergaster
- Strictly African species
- 1.8 – 1.7 mya – 600 000 ya
- Turkana boy; pre – adult male (1.56 mya), 1.62/1.82 meter, nose & brow ridge, no chin &
short arms, narrowing of the pelvis, 8 - 11-12 years old
- No major dimorphism
Narrowing pelvis; bipedalism, barrel-like chest, constricted birth canal reduction in brain
growth before birth, reduces volume of digestive track.
H. ergaster shaped for a hot and dry climate colonizing hotter environments
H. habilis Homo ergaster 1.7 mya together until 1.45 mya then ergaster alone until
600.000 ya H. heidelbergensis
Oldowan flakes, but no effort to shape core
H. ergaster hand axe/ biface, completely flaked over both surfaces
Hand axes, cleavers & similar large bifacial tools Acheulean cultural tradition
Oldest Acheulean tools 1.65 mya (Ethiopia & Kenya)
Acheulean tradition 1.6 -1.4 mya widely established in eastern Africa
- Also large flakes (30cm) were made hand axes
- 1.65 mya – 250 000 ya
