Human fossils

 

• Dryopithecus africanus

  Period : 20-25 million years ago (Miocene)

  Location : Miocene rocks of Africa and Europe

  Brain size : Large (size not known)

  Adaptations : Arboreal, ate soft fruits and leaves and semi-erect posture

  Characteristics : Arms and legs of same length, feet with heels. without brow ridges, knuckle walker

• Ramapithecus punjabicus

  Period: 14-15 million years ago (From late Miocene to Pliocene)

  Location : Pliocene rooks of Shivalik Hills of India

  Brain size : Unknown

  Adaptations : Walk erect on its hind feet on ground and lived on fops

  Characteristics : Small canines and large molars like humans. Ate nuts and seeds

• Australopithecus africanus

  Period: 5 million years ago (Pliocene)

  Location: Pliocene rocks near Tuang in Africa

  Brain size: 500 cc

  Adaptations : Bipedal locomotion, omnivorous but mostly vegetar feeding on fruits, vegetables, nuts. seeds and res p ecto climbed trees too.

  Characteristics : Fully human shaped jaw and broad pelvis. Brow ride projecting over eyes. Absence of chin. Lumbar curve in vertebral column

  • Homo habilis

    Period: 1.5-2 million years ago (Pleistocene)

    Location : Pleistocene rocks to Olduvai Gorge in East Africa

    Brain size : 700 cc. with an expansion of frontal lobe

    Adaptations : Bipedal locomotion, omnivorous

    Characteristics : 1.2-1.5 m tall, had a nose and elevated forehead. Thumbs broader, teeth like modern man. Tool maker (as found with heaps of fools made from chipped stones). Community life. lived in caves

• Homo erectus (Erect man)

  Period: 1.8 -1.7 million years ago (Middle Pleistocene)

  Location : Africa, Europe, Asia Brain size : 800-1300 cc.

  Adaptations : Erect posture, omnivorous and first to eat animal meat and take care of old Characteristics : 1.5-1.8 m tall. Skull flatter and cranium dome-shaped to accommodate large brain. Protruding jaws, projecting brow ridges. Sin canines and large molar teeth. Increase in intellect, memory and speech usage. Ability to run on two legs and less body hair which allowed sweating

Homo erectus includes three fossils

• Pithecanthropus erectus (Java ape man)

  Period: Pleistocene

  Location: Pleistocene rocks in central Java, an island (Pleistocene) an island of Indonesia

  Brain size: 800-1000 cc.

  Adaptations : First prehistoric man with long legs and erect body, but slightly bent when moving, omnivorous and cannibal

  Characteristic : 1.65-1.75 m tall and weighing about 70kg. Skull cap thick and heavy but flattened in front. Forehead low and receding but brow ridges in high (as in apes). Inconspicuous chin and broader nose, lower jaw large and heavy. Canines of lower jaw larger. Use of fire for hunting, defence and cooking.

• Homo erectus pekinensis (Peking man)

  Period: 1.8 million-300,000 years ago

  Location : Rocks of limestone caves of Choukoutien, near Peking (China)

  Brain size : 850-1100 cc (large cranial capacity)

  Adaptations: Omnivorous and cannibal

  Characteristics : Similar in structure to Java ape man, except that Peking man was slightly shorter (1.55-1.60m tall), lighter and weaker. Tools used were more sophisticated

• Homo erectus heidelbergensis (Heidelberg man)

  Period: 500.000 years ago (Middle Pleistocene)

  Location : Near Heidelberg, German

  Brain size : 1100-1400 cc

  Adaptations : Intermediate between erectus and Neanderthal man, first to venture into cold climate

  Characterstics : Human-like teeth and ape-like massive jaw. Receding forhead and lack of chin. First species to build substantial shelters and showed planning symbolic behaviour

Homo erectus heidelbergensis (Heidelberg man) gave rise to

• Homo sapiens sapiens

  Period: 25,000 years ago (Holocene)

  Location: First appeared around Caspean and Mediterranean sea, from where it migrated and changed into present day Caucasoid, Mongoloid and Negroid races.

  Brain size : Approx. 1450 cc.

  Adaptations : Reduction in cranial capacity and cultural evolution rather than that of anatomy Characteristics : Slightly raised skull cap, thinning of skull bones, forehead rising sharply. Four curves in vertebral column. Prominent chin, thin skeleton and non-existent brow ridges. Reduction in tooth and facial bone size.

• Homo sapiens fossilis (Cro-Magnon man)

  Period : 50,000-10,000 years ago (Holocene)

  Location : Cro-Magnon rocks in France.

  Brain size : 1650 cc.

  Adaptations : Walk and ran faster, omnivorous, direct ancestor of living modem man Characteristics : Well built body and about 1.8 m tall. Face orthognathous with an elevated nose, broad and arched forehead and moderate brow ridges. Strong jaws with teeth close together and a well developed chin. Lived in families in caves. Became extinct about 10,000-11,000 years ago.

• Homo sapiens neanderthalensis (Neanderthal man)

  Period : 400,000-300,000 years ago Pleistocene)

  Location: Neander valley in Germany

  Brain size : 1,300-1,600

  Adaptations : Walked upright with bipod movement, cannibals Characteristics : Slightly prognathus face low brows, receding jaws and high domed heads. Diet include significant amount of supplemented with vegetation. First 10 skin hides as clothing so as to protect harsh environment. Legendary cave dwellers illuminated and heated them with fire. E hominids to bury dead and may had a religion