Hominin Research Paper

Hominin Research Paper

A multitude of factors came into play with the evolutionary journey of Homo habilis, Homo erectus, Archaic Homo sapiens, Neanderthals and early modern Homo sapiens. The hunt for food, changes in geography and cultural adaptations as well as genetic related development. Homo sapiens survived because they were smarter and more resourceful than Neanderthals, they were better suited to adapt to changes in environment.

The Pleistocene ecological conditions led the way to the evolution of Homo erectus. A habitat that was getting hotter and dryer with expansion of grass land was conducive to the bipedal characteristics of Homo erectus. Early hominins like Australopithecines and Paranthropus were too specialized to survive the changing environmental factors that effected the planet. Australopithecines were very small is size and had a disadvantage when it came to speed and strength. They were easy prey to predators. Fossil records show oversized jaws for chewing rough vegetation, when food became scarce they were not omnivores and eventually died out.

Homo erectus is said to first hominid species to leave Africa but there is some controversy around that statement. Erectus grew up to six feet tall and had narrow hips and strong bones that allowed them great speed and survival skills. A cave in South Africa “Wonderwerk” was discovered with evidence that Homo erectus made fire, this would have helped the spread of erectus to other regions, especially through areas of extreme cold. The evidence of the cave also suggests they cooked their food. Gathering around a fire would enhance social skills and consuming more calories could lead to growing a bigger brain. Eating meat opened up the possibilities for travel they figured out they could expand and find new prey. It is speculated that the Homo erectus lived in small groups so even at a travel rate of ten miles every ten years it would not take long to travel great distances, especially since Homo erectus’s were around an estimated two million plus years. Homo erectus fossils have been found in Koobi Fora (Kenya), Dmanisi (Georgia), Zhoukoudian (China), and at Java (Indonesia).

Tools played a very important role in the migration of erectus out of African. The acheulian tools were primitive but would play an important role for the survival and spread of erectus. The use of hand axes and cleavers increased foraging prospects allowing greater mobility. The farther they traveled and reproduced the more expansive Homo erectus became.

It is thought that Homo ergaster was the first human species to migrate out of Africa and made it to southern Eurasia approximately 1.75 million years ago. Then their descendants Homo Erectus travelled east and ended up in south east Asia. However another theory is that earlier hominins from 2 million years ago which may have been the australopithicines or more