Fossilized Homo Erectus: Bolivian Discovery And Exploration

Homo erectus fossils have been found in several parts of the world, including Africa, Western Asia, and East Asia. The earliest fossils were discovered in the 1890s by Dutch army surgeon Eugène Dubois on the island of Java, now part of Indonesia. These fossils, known as Java Man, are considered the type specimen or official representative of the species. Subsequently, similar fossils were found at several other locations in Java, including Sangiran, Ngandong, and Mojokerto. Outside of Indonesia, important Homo erectus fossils have been discovered in China, particularly at the site of Zhoukoudian near Beijing, as well as Lantian, Nanjing, and Hexian. In Africa, significant fossils have been unearthed in Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania and Koobi Fora in Kenya. The fossil record indicates that Homo erectus was the first human species to evolve modern body proportions and was the first hominin known to leave Africa.

Homo erectus fossils have been found in Java, Indonesia

Sangiran on the island of Java, is the most important Homo erectus site in Indonesia. The remains of over 80 individuals have been found here at a number of localities. The region was first occupied about 1.6 million years ago. The oldest Homo erectus fossils found in Java are from Bumiayu, Sangiran, and Mojokerto and are thought to be around 1.8 million years old.

The fossils of Homo erectus found in Java indicate three evolutive stages among Javanese Homo erectus during the Pleistocene, namely – from the oldest to the youngest ones – archaic Homo erectus, typical Homo erectus, and progressive Homo erectus.

The last known occurrence of Homo erectus is 117,000–108,000 years ago in Ngandong, Java.

The fossils were discovered by Eugene Dubois in the 1890s

The fossils of Homo erectus, or "Java Man", were discovered by Eugene Dubois in the 1890s. Dubois was a Dutch paleoanthropologist and geologist who earned worldwide fame for his discovery. He was born in 1858 in the village of Eijsden, Limburg, and developed an interest in nature at a young age, exploring caves and collecting plant parts, stones, insects, shells, and animal skulls.

In 1877, Dubois decided to study medicine at the University of Amsterdam, and later became a lecturer in anatomy at the same university in 1886. During this time, he also taught anatomy at two newly founded art schools in Amsterdam. While a student, he developed a strong interest in human evolution, influenced by Ernst Haeckel, who reasoned that there must be intermediate species between apes and humans.

Dubois first began his search for ancient human fossils in Sumatra, Indonesia, in 1887. He then continued his quest on the island of Java, where he made his groundbreaking discovery. In 1891, Dubois found a well-preserved skullcap, which he named "Pithecanthropus erectus" ("upright ape-man"), now known as Homo erectus. This discovery marked the first specimens of early hominid remains found outside of Africa or Europe. The skull exhibited features such as a small brain, massive brow ridges, a flat and retreating forehead, and other apelike features.

In addition to the skullcap, Dubois also discovered a remarkably complete and modern-looking femur (thighbone) near the same location. The similarity of this bone to modern human femurs led him to conclude that the individual walked erect, further supporting his classification of "upright ape-man." However, his findings were initially dismissed by other scientists, who emphasised the ape-like qualities of the fossils. It wasn't until similar fossils were uncovered in China during the 1920s and 1930s that Dubois' opinion was validated.

Dubois' discovery of Homo erectus fossils in the 1890s was a significant milestone in the field of paleoanthropology, shedding light on the evolution of hominids and our understanding of human ancestry.

The fossils are around 1.8 million years old

The fossils of Homo erectus, or "upright man", have been found in Western Asia (Georgia), Eastern Asia (China), Northern Africa, Eastern and Southern Africa, and the islands of Indonesia. The fossils are around 1.8 million years old, with the oldest known fossils of the species being found in Java, Indonesia.

The first fossils attributed to Homo erectus were discovered by Dutch army surgeon Eugène Dubois, who began his search for ancient human bones on the island of Java (then part of the Dutch East Indies) in 1890. In 1891, Dubois found a well-preserved skullcap, now known as "Java Man", in Trinil on the Solo River. Several years later, near where the skull was discovered, he found a remarkably complete and modern-looking femur (thighbone). As this bone was so similar to that of modern humans, Dubois decided that the individual to which it belonged must have walked erect. He adopted the name "Pithecanthropus" (coined earlier by German zoologist Ernst Haeckel) and called his discovery "Pithecanthropus erectus" ("upright ape-man"), but the colloquial term became "Java Man". Most paleontologists now regard all of this material as H. erectus, and the name Pithecanthropus has been dropped.

The fossils of H. erectus are now considered to be a highly variable species, spread over two continents. The species is believed to have lived between 100,000 and 1.6 million years ago, although some estimates place this timeframe between 35,000 and 1.8 million years ago. The fossils are generally considered to be the first species to have expanded beyond Africa, although there is debate as to whether the Asian fossils and those from Africa should be classified together as H. erectus or if the African examples are different enough to be called Homo ergaster.

The fossils of H. erectus are among the first recognisable members of the genus Homo. The species is believed to have evolved from H. habilis around 2 million years ago, although this has been called into question as the two species coexisted for at least half a million years. H. erectus is believed to have been the first human ancestor to spread throughout Eurasia, with a continental range extending from the Iberian Peninsula to Java. The species had a more modern gait and body proportions and was the first human species to have exhibited a flat face, prominent nose, and possibly sparse body hair coverage.

Homo erectus was the first human species to evolve modern body proportions

The extinct ancient human species Homo erectus is thought to be the first of our relatives to have human-like body proportions, with shorter arms and longer legs relative to its torso. This is considered an adaptation to a life lived on the ground, indicating the loss of earlier tree-climbing adaptations. The species also had the ability to walk and possibly run long distances.

The earliest fossils that are complete enough to display the anatomical pattern of H. erectus are from eastern Africa and western Asia, and are about 1.5 to 1.9 million years old. The conventional view is that the species evolved in Africa about two million years ago.

H. erectus is highly varied, which is unsurprising considering it existed for so long and over such a wide area. Individuals were comparable to humans today in terms of body size and shape, although they were more muscular and had much wider hips. Adults grew to about 1.4-1.8 metres tall and weighed 40-68 kilograms.

H. erectus was the first human species to make handaxes (Acheulean tools). These were sophisticated stone tools crafted on two sides. They were probably used to butcher meat, among other purposes.

The use of fire is an important milestone in human evolution, granting access to light, warmth, protection from predators and the ability to cook food – each of which aids survival. H. erectus may have been the earliest human relative to have controlled fire. Evidence of ash and burnt bone fragments in a one-million-year-old sediment layer in the Wonderwerk Cave in South Africa suggests that early humans were able to capture natural fires and keep them alight.

The first H. erectus fossils were found in 1891 on the Indonesian island of Java by a Dutch doctor called Eugène Dubois. Before these discoveries, Neanderthals were the only early human for which fossils had been found.

The fossils are housed at the University of Iowa

The University of Iowa is home to some of the most important fossils of Homo erectus, an extinct species of archaic humans that lived during the Pleistocene era, approximately 2 million years ago. These fossils, housed at the University of Iowa, provide valuable insights into the evolution of our ancestors and their way of life.

The University of Iowa's involvement with Homo erectus fossils began with the work of Professor Russell Ciochon, a renowned paleoanthropologist. Ciochon has dedicated his career to studying early human species, and his research team played a pivotal role in determining the age of the last known Homo erectus fossils. Their findings, published in the journal Nature, revealed that these fossils, discovered on the Indonesian island of Java, dated back to between 108,000 and 117,000 years ago.

The fossils in question have a fascinating history. They were first unearthed in the early 1930s by a Dutch team along the banks of the Solo River. The discovery included a dozen human skull caps and two tibia, but the absence of accompanying skeletons puzzled scientists for years. Ciochon and his team commenced excavations in 2008, aiming to uncover more fossils and gain a better understanding of this ancient species.

The University of Iowa's collection of Homo erectus fossils offers significant contributions to our understanding of human evolution. These fossils provide evidence of modern body proportions, with shorter arms and longer legs adapted for upright walking. Additionally, the discovery of hearths and stone tools associated with Homo erectus sites suggests their mastery over fire and tool-making.

The University of Iowa's research on Homo erectus extends beyond the fossils themselves. By studying the wider landscape and dating the surrounding landforms, researchers have been able to piece together the environment in which these ancient humans lived. For example, they found that the area around Ngandong was mostly grassland, similar to the African habitat of Homo erectus, providing an abundance of plants and animals.

The University of Iowa's contributions to the field of paleoanthropology are not limited to Homo erectus. The university has also been involved in excavations at other significant sites, such as Zhoukoudian in China, which has yielded a large number of Homo erectus fossils. Furthermore, the university's researchers have played a crucial role in redefining the species, with some scientists arguing that only East Asian fossils should be classified as Homo erectus, while the African fossils are now placed in the separate species Homo ergaster.

In conclusion, the fossils housed at the University of Iowa serve as a testament to the longevity and adaptability of Homo erectus. The university's ongoing research and excavations continue to shed light on the mysteries of our ancient ancestors, shaping our understanding of human evolution and our place in the world.

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