1

Anthropology 0680 Introduction to Physical Anthropology Summary 8

Homo habilis: (OH 7) parietals, lower jaw, foot bones (bipedality); type site, Olduvai Gorge; Upper Bed I specimens (c. 1.75 x 106), Bed II specimens (c1.7-1.15 x 106; most discovered by Louis and Mary Leakey; OH 62 partial skeleton discovered in '86 by Johanson, White, et al); from Koobi

Fora (e.g. KNM-ER 1470; ≤ 2 x 106); became wastebasket taxon, with inclusion of many specimens (e.g. "Twiggy", "George", KNM-ER 1470); according to Bernard Wood, only some specimens are truly H. habilis (e.g. OH 7 mandible, "Twiggy" skull) (e.g. on basis of elongate, narrow lower molars); other specimens (e.g. KNM-ER 1470) represent different species, H. rudolfensis (statistical analysis of cranial and dental proportions). Continuing to complicate matters is 1) recent discovery of foot ("Little Foot") from Sterkfontein (Member 2, ≤ 3.5 x 106)—which demonstrates that big toe was opposable while the talus (of the ankle) was morphologically more hominid- than apelike—and which is morphologically similar to the OH 7/8 foot; 2) analysis indicating that OH 62 is apelike in limb proportions.

Homo erectus: probably restricted as Asian taxa; type site, Trinil, Indonesia (Java), now dated to

≥1.7 x 106 yrs BP; also found at Sangiran (similar age, 1.5-2 x 106 ). Traditionally also includes specimens from Ngandong (Solo River; ¿1-.2 x 106, or as young as 36,000 yrs), Java, as well as Zhoukoudian, China (c. 500,000 - also first evidence of use of fire by hominids). Typically described as having long low cranium with face oriented at front (evidenced also by M3 being exposed in front of ascending ramus of mandible), thick cranial and postcranial bone. Distinctive in having these features very developed: ledgelike, protruding brow ridge, severe postorbital constriction, "V"- shaped occipital, “hamburger bun” cross-section. Supposedly also has cruciate keeling pattern, bulging parietal bones. The only African specimen with these features as fully developed is OH 9

(Upper Bed II, ≤ 1.2 x 106). 2

Homo ergaster: Supposedly Koobi Fora (1.8-1.4 106) and West Turkana (WT 15000, 1.6 x 16 ); thinner cranial vault and less markedly developed features than H. erectus; thinner and more vertical brow ridges. Crania all different. Type specimen is KNM-ER 992 – a lower jaw.