Page 110 - Ultimate Visual Dictionary (DK)

PREHISTORIC EAR TH

The first humans JAWBONE OF AUSTRALOPITHECUS

(SOUTHERN APE)
MODERN HUMANS BELONG TO THE MAMMALIAN order of
primates (see pp. 202–203), which originated about 55 million Larger jawbone
years ago; primates included the only extant hominid species. The than modern
human
earliest hominid was Ardipithecus (“ground ape”) and Australopithecus
(“southern ape”), both small-brained intermediates between apes and
humans that were capable of standing and walking upright. Homo habilis,
the earliest member of the genus Homo, appeared at least 2 million
years ago. This larger-brained “handy man” began making tools for hunting.
Homo ergaster first appeared in Africa about 1.8 million years ago and spread
into Asia about 800,000 years later. Smaller-toothed than Homo habilis,
H. ergaster—followed by Homo erectus—developed fire as a tool, which enabled
it to cook food. Neanderthals, a near relative of modern humans, originated about Large back
200,000 years ago, and Homo sapiens (modern humans) appeared in Africa about tooth
100,000 years later. The two coexisted for thousands of years, but by 30,000 years ago,
Homo sapiens had become dominant and the Neanderthals had died out. Classification
of Homo sapiens in relation to its ancestors is enormously problematic: modern
humans must be classified not only by bone structure, but also by specific
behavior—the ability to plan future action; to follow traditions; and to use
symbolic communication, including complex language and the ability to use
and recognize symbols.
Cranium
Jutting brow
ridge Orbit
Orbit
Naris
Naris

Jutting
jawbone
SKULL OF AUSTRALOPITHECUS SKULL OF HOMO HABILIS
(SOUTHERN APE) (FIRST MEMBER OF HOMO GENUS)
Well-rounded
cranium
Larger braincase than
Australopithecus Small brow
ridge

Orbit

Orbit Naris

Naris

Small tooth
External
External auditory meatus auditory meatus
SKULL OF HOMO ERECTUS (UPRIGHT MAN) SKULL OF HOMO SAPIENS (MODERN HUMAN)

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