Homo habilis

Homo habilis

1. Enlarged brain (650-680cc), primitive, no sagittal crest, brain case has some dorsal rounding, brow ridge, low facial angle, prongathic muzzle, nuchal lines, mastoid process/occipital condyles, smaller teeth than A and P. scavenger and hunter-gatherer.

2. 2.5-1.5mya East Africa, possibly South Africa also

3. Fossil found in Olduavi Gorge by Leakeys in 1959.

4. small body like A.afarensis. 1.3m males. Only height differences for sexual dimorphism. Bipedal. Pelvis more bowl shaped. More upright position. Foramen Magnum further forward.

5. OLDOWAN tool culture. 2.4-1.5mya. Lower paleolithic. River pebbles. Materials far away therefore some abstract thought for manufacture. Round river worn stones crudely knocked off at one end. Flakes. Called choppers. Butchered meat, getting marrow from bone. Digging roots of plants. Cutting into wood for grubs. Produced by hard hammer percussion. Tools open up new ecological opportunities. Cut up large animals and carry bits home.Improved diet as more protein. Therefore better brain development. Increased co-operation when hunting/scavenging. Larger animals present increased thinking abilities.

6. scavenge and hunt/gather fish, small animals and plants. Carnivore diet. Successful hunters.

7. Bulge in Broca's area (speech), made sounds as voice box in wrong area. Rules out proper speech. Able to co-operate in hunting.

8. Homo erectus