Homo erectus

Homo erectus, extinct species of hominid that ranged widely over Africa and Asia and flourished from just before the beginning of the Pleistocene epoch (1.6 million years ago) until about 200,000 years ago. Homo erectus (“upright man”) was the first hominid to expand out of Africa and into cooler parts of the world. It gave rise to the species Homo heidelbergensis, which in turn evolved into our species Homo sapiens. Limb bones of H. erectus are not remarkably different from earlier or later hominids although they are of more robust construction. However, it is the skull remains which are most characteristic: the skulls indicating a larger brain size than earlier hominids. The skulls have well-marked brow ridges, receding foreheads, and thickened, angulated bone at the back of the skull. The skull capacities of H. erectus range from 750 to 1,225 cubic cm (45.8 to 74.7 cu in) with an average of 950 cubic cm (58 cu in), which compares with the modern human range of 1,000 to 2,000 cubic cm (61 to 122 cu in), with an average of 1,400 cubic cm (85.4 cu in). It is no accident that H. erectus made more sophisticated stone tools than its predecessor H. habilis, and was also the first hominid to master the use of fire and inhabit caves. (See also Human Evolution.)