This document summarizes the emergence and evolution of genus Homo from early hominins to modern humans. It describes key species including Homo habilis, Homo erectus, Homo heidelbergensis, Homo neanderthalensis, and Homo sapiens. Key points are that Homo habilis was the first to use stone tools, Homo erectus was the first to migrate out of Africa, Neanderthals lived in Europe during the last ice age, and modern humans emerged in Africa around 150,000 years ago before migrating worldwide.

1. Genus Homo

2. • Hominin = a habitually bipedal primates.

3. Early Hominins
• All the early hominins were found in
Africa. They all were relatively small
brained and used comparatively simple
technology.

4. Emergence of Genus Homo
• Around 2.2 million years ago, we start
seeing the emergence of Genus Homo
in Africa.

6. Genus Homo: the generalities
• Larger brains than Early Hominins
• Skulls are less ape-like.
• More complex culture, including the use
of stone tools.

7. Homo habilis
• Homo habilis (literally:
handy man) is one of
the earliest members of
Genus Homo to be
identified.
• Despite having a larger
brain then earlier
hominins, Homo habilis
still had archaic
features.

8. Archaic Features
• Brow Ridges
• Sloping Forehead
• Prognathism
• Lack of a chin

9. Homo habilis
• Had an average brain size of around
680ml, nearly 50% larger than previous
hominins.
• First fossil we associate with the use of
stone tools.

10. Homo habilis skull (left)
vs. Australopithecus (right)

11. Stone Tools

12. Homo ergaster 1.9-1.4 mya
• Homo ergaster is a
possible ancestor of
Homo erectus and
possibly also an
ancestor of Homo
heildebergensis.

13. Homo erectus 1.8 mya to
50,000 years ago.

14. Homo erectus
• Larger brain: 1000ml on average (and
as large as 1250ml).
• Prominent brow ridges and prognathism

15. Migration
• Homo erectus is widely believed to be
the first hominin to migrate out of Africa.

16. “Tuang Child” Endocast

17. Endocast Reconstruction of
Homo erectus

18. Brain Regions

19. Speech
• The bones attached to the larynx and
pharynx indicate Homo erectus had the
ability to make the sounds necessary for
speech…
• Furthermore the neural structures for
speech production and recognition are
present in the brains of Homo erectus.

20. Homo heidelbergensis
• Found about 400-
600,000 years ago
• Was possibly the
first hominin to bury
their dead.
• May be the direct
ancestor of both
Homo sapiens and
Neanderthals.

21. Homo neanderthalensis
• Homo neanderthalensis or
Neanderthals: between 225,000 and
28,000 years ago.
• Neanderthals lived through the
Pleistocene a period characterized by a
series of glacial advances (Ice Age).

22. Neanderthals
• Large brains
• Heavy brow ridges
and sloping
forehead
• Built heavier and
stockier than
contemporary
humans

24. Neanderthal Adaptations to
the Cold
• Short, stocky bodies: conserved heat in
the core.
• Long, broad noses would have warmed
the cold air that they inhaled.

25. Humans vs. Neanderthal

26. Interbreeding?
• There is evidence that the majority of
people of non-African origin have
between 2 and 4% Neanderthal DNA.
• This means, that modern humans and
Neanderthals were the same species.
They should be referred to as Homo
sapiens sapiens and Homo sapiens
neanderthalensis.

27. Modern Humans
• Modern Humans (Homo sapiens)
probably emerged around 150,000
years ago.
• Have flat faces
• Lack heavy brow ridges
• Have “globular” skulls rather than
elongated ones.
• Presence of a chin

28. Modern Humans
• The earliest anatomically modern
humans are found in Africa.

29. Modern Human Skull

31. Bering Strait Land Bridge