Hominids and Early Humans

Hominids and Early Humans

Later groups of hominids appeared about 3 million years ago. As time passed they became more like modern humans.

In the early 1960s Louis Leakey found hominid remains that he called Homohabilis, or “handy man.” Leakey and his son Richard believed that Homo habilis was more closely related to modern humans than Lucy and had a larger brain.

Scientists believe that another group of hominids appeared in Africa about 1.5 million years ago. This group is called Homo erectus, or “upright man.” Scientists think these people walked completely upright like modern people do.

Scientists believe that Homo erectus knew how to control fire. Once fire was started by natural causes, such as lightning, people used it to cook food. Fire also gave them heat and protection against animals.

Eventually hominids developed characteristics of modern humans. Scientists are not sure exactly when or where the first modern humans lived. Many think that they first appeared in Africa about 200,000 years ago. Scientists call these people Homo sapiens, or “wise man.” Every person alive today belongs to this group.

TASK:

Please address the following question using the RAD short response.

Contrasting How was Homo erectus different from Homo habilis?

Stone Age Tools The first humans and their ancestors lived during a long period of time called the Stone Age. To help in their studies, archaeologists divide the Stone Age into three periods based on the kinds of tools used at the time. To archaeologists, a tool is any handheld object that has been modified to help a person accomplish a task.

Early Hominids

Four major groups of hominids appeared in Africa between 5 million and about 200,000 years ago. Each group was more advanced than the one before it and could use better tools.

ANALYZING VISUALS: Which early hominid learned to control fire and use the hand ax?