Homo erectus
First discovered in 1891, Homo erectus is one of the earliest-known and most geographically widespread species in the hominin fossil record. Fossil evidence attributed to this species has been found in Africa and Asia, as early as 2 million years ago and as late as 106,000 years ago. Whether these varied fossil samples really represent a single phylogenetic group is a matter of continuing uncertainty.
Plant-eating and meat-eating in Australopithecus
A new approach to sampling nitrogen-15 in tooth enamel opens a window into the diets of early hominins.
When hominins walked in each others' tracks
A new study by Kevin Hatala and coworkers finds that Homo erectus and Paranthropus boisei walked on the same shores within hours of each other.
What do we know about the ancestry of Homo erectus?
A creation interest group takes a quote from me, and I look back at a classic paper.
Julurens: a new cousin for Denisovans and Neanderthals
A new study suggests that the Middle Pleistocene record in China includes more groups than have previously been recognized.
New insights into the biology of Homo luzonensis
Studies of teeth from Callao Cave yield information about the pace of development in this species and its possible connections with Homo erectus.
How many bathrooms have Neanderthals in the tile?
A Reddit poster finds an ancient jaw in his parents' new travertine. It may be more common than most people imagine.
All the hominins made tools
A study of associations between stone tool evidence and fossil hominin remains shows that a wide range of species made stone artifacts.
Homo erectus keeps getting older
New work from Melka Kunture, Ethiopia, shows the Garba IVE infant jaw is one of the oldest individuals of this longest-lasting hominin species.
Fossil profile: Sangiran 31 and the exceptionally thick skulls of Homo erectus
One of the thickest skulls in the hominin fossil record gives insight about the variation in this ancient species.
How capable were early human ancestors of crossing open water?
In past populations we should keep in mind the exceptional ability of humans to adapt to new circumstances.
Two anthropologists float some curious notions about Homo naledi
I look at views expressed by Jeffrey Schwartz and Tim White about the anatomy of Homo naledi and its relationships with other hominins.
A look at the intentional markings of Homo erectus
Looking at a 2014 paper by Josephine Joordens and coworkers, which describes zig-zag markings on a shell from Trinil, Indonesia. This shell may have been intentionally marked by Homo erectus.
Did Homo erectus get herpes from chimpanzees?
New research suggests that herpes simplex virus 2 may have invaded ancient humans from chimpanzees sometime after 1.6 million years ago.
A mysterious mitochondrial sequence from Denisova Cave, Russia
A small fragment of finger bone with a DNA sequence that represents a previously-unknown form of hominin.
A new study of old shells shows shoreline resource use by Homo erectus
Notes on a study by José Joordens and coworkers on the Trinil collection associated with Eugene Dubois' original Pithecanthropus dig
Ninety percent of your brain is (not) useless
A close look at the idea that most of the brain is superfluous space, with a review of people who get by with extraordinarily small brain mass.
The Homo floresiensis discovery, an initial FAQ
I answer questions about whether the small hominin is a dwarfed descendant of Homo erectus or something else.
