Evolutionary History of Early Human Species and Ancestors

Homo Erectus

Homo erectus includes fossils classified as the "Java Man" (Pithecanthropus erectus, found along the Solo River on Java Island) and the "Peking Man" (Sinanthropus pekinensis, found in the Zhoukoudian Cave in China).

This species emerged approximately 1 million years ago and disappeared around 100,000 years ago in Java. Around 400,000 BC, they utilized fire, as evidenced by ash and charcoal remains.

Physical Characteristics

• Cranium: Elongated skull with thicker walls than modern humans.
• Forehead: Low and sloping, featuring prominent supraorbital ridges and a marked postorbital depression.
• Face and Jaws: Prominent face with massive jaws and a complete lack of a chin.

Homo Antecessor

Discovered in the Sierra de Atapuerca (Burgos, Spain), Homo antecessor represents a new species of human. Dating back approximately 800,000 BC, they were the first Europeans.

Homo antecessor (whose most characteristic fossil is known as the "Child of the Gran Dolina") presented both archaic and modern characteristics simultaneously:

• Archaic traits: Very marked supraorbital arches (double arch).
• Modern traits: A flat face similar to ours.

Diet and Behavior

Their diet is well documented; in addition to being hunters and gatherers, it is believed they practiced cannibalism.

Evolutionary Lineage

They emerged in Africa (although no fossils have been found there yet) from Homo ergaster. From there, they emigrated via Asia into Europe and reached the Iberian Peninsula, where they originally evolved into Homo heidelbergensis (found in the Sima de los Huesos at Atapuerca). In Europe, antecessor led to the Neanderthals.

Meanwhile, the population in Africa evolved into Homo rhodesiensis and, subsequently, Homo sapiens (the species that, after leaving Africa around 100,000 BC, colonized the entire Earth).

Neanderthals (Homo Neanderthalensis)

The European Neanderthal appeared more than 300,000 years ago and disappeared around 28,000 years ago. Their range extended to Asia (reaching south from Siberia) and the Middle East.

Physical Traits and Strength

Standing at a medium height of about 1.63 meters, they possessed significantly more developed musculature than any modern athlete, necessitated by the physical demands of crafting and using specialized tools.

• Skull: Longer and bulkier than modern crania, with primitive impressions indicating modern cerebral lobes.
• Face: A receding forehead, prominent supraorbital arches, and a prognathous profile (though with a chin and a dentition similar to ours).
• Body: Extremely robust, yet the spine, pelvis, legs, and foot structure were identical to those of modern humans.

Origins of Modern Humans

It is widely considered that Homo rhodesiensis (also called archaic Homo sapiens) is the direct African ancestor of our species.

Appearing in Africa around 200,000 BC, these archaic humans displayed modern sapiens features. Fossils found at Herto in Ethiopia, dating back approximately 160,000 years, are among the oldest modern human remains discovered to date.

From Africa, they occupied the planet, replacing previous hominid species. While European heidelbergensis gave rise to Neanderthals, modern humans emerged in Africa and later expanded into Europe.

Cro-Magnon and the Upper Paleolithic

During the last ice age (Würm glaciation), between 40,000 and 35,000 years ago, modern sapiens populations arrived in Europe. Their morphological variety laid the groundwork for modern human racial diversity.

The Cro-Magnon represents the classic modern sapiens of the Upper Paleolithic, notable for their advanced tool industries and the "invention" of art.