EARLY HUMANS AUSTRALOPITHECUS Australopithecus lived approximately 1.2 to 4 million years ago. Australopithecus is considered by scientists to be a pre- human hominoid. This means that they were not fully human- like. Australopithecus is sometimes referred to as “Southern Ape”. Scientists who have studied the fossilized bones of Australopithecus believe that they were similar to apes, but that they walked on two legs instead of on four. The fossilized skulls of Australopithecus suggest that they had small brains. Also, their teeth are similar to the teeth of modern humans. Like apes of today, Australopithecus were able to use simple tools, such as a twig pushed into anthills to retrieve the ants that crawl upon it. Because of their small size, they were primarily frugivores (fruit eating) and herbivores (plant eating). Australopithecus was probably hunted by large game, instead of the other way around.: AUSTRALOPIIMIECUS ¢ i _a PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: £ owe] A Hy oe H: [WHEN THEY LIVED: 4 ae H aq 4 Pl]: “Cy Pdi oe H; A a ce 4 H: ees TOOLS USED:EARLY HUMANS HOMO HABILIS Homo Habilis lived approximately 2 to 1.5 million year ago. While Australopithecus was considered to be a pre-human hominoid, Homo Habilis is considered by scientists to be the first real human. Homo Habilis was smaller than modern humans. Like Australopithecus, Homo Habilis walked on two legs. However, is believed that Homo Habilis walked more upright. Scientists also believe that Homo Habilis had long, dangling arms. Homo Habilis means “handyman”. They were given this name because they were the first to use real tools. They are believed to have created basic stone tools for cutting, scraping, and chopping. Through examining sites where Homo Habilis fossils were found, scientists have also gathered evidence to suggest that Homo Habilis built shelters from branches. Homo Habilis has fully opposable thumbs. This helped him grasp objects, and probably helped him to create tools. Homo Habilis was an omnivore (plant and meat eating). He was a scavenger as opposed to a hunter.EARLY HUMANS HOMO ERECTUS Homo Erectus lived approximately 16 million to 80,000 years ago. Homo Erectus means “Upright Man”. Homo Erectus was given this name because he walked more upright than Australopithecus and Homo Habilis. Homo Erectus looked more human-like than Homo Habilis and Australopithecus. Evidence shows that they were as tall as humans of today. Scientists have also found evidence to suggest that they were stronger than modern humans. Evidence suggests that the brain sizes of Australopithecus and Homo Habilis were smaller than that of Homo Erectus. Like Homo Habilis, Homo Erectus used tools. However, the tools used by Homo Erectus were more advanced than those used by Homo Habilis. These more complex tools helped Homo Erectus to become skilled hunters, Scientists also believe that Homo Erectus had the ability to make fire. This allowed them to cook their food. It also offered protection from predators and warmth.PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:EARLY HUMANS NUN Neanderthal Man lived 133,000 to 32,000 years ago. Neanderthals had larger brains than the humans who came before them. Because of this, they were much smarter than Australopithecus, Homo Habilis, and Homo Erectus. Neanderthals had heavy and prominent brows and were quite hairy. Their intelligence led them to create more advanced tools than the humans who came before them. These included throwing weapons, like spears and harpoons. This helped them become more skilled at hunting. Neanderthals are also thought to have built more complex shelters than earlier humans, and may have been the first to bury their dead. Their intelligence allowed them to plan sophisticated hunts.NEANDERIMIAL MVAN # q | PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: 5 H: 4 Hy: Hi: ee H H # H: : Ht: # Fs nes TOOLS USED: Hi: H: id SKILLS DEVELOPED: H Hy: a H:EARLY HUMANS CRO-MAGNON MAN Cro-Magnon Man lived 100,000 to 10,000 years ago. Cro-Magnon Man had a much bigger brain than the early humans who came before him. This allowed Cro- Magnon Man to develop more complex thinking skills. This aided them in the creation of a variety of more complex tools. Cro-Magnon man developed a variety of more complex tools. These included tools for sewing, painting, hunting, fishing, and making music. Evidence also suggests that they created tools to engage in fights with others. Cro-Magnon Man was given this name because of the place where they were first found. Scientists believe that they lived, at least part of the time, in settled communities. This differs greatly from earlier humans, who followed their food sources around. Cro-Magnon man was very creative. They created decorative drawings and paintings on cave walls.