INTRODUCTION
(Figure 1)
Homo Habilis is an extinct hominid creature whose fossil bones were first discovered in 1960 at the Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania, Africa. Mary and Louis Leakey were the people who found the first Homo Habilis ever.. The name Homo Habilis, meaning "handy man," commemorated the finding of the stone tools, and the animal bones with lots of scratch marks. Later fossil finds, mostly from East Africa but also from South Africa, including complete skulls, have also been called Homo Habilis. However, there is considerable debate about the exact nature of this species.
Homo Habilis was an early dated form of modern day human. Fossil evidence indicates that these people lived in Africa from about 1,900,000 to about 1,700,000 years ago. Fossil skulls also show that Homo Habilis had a brain that was little bit more than half the size of a modern human brain. Homo Habilis is known to have
This is a map of Africa showing Tanzania.
This is where they were first discovered
evolved around 2 million years ago from an earlier hominid species, Australopithecus. Therefore, the first member that includes modern humans, Homo, to appear. With the larger brain, and smaller face and teeth, recently, Homo Habilis was believed to be on the exact line of evolution leading to human beings.
Homo Habilis was an early dated form of modern day human. Fossil evidence indicates that these people lived in Africa from about 1,900,000 to about 1,700,000 years ago. Fossil skulls also show that Homo Habilis had a brain that was little bit more than half the size of a modern human brain. Homo Habilis is known to have
This is a map of Africa showing Tanzania.
This is where they were first discovered
evolved around 2 million years ago from an earlier hominid species, Australopithecus. Therefore, the first member that includes modern humans, Homo, to appear. With the larger brain, and smaller face and teeth, recently, Homo Habilis was believed to be on the exact line of evolution leading to human beings.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL ARTIFACT
(Figure 2) Twiggy's Skull
One of the early discoveries of Homo Habilis was in 1968 and was called "Twiggy". The skull was found crushed almost flat and was therefore named after the famously skinny model of the time-Twiggy. Replica of “Twiggy,” a reconstructed Homo habilis skull found in 1968 at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, and dated to some 1.8 million years ago (Figure 2). Its characteristics include a slightly forward sloping face and larger brain typical of Homo Habilis. Twiggy may was different from Australopithecus in brain size and dental characteristics, but similar to the australopiths of southern Africa in other features, such as the shape of the face. Since the fossil is damaged, complete agreement concerning its significance has not been reached by the scientists. Although the skull was very badly damaged, scientists were able to find that the species of Homo Habilis were more intelligent and wiser than Australopithecus.
SPECIES IMPORTANCE
I think the Homo Habilis is an important step in the evolution of modern man. The increase in brain size from Australopithecus coincided with increase in intelligence. The Homo Habilis were the first species to use culture and adapt to the environment. This was a huge evolutionary part in the evolution of humans. This helped us be more intelligent, wise and caring. The Homo Habilis used their brains in a lot of ways. For example, their intelligence helped them to survive. They made better tools and organized better hunts. They also built better living and safe environments. All of this helped humans evolve to where they are today.
IMAGE
(Figure 3) How Homo Habilis Looked
REFERENCES:
Figure 1
http://www.fofweb.com/WGCO/Search.aspx?SearchTerm=Tanzania
"Tanzania: Regional Locator Map." World Geography and Culture Online. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 18 Nov. 2012. <http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE39&Details.aspx&iPin= map0813&SingleRecord=True>.
Figure 2
http://school.eb.com/eb/art-73002/Replica-of-Twiggy-a-reconstructed-Homo-habilis-skull-found-in?&articleTypeId=49
Twiggy. Photograph. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 18 Nov. 2012. <http://school.eb.com/eb/art-73002>.
Figure 3
http://quest.eb.com/images/119_1803291?subjectId=0&collectionId=0&keyword=homo+habilis+&localizeMetaData=false
Homo Habilis In Action. Illustrations. Encyclopædia Britannica Image Quest. Web. 18 Nov 2012.http://quest.eb.com/images/119_1803291