Homo+heidelbergensis

HOMO HEIDELBERGENSIS The important discovery sites of Homo Heidelbergensis skulls. || **Enter the story of your skull. Who found it? Where was it found?** On October 21st 1907, an ancient human jaw was discovered in a quarry called Rosch pit at Mauer, a village southeast (16km) from Heidelberg, Germany, by workman Daniel Hartmann. Professor Otto Schoetansack from the University of Heidelbergensis identified and named the fossil. Homo Heidelbergensis means Heidelberg Man, being named after the city it was found in. Fossils later were found later in Bodo, Kabwe in Africa, Petralona, Arago, Sima de los Huesos in Europe, Dali and and Jinnishuan in Asia. Mauer Jaw- first fossil of the H.Heidelbergensus || ** Homo Heidelbergensis Skull ** || **Describe the main features of the skull.** The physical characteristics of the small jaw which was the first fossil of the Homo Heidelbergensis to be found had small human-like teeth, extremely large jaw and heavily boned. The jaw was in good condition except for the missing premolar teeth which were eventually found near the jaw later on. The Heidelberg jaw lacked a chin and is exceptionally broad and thick. The teeth were small despite the mandible. The number of skulls that were found later on had craniums had massive brow-ridges, long and low braincases and thick vault bones. The fossils showed a more rounded rear of the skull (occipital) and expanded sides (parietals) a broad forehead and a higher dome and roundness of the skull's top. The jaw was also long which implied that the individual had a projecting lower face. They apparently had two lower jaws and the cheeks were flattened. The face below the eye socket and side wall nose met at a shallow angle. The skull main features was a large braincase, huge brow-ridges which is an evolutionary link between modern humans and H.Heidelbergensis. Some fossil skulls from the Middle Pleistocene in Europe very closely resembled those in Africa. || A piece of artwork that depicts how Heidelbergensis hunted large animals. || **Identify the behaviours of your hominin that you discovered. How they communicated?** Experts believe H.Heidelbergensis was one of the first species of Homo to have a primitive language. Being able to communicate with each other through different sounds and differentiate the type of sounds conveyed. The Heidelbergensis ear structure is to have some relation to modern day humans because their ear structure was vastly different from those of chimps. Auditory sensitivity suggests this, the form of the outer and middle ear supports this as well. It is believed they had a complex mind, people suggest they were the first to bury their dead from recent findings in a pit in Atapuerca (Spain) of 28 human skeletons. Their relative were also the first to vocalize which suggests Heidelbergensis had a sophisticated culture. There have been no forms of art or sophisticated artefacts other than stone tools have been uncovered, although red ochre (useful for paint) were found at Terra Amata. They were likely to be right-handed as modern people. They were the first to build simple shelters out of wood,rock and plants, evidence for this comes from the site of Terra Amata, France. It was said that they had increased levels of social cooperation, some suggest they may have been more interested in making things as a demonstration of who they were and what was important to them. || Search engine: scirus.com Reliable websites: [] [] [] [] ||
 * **Origins of Skull** Homo Heidelbergensis lived 300'000 to 600'000 years ago. They were the extinct species of archaic humans (genus homo). Fossils of the species have been found scattered across Africa (eastern and southern), Europe and possibly Asia (China). Fossils have been found throughout the Old World from tropical sones at sites dating back to the Middle Pleistocene age. The were the first species to inhabit Europe's cold latitudes. Researchers then believed after finding more fossils Heidelbergensis is the common ancestor of both Neanderthals and in Africa evolved into modern man, Homo Sapiens.
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 * **What did your hominin look like. Describe physical characteristics.** Homo Heidelbergensis displays traits that are primitive shared with its ancestor Homo Erectus, however traits were also found in the species Homo Sapiens. Fossil evidence regarding body size and shape is currently limited but leg bones indicate that they were relatively short males compared to the size today.The bodies of H.Heidelbergensis in Europe tended to be compact as it would be expected for people living in cold climates. This shape reduces the overall skin surface meaning able to conserve heat, than a tall lean man like Homo Erectus. H.Heidelbergensis men reached 5ft9 (175cm-180cm) in height and females averaged 5ft2 (157cm). The shin bone's thickness and bony ridges indicate that these people were strongly built and masculine, males averaged 62kg and females 51kg. Only slightly smaller than people today. A massive projecting face and brow(bone over the eye), a posterior cranial vault (the back of the skull), more vertical parietal bones. Their brain was large averaging approximately 1250cm3 in size, representing 1.9% of their body weight. Frontal and parietal lobes of the brain were enlarged and may indicate and increase in brain complexity. Small post-orbital constriction behind the eye sockets. A moderate, double arched brow ridge and a short, sloping forehead which laid above the eyes. The brow ridge was large, nasal openings were relatively wide. Jaws were shorter, gaps behind 3rd molars, lower jaw was strongly built for chewing. Teeth were arranged in a parabolic shape and were smaller in shape than earlier species. Lower legs were long, leg bones tended to be thick and strongly built, to be able to travel great distances and hunt. || [[image:homininevolution/untitled.JPG]] ||
 * **What did they eat?** Homo Heidelbergensis was the first hunter to hunt large animals. They hunted large animals for food, although their hides may also have been useful in colder temperatures. The fossilised bones of these animals have shown that large animals including rhinos, hippos, bears, horses, deer, antelopes and elephants were targeted. 70% of their diet would of consisted meat. They also ate plants, various grasses, leaves, roots, nuts, fruits and honey. These animals were skillfully hunted then butchered in an orderly fashion that suggests that these people were working in co-operative groups, suggesting an advance ability to engage. Bones found from the larger animals were covered with cut marks suggesting they had tools, evidence for this also comes from a 400'000 year old wooden spear at the site of Germany, Schoningen, found together with stone tools and remains of horses. For H.Heidelbergensis tools and hunting weapons may have played an important role in social display. These were large stone tools with flakes removed, stone axes, cleavers, carvers and spears made from deer antler, bone and wood, then modified into scrapers, hammers and sophisticated spears. Fire was used to cook meat, share food, stay warm and ward off predators. They would have had a strict eating plan for men to keep and gain strength for hunting and children to grow healthy, women were in charge to gather and cook.
 * **Bibliography**
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 * What does it mean to be human?. (n.d.). //Homo Heidelbergensis//. Retrieved April 12, 2012, from https://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/homo-heidelbergensis
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