10. Characteristics of H. ergaster

Return to History 8 Human Origins Concepts

Homo ergaster, simply meaning working man, lived 1.3 - 1.8 million years ago. New physical features helped them adapt to the unfamiliar evolving African climates. They had longer noses which cooled them down in the hot sun, no body hair, were bipedal, so the sun would only heat the top of their head whereas before when they walked on four legs the sun heated their entire backs, and they also began to sweat, keeping their bodies and brains at a safe temperature. The Homo ergaster had enormous brains leading to new inventive technology. The Homo ergaster's tall bodies and large brains required a lot of energy to properly function. They ate meat to acquire the protein they needed creating bamboo and bi-facial stone tools to hunt their prey and were also the first to make a fire.

http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/homo-erectus

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/prehistoric_life/human/human_evolution/leaving_home1.shtml

The Video Guide: "Walking with Cavemen"

Left picture from: http://anthro.palomar.edu/homo/homo_2.htm

Right picture from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/prehistoric_life/human/human_evolution/leaving_home1.shtml

Sara Doyle