Episode 3 Our Earliest Ancestors

Human Prehistory and the First Civilizations

Dr Brian M Fagan (2003)

Film Review

2-3 million year ago, Homo habilis split off from other hominids to become Homo habilis. Although this species was still more ape-like than human, it could make tools (and didn’t become extinct like Australopithecus).

Louis and Mary Leakey discovered the first Homo habilis skeletons (dating from 2-2.6 million years ago) at Oldevai Gorge in the 1970s. They had lighter bones and thinner skulls than Australopithecus and were found with stone flake tools.

More recent Homo habilis skeletons date from 1.8 millions years ago. They were four foot three inches tall, probably weighed 88 pounds and had more rounded heads, larger brains, less prominent brows and jaws and more curved hands (with opposable thumbs) than Australopithecus. They had longer arms than modern human and probably climbed trees for safety.

The fossil record suggests hominids didn’t evolve slowly but in sudden bursts.

By 1.9 million years ago, early humans had a larger body mass and had much more difficulty climbing trees.

Bone studies from Olduvai Gorge suggest the earliest humans were expert scavengers and would steal lions’ leftover kill. They used the bone flakes they created as chopper tools for scraping meat and dismembering bones.

Similar bone flake tools from Gona date from 2.6 million years ago.

At Koobi Fira along Lake Terkana, antelope remains show evidence of being scavanged and butchered.

By one million years ago, stone tools had become much more standardized.

https://www.kanopy.com/en/pukeariki/watch/video/15061946/15061952