Online Encyclopedia
Homo heidelbergensis
| Homo heidelbergensis Status: Fossil |
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| Homo heidelbergensis Schoetensack , 1908 |
Homo heidelbergenis is an extinct species of the genus Homo and the common ancestor of both the Neanderthal man (Homo neanderthalensis) and the Cro-Magnon man (Homo sapiens). It descended from the morphologically very similar Homo erectus. However, H. heidelbergensis is thought to have possessed a larger brain case and innovated more advanced tools and behaviours, thus meriting a separate species classification. Many new forms of tools and human-like behaviors were innovated by this species. Homo heidelbergensis had a brain about 93 percent of the size of modern man. The species was tall, 1.8 m (6 ft.) on average, and more muscular than modern humans.
Homo heidelbergensis first appeared roughly 600,000 years ago and was significantly more intelligent than Homo erectus, which appeared 1.85 million years ago. The exact area that this species occupied is unknown due to insufficient fossilized remains, but it is known that it flourished in Europe and Africa for several hundred thousand years.
It is thought that many aspects of the Acheulean era (early paleolithic) tool case were innovated and utilized by this species. Homo heidelbergensis also innovated many more advanced tools not associated with the early and middle paleolithic period, such as throwing spears, which is a somewhat anomalous finding. More advanced tool-making techniques of the Mousterian (middle paleolithic) tool case were also thought to have been innovated by this species toward the end of its presence in the fossil record. However, the tools of H. heidelbegensis were not nearly as advanced as those used by Neanderthals and Cro-magnons.
Recent findings in Europe also suggest that H. heidelbergensis may have been the first species of the Homo genus to bury their dead, but that is hotly contested at this time. Sites where H. heidelbergensis appears to have produced the red pigment ochre from hematite suggest this species may have practiced art or ritual. At least toward the end of its tenure on Earth, they almost certainly controlled fire and may even have used rudimentary language.