Homo erectus: just another people group?

Homo erectus type fossils have been discovered in Indonesia, China, Africa, Türkiye, Georgia, and Italy. Their skulls were smaller than Neanderthals but shared similarities. Researchers have differing opinions on which fossils should be classified as Homo erectus. “Debate abounds as to whether the Asian fossils and those from Africa should be classified together as Homo erectus or if the African examples are different enough to be called Homo ergaster.” [1] Researchers debate whether the Georgian Dmanisi hominin fossils belong to Homo erectus or Homo ergaster. [2]

There has been ongoing discussion about the classification of Homo erectus. Some researchers propose that it was a transitional species between apes and humans. Certain creation scientists previously identified Homo erectus as an ape, though they now consider it fully Homo sapiens. “Many paleontologists and a majority of creationists think their unusual features are nothing more than variants of human traits and not transitional at all.” [3]

As previously outlined in the “Neanderthals: just a people group?” article, man is not an animal. Man has a superior brain not paralleled in the animal world, possesses the faculty of speech, only is fully bipedal, and capable of expressing emotions superior to any animals.

Homo erectus Anatomy

·         Distinct skulls

o   massive brow ridges (supraorbital toruses) [4][5][6], thickens with age [7]

o   low sloping forehead [8][9]

o   “more constricted temples than typical humans” [10]

o    virtually no difference in cranial morphology from Neanderthals, other than brain size [11]

·        Brain

o   brain size

§  range averaged about 1050 ml [12]

§  averaged 1,000 ml in East Asia [13]

§  545 - 775 ml in Dmanisi, Georgia [14]

+    size of brain may have resulted from pathological features of cretinism [15][16]

§ for modern humans

+    around: male 1260 ml and female 1130 ml, “although there is substantial variation” [17]

+   ranges from about 800-2000ml [18]

o    brain structure

§  “was similar to that of modern humans” [19]

·        Jaw

o    “large and thick without a pointed chin” [20][21]

o    “forward projecting jaw” [22][23]

·        Teeth

o    larger teeth than modern humans [24][25]

o    “molar teeth had large roots” [26]

·        Hyoid

o   the only hyoid bone attributed to Homo erectus to date was found at Castel di Guido (Rome, Italy). This “hyoid bone body shows the bar-shaped morphology characteristic of Homo, in contrast to the bulla-shaped morphology of African apes and Australopithecus.”[27]

·         Post-cranial Skeleton

o    Turkana Boy ‘s “post-cranial skeleton was essentially identical to modern humans” [28]

o   “bones are extraordinarily thickened” [29]

o   “East Asian Homo erectus normally have more robust skeletons” [30]

o   “human-like body proportions, with shorter arms and longer legs relative to its torso.” [31]

·         Height and Weight

o   4.8 - 5.4 ft in Dmanisi, Georgia [32]

o    4.8 - 5.5 ft, maybe about 110 lb. [33]

·         “[N]o H. erectus DNA has ever been found” [34]

Homo erectus intelligence, wisdom, and emotions

“From what is now known of modern man, there is no relationship between cranial capacity and intelligence.” [35] [a] This insight challenges earlier assumptions and highlights the complexity of cognitive abilities beyond physical brain size. Homo erectus, with its own unique physical traits and cultural advancements, similarly prompts us to reconsider simplistic correlations between anatomy and intellect.

Homo erectus exhibited remarkable achievements that reflect their cognitive and emotional complexity. Their cognition and/or emotions were demonstrated by:

·        The mastery of fire, as indicated by hearths and cooking, provided sustenance, and enabled social interactions. Fire also offered warmth and helped in deterring large predators. [36]

·         Their ingenuity is evident in the crafting of Acheulean stone tools that revolutionized stone technology. [37] “Homo erectus had style and design of tools down to a science.” [38] Also, “a great deal of skill was required to produce them.” [39]

o   making hand axes that are “pear shaped, teardrop shaped, or rounded in outline” by flaking “over at least part of the surface over each side (bifacial)” [40] These hand axes were multi-purpose tools used for such purposes as “butchering and skinning game, digging in soil, and cutting wood or other plant materials.’ [41]

o   making picks and core axes [42]

·         They made tools from the bones of “large animals like hippos and elephants, and ... deliberately shaped them” to be “useful for butchering large carcasses.”[43]

o   transferred flaking skills from stone to bone, “which suggests a level of complex thinking.” [44]

o  “knew about skeletal anatomy. They could identify and select bones suitable for flaking.” [45] Flaking (knapping) “involves chipping away small flakes to create sharp edges.” [46]

·         Fossil evidence, including Acheulean stone tools, suggests Homo erectus were efficient hunters. [47]

·         It is probable that Homo erectus employed clothing for reasons of modesty and protection against environmental elements, like contemporary cultures. [b] Making clothes involves materials, visualization skills, and craftsmanship.

·         Reasonable evidence exists “that Homo erectus built boats and was capable of seafaring over moderate distances.” [48] The evidence includes ancient stone tools of the types made by Homo erectus discovered in Crete, an island in the Aegean Sea that has never had a land bridge. Scholars debate whether Homo erectus ever sailed to Crete since no Homo erectus bones have been discovered there. [49]

·        Zigzag etchings on a shell by Homo erectus [50] indicate their potential communication or artistic abilities, highlighting their cognitive skills. Art is associated with emotion.

·        Fossil evidence indicates that Homo erectus provided care for elderly and infirm individuals. [51]

Homo erectus was fully bipedal.

The Turkana Boy skeleton from Kenya is the most complete Homo erectus (Homo ergaster?) skeleton found so far, with skeletal portions resembling modern humans. Its “pelvis is narrower than in Homo sapiens, which is most likely for more efficient upright walking. This further indicates a fully terrestrial bipedalism...” [52]

The femur of Homo erectus is the most frequently found non-cranial fossil, displaying significant similarities to those of modern humans, barring the peculiar Trinil specimen. It is highly probable that Homo erectus demonstrated proficient bipedal movement. [53]

“X-ray analysis of the semicircular canals of a number of apemen skulls showed that the Homo erectus canals were like those of modern humans, meaning they walked upright” [54]

Was Homo erectus capable of language?

Although not all thought processes require language, [55] the ability to articulate and hear language plays an important role in human communication. It is almost inconceivable that people who are intelligent enough to master fire and make stone tools would not have utilized language. Language would have been crucial for their social engagement, synchronization for hunting parties, and reaction to potential hazards.

A seafaring hypothesis posits Homo erectus possessed the advanced communication abilities of language, which would be necessary to construct complex boats and navigate maritime environments.

No evidence exists that Homo erectus evolved from animals or ever was without language. Those are evolutionary assumptions only. The Bible (Genesis 1:26-27) states that God created man in His own image. God speaks to the first man and woman (Genesis 1:28-29), the common ancestors of all mankind, so they must have had the ability to comprehend what He was saying. In Genesis 2, Adam, the first man, was given the task of naming the various animal types and gave his verbal approval to his wife Eve.

Conclusions

Homo erectus exhibited the unique features that separate man from animals including being intelligent and wise, having faculty of speech, being fully bipedal, and possessing human emotions. Evidence does not suggest that they were transitional from animals to man or that at any time they possessed the above features to a lesser degree than modern humans. Evidence does suggest that Homo erectus was a group of ancient people from the same non-animal common ancestors as Neanderthals and modern humans.

Notes:

[a] Daniel Lyon, a guard for Pennsylvania Railway, had an adult cranial capacity of just 624 ml. Despite this, railway officials stated that he could read and write and had no mental or physical defects. [56]

[b] “It is almost impossible to see a country where everybody does not wear clothes. However, there are some places in the world where people do not wear clothes.” [57]

Photos:

(a) Daderot, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

(b) Claire Houck from New York City, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

(c) Henk Caspers/Naturalis Biodiversity Center, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

References:

[1] Dorey, F, “Homo erectus,” Australian Museum, viewed internet March 31, 2025

[2] “Dmanisi hominins,” Wikipedia, viewed internet March 29, 2025

[3] Tomkins, J, “Homo erectus: The Ape Man That Wasn’t,” Acts & Facts, September 30, 2019, Institute of Creation Research, internet

[4] Dorey

[5] Tomkins

[6] “Homo erectus,” Wikipedia, viewed internet March 19, 2025

[7] Ibid.

[8] Dorey

[9] Tomkins

[10] Ibid.

[11] Lubenow, M., “Bones of Contention,” (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2004), 128

[12] Dorey

[13] “Homo erectus,” Wikipedia

[14] “Dmanisi hominins”

[15] Mitchell, E, “Does the Dmanisi Discovery Demonstrate We Are All One Family?” November 6, 2013, Answers in Depth, Answers in Genesis, internet

[16] Line, P, “New Dmanisi skull threatens to bring the house down,” October 29, 2013, Creation.com, internet

[17] “Brain size,” Wikipedia, viewed internet April 7, 2025

[18] Mehlert, B, “Homo erectus to Modern Man: Evolution or Human Variability? April 1, 1994, Answer in Genesis, internet

[19] Dorey

[20] Dorey

[21] Tomkins

[22] Tomkins

[23] “Homo erectus,” Wikipedia

[24] Tomkins

[25] Rightmore, G, Tobias, P, “Homo erectus,” Britannica, viewed internet March 19, 2025

[26] Dorey, F, “Homo erectus,” Australian Museum, viewed internet March 31, 2025

[27] Capasso, L, Michetti, E, and D’Anastasio, R, “A Homo erectus hyoid bone: possible implications for the origin of the human capability for speech,” Collegium Antropologicum  December 1, 2008, internet

[28] Tomkins

[29] “Homo erectus,” Wikipedia

[30] Ibid.

[31] Hendry, L, “Homo erectus, our ancient ancestor,” Natural History Museum, United Kingdom, viewed internet March 19, 2025

[32] “Dmanisi hominins”

[33] “Homo erectus,” Wikipedia

[34] Nield, D,” Some Humans Are Carrying DNA From an Unknown Ancient Ancestor,” August 2020, Science Alert, internet

[35] Jue, D, “Cranial Capacity and Endocranial Casts,” EN Tech Journal, Vol. 4, 1990, 64, internet

[36] “Homo erectus,” Smithsonian, viewed internet April 19, 2025

[37] “Oldowan and Acheulean Stone Tools,” Museum of Anthropology, Missouri Education, viewed internet, April 12, 2025

[38] Mitchell, E, “Homo Erectus Had Skillfully Designed Tools,” February 23, 2013, News to Know, Answers in Genesis, internet

[39] Ibid.

[40] “Oldowan and Acheulean Stone Tools”

[41] Ibid.

[42] Mitchell, “Homo Erectus Had Skillfully Designed Tools”

[43] “1.5 million-year-old bone tools discovered in Africa rewrite the history of human evolution,” March 25, 2025, Alternet, internet

[44] Shavit, R, “Early humans started to produce standardized bone tools 1.5 million years ago,” The Brighterside of News, viewed internet April 19, 2025

[45] “1.5 million-year-old bone tools discovered in Africa...”

[46] Shavit

[47] “Turkana Boy,” Wikipedia, viewed internet April 22, 2025

[48] Luskin, C, “Homo erectus: A Highly Intelligent Seafaring Boatbuilder?” August 21, 2012, Evolution News and Science Today, internet

[49] Botha, R, “Did Homo erectus Have Language? The Seafaring Inference,” April 16, 2024, Cambridge University Press, internet

[50] Rightmore, G, Tobias, P, “Homo erectus,” Britannica, viewed internet March 19, 2025

[51] “Homo erectus,” Smithsonian

[52] “Turkana Boy”

[53] Rightmore

[54] Sarfati, J, “Humans: images of God or advanced apes?” February 14, 2006, Creation.com, internet

[55] BioSource Faculty, “5-Min Science: Thinking Doesn’t Require Language Networks,” BioSource Software, viewed internet May 8, 2025

[56] Mitchell, “Does the Dmanisi Discovery Demonstrate We Are All One Family?”

[57] Akinfotarin, A, “Which Country’s People Do Not Wear Clothes?” January 21, 2024, Moneyamebo, internet