Homo erectus: Difference between revisions

Java Man was the common name for the first fossil evidence to be discovered of what is now called ''Homo erectus''. It was found in 1891 by [[Eugene Dubois]] who was a former student of [[Ernst Haeckel]] (Darwin's bulldog). Dubois named the find ''[[Pithecanthropus erectus]]'' (erect ape-man).<ref name=perloff83>Perloff, James. ''[[Tornado in a Junkyard|Tornado in a Junkyard: The Relentless Myth of Darwinism]]''. Burlington, MA: Refuge Books, 1999.</ref> Java Man is arguably the best-known human [[fossil]], and was the evidence that first convinced many people that humans evolved from age-like ancestors.<ref>Lubenow, p. 86.</ref> Since its discovery, there has been much controversy over both the identification and dating of the strata where the fossils were found, and whether the fossils belonged to the same species.

=== Homo ergaster ===

Some have argued that some ''Homo erectus'' fossils found in East Africa are a distinct species called ''Homo ergaster'', the name being derived from the Ancient Greek ἐργαστήρ "workman". Many that except this species hold that this population evolved into ''Homo sapiens'', which then migrated from Africa replacing ''Homo erectus'' (or archaic ''Homo sapiens'') populations in other parts of the world.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_ergaster Homo ergaster] Wikipedia, Accessed September 18, 2011.</ref> This model of human evolution is known as the [[Out-of-Africa hypothesis]], which is distinct from the competing view known as the [[Multiregional hypothesis]].<ref>[http://www.nature.com/scitable/content/out-of-africa-versus-the-multiregional-hypothesis-6391 Out-of-Africa versus the multiregional hypothesis] Nature Education, Accessed September 18, 2011.</ref> However, there remains considerable debate as to whether ''Homo ergaster'' should be considered a separate species from ''Homo erectus'', and many in fact treat them one species.<ref>[http://anthro.palomar.edu/homo/homo_2.htm Homo erectus] by Dennis O'Neil. Behavioral Sciences Department, Palomar College, San Marcos, California.</ref>

[[File:Peking Man.jpg|thumb|120px|Peking Man Skull (replica) presented at Paleozoological Museum of China.]]

=== Peking Man ===

Another famous specimen of ''Homo erectus'' was discovered around 1927 near Beijing (Peking), China. It is sometimes called  Peking Man and sometimes Beijing Man. Peking Man was originally placed in the genus Sinanthropus (''Sinanthropus pekinensis''), but is currently grouped with ''Homo erectus''.