The First Species of Homo Genus

Assignment #2

By: Martin Loboda Prof: Hendrik Pionar Student Number: 1051357 Course Code: 1Z03 November 19th ,2010

The First Species of Homo Genus

The image impressions of a camp occupied by Homo Habilis (fig. 1), is from a private collection in the Bridgeman Art Library. Bridgeman Art Library cooperates with many art galleries and museums to gather images. This image has no publication date or name of artist. Homo Habilis' were short species with longer arms than their legs. In Figure 1, Homo Habilis' are drawn as tall species, this is incorrect according to a discovery by Donald Johnson and his associates of an important fragmentary skeleton. (Clark Spencer Larsen, 307) The discovered skeleton was about three and a half feet tall, similar to the Australopithecines. The Homo Habilis drinking water from the river shows a clear representation of height the artist has depicted. In the center of the figure 1, four Homo Habilis' are shown eating a Zebra. The depiction shows the advancement in brain size due to the ability of processing the animal using tools, but it may not be relevant because although meat eating existed in the late Pliocene and early Pleistocene time period, hunting was no evident until the Homo Erectus appeared due to the lack of technology. (Clark Spencer Larsen, 323) So the possibility of Homo Habilis killing fast moving creatures were unlikely due to their short legs and lack of tool development. Homo Habilis, the handy man, are noted for their tool making and usage approximately 2.5 millions years ago. It was interesting to see that the artist included what appears to be one of the Homo Habilis making a stone tool by bashing a rock against another rock in figure 1. This accurately indicates the onset of modern human evolution in means of brain size and technological development. Looking at the environment of figure 1, it appears to be in the Pliocene stage because of the cool looking climate, which leads to more resources. A herd of Zebra is seen on the top left corner and a herb of horses on the opposite corner correctly depict the environmental conditions the Homo Habilis would have lived at one period of their time according to evident of climate change in prehistoric times.

The image of the group of Homo Habilis is most likely not for educational purposes or any academic value, but simply a piece of art. The Homo Habilis' drawn look more like evolved than they should be. The artist probably drew primates with the idea of modern human features in mind. This can cause a bias because the artist is trying to create a image related to to modern humans when it is not evident that they looked anything like humans today. The average size of Homo Habilis was probably determined by modern human size which appeared to be incorrect. The Image is an okay depiction of Homo Habilis only because it has correctly shown its stone usage and environmental state besides the incorrect model of the species according to size.

Fig. 1. Homo Habilis Early Development. The artist rendition of Homo Habilis savaging a zebra in Impression of a camp occupied by Homo Habilis, illustrated by English School, during the 20th century.

Bibliography: Larsen Spencer C. 2008. Our Origins: Discovering Physical Anthropology. In: Lesser P, editor. New York, W.W. Norton & Company, p. 306-329 20th century, Bridgeman Art Culture History, private collection. http://www.bridgemanart.com/image/English-School-20th-century/Impression-of-a-campoccupied-by-Homo-habilis-pencil-on-paper/92298d6df51e4e51828b07d81f82be1c?key=homo %20habilis&filter=CBPOIHV&thumb=x150&num=15&page=2 Impression of a camp occupied by Homo habilis. Scholars Resource, Wheat Ridge, CO. http://www.scholarsresource.com/browse/work/2144596837