Anthropology, 210 (Homo Erectus as a Hunter)

There is some uncertainty over the diet of Homo Erectus.  Bones from large game such as elephants and baboons have been found alongside tools used by the species in cave excavations.  The origins of these bones have been contested, some arguing the bones may not have been remnants from consumption but collected and moved there by the inhabitants.  Other skeletal evidence has led some to believe in possible cannibalism, while others claim the damage could be from scavenger animals.  Homo Erectus did have fire as a tool, which is why their potential use of meat as a food source is such a point of curiousity.  Eating cooked food "led to their evolving smaller guts, bigger brains, bigger bodies, and reduced body hair" (2009, 194) as well as smaller teeth since cooked foods are softer than raw foods. (Anthro 128)  Other adaptations which support the idea of Homo Erectus being hunters are energetics, stabilization, and temperature regulation.  These adaptations are specific to human, giving them a strong endurance to fatigue while running.  Energetics refers to the storage and transference of energy in muscular structure.  Stabilization is an adaptation of centre of gravity in the human structure, specifically using the large gluteus maximus to help with balance and core strength.  Temperature regulation helps with cooling the body, unlike many four-legged animals, humans have the ability to sweat through pores on their bodies to cool their core temperature without having to stop movement as well as having less body hair to hold in heat.  These adaptations give humans the advantage of keeping chase longer than faster animals with burst speeds, eventually tracking them to the point of exhaustion and killing them with blunt tools.

 

Lavenda, Robert H., and Emily A. Schultz. "Chapter 5: What Can the Record Tell Us About Human Origins?" Anthropology: What Does It Mean to Be Human? New York: Oxford UP, 2008. 127-28. Print.