| Homo antecessor Temporal range: Pleistocene (Lower Paleolithic) | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Primates |
| Suborder: | Haplorhini |
| Family: | Hominidae |
| Genus: | Homo |
| Species: | †Homo antecessor |
Homo antecessor was a species of early human, that lived between 1.2 million and 500 thousand years ago. Homo antecesor was possibly the first species of human to reach western Europe.
Discovery[]
The remains were found in the so called Pit of Bones fossil site in Spain.
Classification[]
The findings were published in 1997 describing a new species Homo antecssor (Pioneer Man).[1] The species is controversial because it shares many similarities with Homo heidelbergensis. H. antecssor was around 5'3" and 6 feet (1.6 and 1.8 meters) tall, their weight was in the range of 164lbs. (74 kilos).[2] It's relation to Homo sapiens is still unclear.
Culture[]
Their stone tools were similar to the Oldowan technology of Homo habilis. A specific bone (ATD6-59) has marks on it that are common on the bones of butchered animals suggesting possible cannibalism.[3]