Homo erectus, the archaic human species from which modern humans evolved, is believed to have migrated out of Africa around 1.6 million years ago. Recently discovered fossils on the island of Java date back to this period and offer new insights into how these early humans lived. Dredging operations in the Madura Strait uncovered two fragments of a 140,000-year-old Homo erectus skull among the fossilized remains of 36 vertebrate species.
These finds have provided researchers with important information about H. erectus’ behavior, particularly their ability to adapt to changing environments. The fossils demonstrate how the Javanese H. erectus species spread from the highlands into the surrounding lowlands when sea levels were lower. This area would have offered ample fresh water, shellfish, fish, edible plants, seeds, and fruit year-round.
The study also revealed previously unknown behavioral anomalies, such as hunting strong healthy bovids, suggesting that the population living in this region may have had contact with other human cousins. “We didn’t find this in the earlier Homo erectus population on Java, but do know it from more modern human species of the Asian mainland,” said archaeologist Harold Berghuis.
This suggests that H. erectus may have copied hunting practices from these populations, indicating potential genetic exchange between hominin groups. The discovery sheds new light on the behavior and interactions of our ancient ancestors, highlighting the complexities of human evolution.
Source: https://archaeology.org/news/2025/05/23/140000-year-old-bones-on-seafloor-reveal-clues-about-behavior-of-extinct-human-species