A recent study published in Nature Communications Earth & Environment reveals that early human ancestor Homo erectus successfully adapted to harsh desert-like environments in Eastern Africa over 1 million years ago. The research challenges the long-held belief that only Homo sapiens had the capacity to thrive in extreme environments.
Researchers gathered archaeological, geological, and paleoclimatic data from Engaji Nanyori in Oldupai Gorge, Tanzania, a key early hominin archaeological site. They found evidence of semi-desert shrubland and used biogeochemical analyses, chronometric dating, and other methods to reconstruct the environment.
The study reveals that Homo erectus repeatedly occupied locations with freshwater resources, such as ponds and streams, utilizing these ecological focal points to mitigate risks while adapting to extreme environments. This strategic use of water sources demonstrates an ecological flexibility previously attributed only to later hominins.
Homo erectus developed specialized stone tools, including scrapers and denticulates, to increase the efficiency of butchery and optimize the processing of prey in a dryland niche. The species survived and thrived despite harsh conditions, making it one of the greatest survival success stories in human evolution.
The adaptability displayed by Homo erectus at Engaji Nanyori may have facilitated their expansion into other continents, contributing to the first great human migration into Eurasia. This finding redefines the role of Homo erectus as a generalist hominin capable of inhabiting fragmented landscapes with limited resources.
Source: https://www.jpost.com/science/science-around-the-world/article-838170