A million years ago, a species of human relatives known as Homo erectus likely survived in an arid desert with no trees. The discovery challenges scientists’ long-held view that modern humans are uniquely adapted to various environments. Researchers found evidence that Homo erectus thrived in the Engaji Nanyor site in northern Tanzania, which was once a comfortable open woodland but turned into a harsh desert landscape around 1 million years ago.
Homo erectus was believed to have evolved about 2 million years ago in Africa and had larger brains than earlier hominins. However, they were not adapted to extreme environments like modern humans. The new study suggests that Homo erectus displayed remarkable adaptability, including scavenging for food at newly formed ponds and streams, using sharper tools, and carrying them with them.
The researchers’ findings have implications for understanding the origins of human adaptability. Climate scientist Elke Zeller said, “Studying hominins like Homo erectus is an immense amount of work… but it’s helping us tell a new story about our species’ ability to thrive in various environments.” The discovery expands our understanding of human evolution and challenges the idea that modern humans are uniquely adapted to different environments.
The study was published in the journal Communications Earth and Environment and suggests that Homo erectus may have expanded to other continents due to their adaptability. Further research is needed to understand how Homo erectus survived in such harsh conditions, but it’s clear that our ancestors were more resilient than previously thought.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/16/science/homo-erectus-desert.html