Question

Is the taxonomic assignment of the Dmanisi fossilised remains to Homo erectus sensu stricto valid? Explain your answer in the context of Homo fossils recovered from Africa and Asia. [300 words; 20 marks]

Answer 1

The bone remains of Dmanisi skull have been of great importance to the study of the first members of the genus Homo, mainly because these are oldest hominins found outside of Africa, for being well preserved, and for being confirmed as part of a single species: H. erectus Such a perspective, with basis on metric and non-metric values, and based on the explanatory base that defines these fossils for the Evolutionary Species Concept and some researchers agree the taxonomic assignment of Dmanisi fossilised remains as it holds critical fossil characteristics of the Homo ercetus sensu stricto, which are the Eurasian varieties.

According to the fossil remains of Dmanisi skills in 2013,H. erectus sensu stricto is the earliest fossil human species dated around 1.8 million years ago shows that modern human body proportions, an increase of brain size, as well as various other derived features. Its vast time range and geographic distribution have been linked with its observed high morphological variability.

Some researchers suggest that H. erectus is a hominin, notable for its increased body size, that originates in the latest Pliocene/earliest Pleistocene of Africa and quickly disperses into Western and Eastern Asia. It is also an increasingly derived hominin with several regional morphs sustained by intermittent isolation, particularly in Southeast Asia. And many fossils recovered prove that H.erectus have been found to originate form Africa and dispersed to various parts of Asia.