Homo ergaster

Homo ergaster Fossil range: Pleistocene
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Primates Family: Hominidae Genus: Homo Species: H. ergaster
Binomial name
Homo ergaster Colin Groves & Vratja Mazak, 1975

Homo ergaster (Greek derivation: working man), an early hominid, may either have been a predecessor of Homo erectus or an early Homo erectus. H. ergaster’s presence has been dated variously and may have ranged over a period of 1.9 to 1.5 million years ago. Remains of H. ergaster have been discovered in Kenya and Dmanisi in the Republic of Georgia.

Anatomical characteristics

H. ergaster had a rounded cranium and a prominent browridge. Compared to Australopithecus, Its teeth were significantly smaller. Features that distinguish H. ergaster from H. erectus were thinner bones of the skull and the lack of an obvious sulcus, or depression, immediately posterior of the browridge.

Associated artifacts

H. ergaster evidently used large cutting tools of stone, primarily hand axes and cleavers. These tools represent an advanced stage of stone tool technology known as the Achulean stone tool industry now believed to have developed after hominid migration out of the region of eastern Africa