荔枝视频

A long-standing question about when archaic members of the genus Homo adapted to harsh environments such as deserts and rainforests has been answered in a new research paper.

The , published in Nature Communications Earth and Environment, finds it was earlier than originally thought.

鈥淲e reveal how early humans 鈥�&苍产蝉辫;known as hominins 鈥�&苍产蝉辫;were able to thrive under harsh conditions,鈥� says lead author , PhD, a professor in both the and the at the 荔枝视频.

The multidisciplinary analysis by researchers at U荔枝视频, the University of Manitoba and 17 other institutions around the world shows Homo erectus adapted at least 1.2 million years ago 鈥�&苍产蝉辫;long before our species, Homo sapiens, emerged.

Mercader, who studies human evolution, explains that the archaeological research was done at a UNESCO World Heritage site in Tanzania.

鈥淏y doing archeology, what we can see is that Homo erectus keeps coming back to the same place in the landscape over thousands of years,鈥� he says in an interview. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not a one-time camp. 

鈥淭here is thickness to the accumulation of archeological remains and fossils that is telling us that a species was targeting a very specific point in the landscape to do what they came here to do.鈥�

For example, the archeological data shows that groups of Homo erectus repeatedly returned to live in locations with freshwater availability such as ponds and developed specialized stone tools.

Co-author , PhD, a in global systems modelling in the Faculty of Science, says he was able to reconstruct past landscapes to simulate the East African region at the time.

鈥淭hings like extreme climate change leading to desertification would have been really difficult for hominins to survive,鈥� he says. 

鈥淲hat we discovered in the study is that, in fact, we find plenty of evidence for hominin activity under environmental conditions 鈥�&苍产蝉辫;so climate, vegetation 鈥�&苍产蝉辫;that suggest really hot and dry periods.

鈥淪o, it鈥檚 changing our understanding of the adaptability of these early hominins to extreme environments and demonstrating that Homo erectus were more adaptable than we realized.鈥�

Kaplan, a professor in the Department of , says it has interesting implications.

鈥淚t鈥檚 well known that by the time modern humans come on the landscape, 200,000 to 300,000 years ago, we are really adaptable,鈥� he explains. 鈥淲e not only spread out in Africa but also start inhabiting all of these really different environments 鈥�&苍产蝉辫;everything from the Arctic tundra to the Sahara desert and the tropical rainforest and everything in between.鈥�

It鈥檚 now become clear, he says, that our human ancestors were demonstrating their ability to survive in a wide range of environments 鈥�&苍产蝉辫;including really extreme ones.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 new, that pretty neat,鈥� Kaplan says.

Ultimately, he expects scientists will be able to show the overall adaptability of Homo erectus.

鈥淭hese prominent ancestors were not just able to survive in every kind of environment from rainforest to dessert, but also build boats and get across ocean straits and get to different islands.鈥�

It鈥檚 still unknown whether they could talk or had language, he says, but they may have been able to communicate in other ways to find resources such as water or rocks for making tools or fire.

Kaplan says the study is important because it helps us to learn about who we are and where we come from.

鈥淚t is a contribution to a better understanding of our planet and humans鈥� role in it,鈥� he says.

Both researchers note that the paper is also important because it brought together a broad range of experts 鈥� from archaeologists and biogeochemists to paleoclimate specialists 鈥� to produce some ground-breaking research.

鈥淚t illustrates how modern climate research works,鈥� says Mercader. 鈥淚t is a model for addressing the science of past and present-day climate science research.鈥�