When it comes to ancient people, the image of Neanderthals appears in the imagination of many of us. We imagine them hunting mammoths, cooking over fires, and hiding from predators in caves. In fact, the life of Neanderthals was different, which has been repeatedly proven by recent scientific results. In addition, they are not our direct ancestors, although they are relatives and were able to leave particles of their DNA in us. But if not Neanderthals, which of the ancient people is the very first representative of humanity? When did monkeys turn into people, and what makes a person human?
Scientists still cannot understand at what point we ceased to be monkeys and turned into people
How man evolved
Since school years, we have known that humans descended from monkeys. There were many different species of primates, and they evolved in different ways.
According to the scientific publication IFL Science, the ancestry of modern humans split from that of chimpanzees about 7 million years ago. One would think that after this modern people appeared, but no. For several million years, Australopithecus continued our lineage. The most famous australopithecus is Lucy, a member of the species Australopithecus afarensis, which existed about 3.2 million years ago.
Australopithecus Lucy. Source: travelask.ru
Over the course of evolution, human-like primitive creatures began to develop brains, making them more and more like modern humans. They began to make tools, create works of art, and so on. In general, ancient primates gradually did everything that is characteristic of modern people.
Read also:Why did people appear in Africa and not on another continent
What makes a person human
To understand which of the ancient primates are the first people, we need to delve into the essence of what a person is. Maybe a person is someone who knows how to wear clothes? Or can we classify ancient people who learned to make tools as modern people?
A primate who began to travel the Earth can also be called a human. Source: author.today
It is believed that a number of factors distinguish humans from other living beings. Firstly, this is the ability to abstract thinking, which helps solve complex problems, as well as create and transmit knowledge. Secondly, humans have social connections and lead a social life. Thirdly, humans are able to empathize with other beings, are responsible for their actions, and also have a penchant for creativity.
Interesting fact about ancient people: Why were childbirths much easier in ancient times?
The oldest man in the world
In 2013, in Ethiopia, scientists found the remains of an ancient species of people who lived 2.8 million years ago. It doesn't have a name, but researchers have declared it to be the earliest species of the human species. However, not everyone agrees with this, because anthropologists have studied only half of the jawbone, from which it is impossible to tell much about the lifestyle of this ancient man.
An ancient human jaw found in 2013. Source: IFL Science
The version that the first representative of the human race is Homo habilis sounds much more plausible. The fossilized remains of this primate were discovered in 1960 in Tanzania. Judging by the findings, representatives of this species of people had an enlarged braincase and knew how to make tools. But this version also has opponents, because there is evidence that Homo habilis could not travel long distances. Because of this, this species is considered closer to australopithecines than to modern humans.
Homo habilis, although he was smart, was not so much different from Australopithecus. Source: travelask.ru
There are questions about the types mentioned above. Today, Homo erectus is considered the earliest human being. According to scientists, this species appeared in Africa about 2 million years ago. They can be separated from monkeys and considered humans because they managed to escape from Africa and spread throughout most of Asia, China and Indonesia.
Most likely, ancient people stopped being apes after the appearance of Homo erectus. Source: ancienthistorylists.com
There is also evidence that it was representatives of the Homo erectus species who invented fire, learned to cook food over a fire, and created more complex tools than their predecessors. The combination of all these features leaves no doubt among scientists that Homo Erectus was indeed a human species.
Ultimately, it turns out that the first primates to turn into humans in the modern sense of the word were representatives of the Homo erectus genus.
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If you are interested in human evolution, be sure to read our article “Why did only Homo Sapiens survive out of all human species?” You will learn a lot of interesting things!