Definition of Homo habilis - What it is, Meaning and Concept

Homo is a genus of hominid primates belonging to the tribe of the homininis . human being , along with their closest ancestors, They are part of this genre that emerged approximately 2.4 million years ago .

The Homo habilis is one of the oldest species of the genus Homo .I live in the African region between 1.9 and 1.6 million years ago , at the time from Preistocene ( was Cenozoic ).The discovery of their fossils took place between 1962 and 1964 , when Louis and Mary Leakey found their remains in Tanzania .

At that time it was declared as the oldest species of the genus Homo, although later it was displaced by the Homo rudolfensis .The qualifier of habilis ( “skillful” ) comes from some stone instruments whose creation was attributed to him.

An increase in brain size compared to Australopithecus (belonging to an extinct genus of hominid primates) was one of the main aspects to consider when determining that Homo habilis it was a different species.For some experts, however, both Homo habilis and Homo rudolfensis could be considered as a species of the Australopithecus .

Finally, the larger and more rounded skull, the molars with thick enamel, the spatial incisors, an occipital hollow located more centrally and a reduction of the pelvis (due to the bipedal position of the females) were other characteristics taken in account to determine that the fossils found in Africa belonged to a new species . Homo habilis , in this way, today is recognized as another extinct species of the genus Homo .

The struggle of the human being to understand its origins is an adventure that has been undertaken for a long time and that probably will never be over.Speaking specifically of Homo habilis, the excavations by Louis and Mary Leakey began in Olduvai in the year 1931, more than three decades before its discovery, and caused a great number of complications, among which were encounters with wild animals.

In fact, before finding the first remains of Homo habilis, the Leakey couple came up with a new species, which I call Zinjanthropus boisei, although later it was renamed Paranthropus boisei.It is a kind of hominid from East Africa that possessed a powerful chewing apparatus, essential for its diet, which It focused on hard vegetables, roots and seeds.

In addition to the hard work that the Leakeys had to carry out throughout their lives, they also had to face the difficulties of trying to convince the rest of the world that their findings were authentic samples of species unknown until now.the fossils of Homo habilis, for example, many researchers assured that they closely resembled those of Australopithecus africanus; later, on the other hand, new remains from Ethiopia supported the existence of habilis as a distinct species.

Bernard Wood, a renowned British geographer, says that Homo habilis cannot belong to either the family of humans or that of the Australopithecines, given their characteristics, so it was necessary to assign their own gender.that the debate about our origins is still alive and with many uncertainties; According to the researcher, the popular graphic that shows a linear evolution of our ancestors until reaching us is far from being valid.

While it is likely that our ancestors have evolved in Africa, this does not mean that our species was born in the same place, but that it could have emerged in many other places on the planet and this will only be known when new fossils are found.Wood points out that the most important thing is to understand that there is still much to discover and not assume what is known as the absolute truth.