Human Origins Homo sapiens sapiens

College of Visual Arts

Human Origins

Homo sapiens sapiens

Modern Homo sapiens evolved gradually, and the exact manner of descent remains controversial. It is likely that both Homo sapiens neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens sapiens had Homo ergaster (or Homo erectus) as a common ancestor. In Africa, an archaic form of Homo sapiens seems to have developed directly from Homo ergaster, while in Europe, Homo heidelbergensis may have been the ancestor of both Homo sapiens sapiens and Homo sapiens neaderthalensis.

In Africa, it is likely that Homo ergaster became Homo sapiens about 200,000 years ago. Homo sapiens neanderthalensis developed at about the same time in Europe. By about 30,000 years ago in Europe, Homo sapiens neanderthalensis was completely replaced by Homo sapiens sapiens by a mechanism that is still unclear. It is possible that the two subspecies simply intermarried, that Homo sapiens sapiens killed off its Neandertal cousins, or that both processes occurred.

Homo sapiens sapiens

The modern Homo sapiens sapiens skull is distinguishable from Homo sapiens neanderthalensis by its vertical forehead, a lack of brow ridges, the positioning of the faced directly below the forehead and not jutting forward, and the absence of an occipital bun at the back of the head.

The Upper Paleolithic period, beginning about 40,000 years ago, marks a period of innovation in the development of Homo sapiens sapiens culture, with the migration of the species across a wide geographic area, the development of a variety of artifacts, and the first recognized forms of art.

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