Name: Date: Period: Assignment: Homo Habilis Input Chart

Facial Characteristics: Brain: Brain averaged 610 cc in size representing 1.7% of body weight; a significant increase compared to Australopithecus Environment: Homo habilis lived in a predominantly grassland environment. Small groups banded together for protection. The size of the group depended on the amount of food available. Groups would disband and move on, as food required. With their abilities to craft simple tools, Homo habilis could build simple shelters for protection from weather and animals. Skulls become fuller and rounded; slight forehead appearing; face had small, arched brow ridge (small than earlier ancestors); hole for spine located in center of skull base showed species walked upright. Height: Homo habilis were taller than their ancestors, the human-like primates like Australopithecus. The average weight of a homo habilis male is almost 100 pounds and average height of male homo habilis is 5. Tools: Man had to get smart to survive. Man did not have strong claws to help them fight. They could not out run early tigers or cave lions. The Homo habilis man is credited with inventing stone tools to help live more comfortably, and to better protect themselves against the many carnivore (meat eating) animals of the time.

Environment/ Diet: The climate was becoming cooler and drier and this may have been the impetus for new feeding strategies that included scavenging and tool use. Their main diet was probably fruits, roots, nuts and vegetables that they found growing wild. Analysis shows they did include some meat in their q diet.

Name: Date: Period: Assignment: Homo Habilis Input Chart

Use History Alive! Pages 16-17 to complete the following. Be thorough in your answers. Input Charts are the primary source for Unit Exams (30% HISTORY category) and they need to be used as a study guide. PROMPT 1.) Who discovered Homo habilis? YOUR ANSWER Homo habilis was discovered by Louis and Mary Leakey. 2.) When did Handy Man live? Handy Man lived about 1.5 to 2 million years ago. 3.) How are Australopithecus (Lucy) and Homo Both Lucy and Handy Man have a combination of habilis (Handy Man) similar and different? human and ape features. They both walk on two legs. They are different though because Handy Mans brain was twice the size of Lucys. Plus Handy Mans features were slightly more humanlike. Also handy Man was taller. 4.) What is important about Homo habilis living It is important that Homo habilis lived in groups in groups? because together they could protect themselves from attacks from other animals. Also when they work together to collect food they can cover more ground. 5.) Identify and explain the importance of the The Leakeys found tools that the Homo habilis had significant clue the Leakeys found. made. This clue showed that the homo habiliss were more advanced than the austrolopithecus. 6.) Describe the Homo habilis tools. The homo habilis tools were sharp pieces of stone that they used for cutting and chopping. The other tool that they used were animal bones that they used for digging. 7.) What was required for the tools to be Thought was required. They needed bigger brains created? to think up the ideas of those tools. 8.) How did tools improve the life of Handy Man? Tools improved the life of Handy Man because with the tools he could cut meat off dead animals, and also cracking animal bones to get the marrow, which was inside. Therefor they could live longer. 9.) Describe what is occurring in the picture that In the picture homo habilis are using their tools to crosses pages 16 and 17. either dig in the dirt or cut meat off of dead animals. 10.) List any questions that you have about How did the homo habilis communicate with each Australopithecus and/or Homo habilis. Asking other? Who was the homo habiliss greatest questions is a technique archeologist, threat? What types of animal meat did they eat?

Name: Date: Period: Assignment: Homo Habilis Input Chart anthropologist, paleoanthropologist, historians, and geographers use to uncover unforeseen knowledge and insight.