To better understand how hominins are grouped together in the same genus and species, go to the Smithsonian Institution’s website (humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/3d-collection/fossil). Click on the “Species” button and choose Homo erectus, then click on the “Apply” button. You’ll see pictures of various H. erectus fossils; click on KNM-ER 3733 and follow the directions to rotate the skull. Do the same for Sangiran 17, and Zhoukoudian Peking Man Reconstruction. If you can’t see the skulls, go to http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/homs/specimen.html and click on Homo erectus, then Trinil Man (Java), Peking Man, and KNM-ER 3733 and you’ll see the skulls.As you look at the fossil skulls, describe how they resemble each other and how they’re different. Do you think it’s scientifically reasonable to include these three fossils in the same genus and species (knowing how modern human populations differ from each other)? Why?
