Early Homo
Homo ergaster
1.9–1.4 Ma·500 ka·Discovered 1975
Description
The Turkana Boy is a near-complete 1.6-Ma skeleton. Many regard it as African H. erectus.
Notable facts
- The Turkana Boy was 1.60 m tall at age 8-12
- First hominin with modern body proportions
- Likely inventor of the Acheulean handaxe
- Would have reached ~1.85 m as adult
Key specimens
KNM-WT 15000
"Turkana Boy"
Near-complete skeleton of a juvenile, found in 1984 by Kamoya Kimeu. Most complete early Homo skeleton ever found.
Anatomy
Modern body proportions: long legs, narrow pelvis, tall and slender.
Locomotion
Efficient long-distance walker/runner.
Diet
High-quality with increasing meat.
Tools & culture
Early Acheulean (Mode 2) bifacial handaxes.
Where to see it
Nairobi National Museum.
Media & references
Image ·
Wikimedia Commons · Wikipedia article