HOMO HEIDELBERGENSIS RHODESIAN MAN BROKEN HILL 1

Comments: The skull known as "BROKEN HILL 1" or the "KABWE CRANIUM" was discovered by Tom Zwiglaar on June 17, 1921. The specimen possesses both historic and scientific value as it was the very first human fossil to be found in Africa! It was found in a limestone cave as miners were searching for metal ore deposits. It was later described by Arthur Smith Woodward in an article in volume 108 of the journal Nature, and gave it a new species name "Homo rhodesiensis" (Rhodesian Man).

Due to the extreme scarcity of primitive human fossils, theories change with each new discovery. The term Homo erectus (attributed to the widespread use of ACHEULIAN TOOLS) has been used to describe variations of a primitive human species specific to an epoch in time and sharing similar characteristics. Some scientists have split Homo erectus into three separate species based on the geographic region in which specimens have been found: H. ergaster (Africa), H. erectus (Asia), and H. heidelbergensis (Europe). Homo heidelbergensis specimens are also sometimes classified as archaic H. sapiens. There is no clear dividing line between late H. erectus and H. heidelbergensis. Most of their fossils between 500,000 and 200,000 years ago are difficult to classify as one or the other.

Homo heidelbergensis is the species name now given to a range of specimens from about 800,000 years ago to the appearance of anatomically modern humans. H. heidelbergensis was originally attributed to a fossil mandible discovered in a sand pit in Mauer, Germany (a town near Heidelberg) hence the name. It was a nearly complete early human mandible that is very robustly built, but lacks a chin.

Features of all Homo erectus (variants included) are the presence of robust mandible and large molars (although dentition of Homo erectus is nearly identical to modern humans), a non-protruding chin, a heavy brow ridge and a long, low skull similar to modern Homo sapiens. The skeleton of Homo erectus is of heavier and more robust design when compared to the average modern human skeleton but body proportions vary greatly from individual to individual.

The Broken Hill 1 skull has a braincase profile that is low and slopes back from a large supraorbital torus reminiscent of earlier H. erectus specimens. Also like H. erectus, there is the remnant of a sagittal keel and an occipital torus at the back of the skull. Still, more modern features are present such as a flatter face and larger braincase of about 1300 cc. Cranial capacities of Homo erectus average around 1000cc, which is far greater than earlier australopiths and even early Homo.

The Broken Hill 1 skull shows signs of disease and wounds that occurred in the lifetime of this individual. Ten of the upper teeth have abscesses. Additionally, a partially healed puncture wound is visible above and in front of the hole for the ear. This approximate .25" diameter wound was made by either a projectile, piercing instrument or the tooth of a predator but the exact nature is not known. It is highly intriguing that this could be evidence for prehistoric human conflict!

Exact age of the Broken Hill 1 skull is not known but analysis of the associated animal fossils found indicated it is at least 125,000 years old. Most believe it is considerably older. Some researchers have proposed that the Kabwe cranium may be a member of the African population from which all modern humans descended, although this cannot be definitively proven.