Herto Man

Herto Man is a set of ancient human remains found in 1997 in the Afar Triangle in Ethiopia. These remains are very old, dating between 154,000 and 160,000 years ago. At the time of their discovery, they were the oldest known remains of modern humans ever found, filling in a big gap in what we knew about human history.

Scientists first thought Herto Man might be a special type of early human and gave them a new name. But later studies showed that this special name was not needed, as it is hard to clearly define different types of early humans.

Along with the remains, many stone tools were found. These tools show a mix of older and newer styles, suggesting the people knew how to make different kinds of tools. Evidence from the site, such as cut marks on the skulls, hints that these early humans may have had special ways of treating their dead.

Research history

Discovery

In 1997, scientists found important fossils called Herto Man in the Afar Triangle in Ethiopia. These fossils include skulls and bone pieces from several people. They are very old, dating back between 154,000 and 160,000 years.

This area is well-known for many ancient human and human-like fossils that go back millions of years. Herto Man was special because, at the time, there were few fossils known from this time period, between 300,000 and 100,000 years ago. This made it hard to understand how modern humans developed.

"H. s. idaltu"

Some scientists described Herto Man as a new group within modern humans, calling it "H. s. idaltu". They thought it showed a mix of older and newer human features. However, other scientists disagreed, saying the fossils looked more like other known ancient humans. Over time, many experts have questioned whether this special name is needed, focusing instead on learning more about human evolution.

Anatomy

The Herto skull looks a lot like modern human skulls. It has a high forehead, a round shape when viewed from the side, and a flat face. The brain size was about 1,450 cubic centimeters. The skull is strong with a bony ridge above the eyes, slightly curved sides, and a curved back. These features are similar to those found in people today. Compared to modern skulls, the Herto skull is longer and bigger overall, though the cheekbones are a bit smaller.

Culture

Technology

The Upper Herto Member is a sandy area formed by rivers, and it has remains from old tools spread over about 5 kilometers. Scientists found many tools made using a special method called the Levallois technique, along with other types of tools. These tools were likely made by Herto Man, showing that they used a mix of older and newer tool styles.

Points and blades were made from a shiny stone called obsidian, and other tools were made from fine-grained basalt. Some tools were also made from a special kind of rock. The tools include different shapes like ovates, triangulars, and cleavers.

Mortuary practices

Some of the Herto Man remains show marks that suggest special ways of treating the dead. There are cut marks on the bones, which might mean that the people were preparing the bodies in a symbolic way, perhaps as part of a ritual to honor the dead. These marks are similar to practices seen in some tribes today.