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1.Homo
heidelbergensis is the ancestor for both modern humans
(Homo sapiens aka us) and for the Neanderthals (Homo
neanderthalensis). H. Heidelbergensis evolved
in Africa sometime before 800,000 years ago and at its height
occupied parts of both Africa and Europe. The specimens from
Kabwe and Petralona represent an African and a European representative
of this species. These individuals represent both stages 1
and 2 of The Modified
Accretion Model |
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2.Later
specimens of H. heidelbergensis began to presuppose
the morphological features of the later Neanderthals. For
example, Atapuerca 5 from Spain has extreme mid-facial prognathism,
which is number 4 on the list of Cranial
Morphological Features of the Neanderthals |
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3.These
images represent Neanderthals from across Europe. These individuals
represent both stages 3 and 4 of The
Modified Accretion Model |
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4.This
set of images represents Neanderthals from across Western
Asia and the Middle East. These individuals represent both
stages 3 and 4 of The
Modified Accretion Model |
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5.This
image represents a later Neanderthal from Europe. The individual
represents stage 5 of The
Modified Accretion Model |
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6.This
mandible (jaw bone) is one of the latest known remains of
a Neanderthal from 27,000 years ago. |
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7.As
the Neanderthals flourished in Europe, the descendents of
the African variety of H. heidelbergensis were becoming modern
humans (H. sapiens). These specimens represent some of the
earliest specimens of modern humans, or there immediate ancestors. |
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8.The
Neanderthals would disappear from Europe as Modern humans
expanded from Africa. These specimens represent some of the
earliest modern humans found in Europe and the Middle East. |
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