Homo heidelbergensis

[[File:Cráneo y mandíbula de Homo heidelbergensis (Atapuerca).jpg|right|thumb|175px|Hi ya, kids!]]
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'''''Homo heidelbergensis''''' was a member of the genus ''Homo'' that lived throughout the Old World and an ancestor of ''[[Human|Homo sapiens]]''.

==Intelligence==
Homo heidelbergensis are considered to be quite clever for their time. They hunted large animals with hand axes and wooden sticks, butchered meat, and used fire. ''Homo heidelbergensis'' also knew how to build simple shelters and may have made tools for some type of ritual which could have included ritually disposing of their dead.<ref name=BBC>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/prehistoric_life/human/human_evolution/first_europeans1.shtml BBC:The first Europeans - one million years ago]</ref> ''H. heidelbergensis'' is typically listed as the common Homo ancestor of ''[[Homo neanderthalensis]]'' and modern humans. ''H. heidelbergensis'' was possibly a descendant of ''[[Homo erectus]]'', or ''H. antecessor'', or ''[[Homo ergaster|H. ergaster]]'', depending on who you ask. Scientists argue over the fine points.<ref name=BBC/><ref>[http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/homo-heidelbergensis Homo heidelbergensis, What does it mean to be human?]</ref><ref>[http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/h/homo_heidelbergensis.htm Homo heidelbergensis]</ref><ref>[http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/homs/species.html#archaics Talk Origins on Homo heidelbergensis]</ref>

==Fossils and anatomy==
[[File:Brain size and tooth size in hominins.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|Brain size and tooth size in hominins]]
Homo heidelbergensis [[fossil|fossils]] are found throughout what is called the Old World with some differences between regions.  Their bodies were [[transitional fossil|intermediate]] between late ''Homo erectus'' and early modern humans. European ''Homo heidelbergensis'' were more compact than others which reduced heat loss in a relatively cold climate. There was a slight sexual dimorphism with males on average just under 6 feet tall while females were not much over 5 feet in height.  ''Homo heidelbergensis'' brains were smaller than modern human brains and their heads were more like ''Homo erectus'', with a  more prominent jaw and brow ridge.

==Temporal range==
The transition between Homo heidelbergensis and modern humans happened gradually and progressed faster in some areas, notably Southern Europe and East Africa, while other areas did not catch up till later.  Creationists can argue about this as they argue about "[[how come there are still monkeys?]]" though presumably [[Natural selection#Selection pressures |selective pressures]] were stronger in those areas where evolution was faster.  A population in what is now Kenya apparently became modern humans 150,000 years ago while others in Europe remained as Neanderthals till they died out around 28,000 years ago. So it goes.<ref group=note>Is there a parallel here with the way some modern human cultures have become modern and [[scientific]] while [[Young Earth Creationism|other human cultures]] have progressed relatively little and [[Biblical literalism|still insist that Bronze and Iron Age mythology must be completely accurate]]? No wonder the Neanderthals died out. Let's just hope the creationists destroy themselves in their stupidity soon and without destroying the rest of us.</ref><ref>[http://anthro.palomar.edu/homo2/mod_homo_1.htm Homo heidelbergensis]</ref>

==External links==
*[http://morphosource.org/index.php/Detail/MediaDetail/Show/media_id/6233 EA-DCC-03, ''Homo heidelbergensis''] &mdash; Data from a 3D scan of an ''H. heidelbergensis'' fossil skull
==Notes==
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==References==
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[[Category:Biology]]
[[Category:History]]
[[Category:Hominids]]
[[Category:Transitional fossils]]

Categories: Biology, History, Hominids, Transitional fossils