Assessment Questions 4.2

1. Describe Homo erectus evidence in China, specifically in Zhoukoudian, and how did Homo erectus adapt to different climates?

Zhoukoudian in China is a significant Homo erectus site, dated to 770,000 years ago. Homo erectus demonstrated adaptability to different climates, surviving in areas like northern China.

2. What unique hominin species was discovered in the Rising Star Cave system in South Africa, and what challenges arise in placing it within the human lineage?

The Homo naledi species was discovered in the Rising Star Cave system. Its morphology combines traits from different genera, including Australopithecus, Paranthropus, and Homo, making its placement in the human lineage complex.

3. What is the age of Homo naledi, and how does it relate to the idea that it might be at the root of human evolution?

Homo naledi was initially thought to be ancient, possibly at the root of human evolution. However, radiometric dating suggests an age between 236,000 and 335,000 years ago, making it a contemporary of early modern humans in Africa.