Assessment Questions 4.6

The spread of Homo erectus was facilitated by an increase in brain power rather than changes in physical adaptation. The species demonstrated flexibility and adaptability across diverse environments, suggesting that intelligence and cultural adaptation played a crucial role in their ability to thrive in different climates and regions.

Homo erectus began in the warm tropics of Africa but expanded rapidly across southern Asia, reaching as far north as northern China (cold and dry climate) and western Europe (evidenced in artifacts found in England). The vast longitudinal and latitudinal range of Homo erectus, along with the diverse climates it survived, indicates adaptability made possible by culture and intelligence.

Evidence of the controlled use of fire dates back to about 1 million years ago. Researchers at Wonderwerk Cave in South Africa found burned bone and ashes of burned plant material in a stratigraphic layer with Acheulean tools, including handaxes. While there's no indisputable evidence at Zhoukoudian in northern China, the occupation of the cave during a glacial stadial suggests the likely use of fire by Homo erectus.