Homo erectus was an early human species that used fire and spread out of Africa. It appeared around 1.9 million years ago and survived until perhaps 100,000 years ago in some regions. Fossils have been found in East Africa, Georgia, China, Indonesia, and Spain. It was the first hominin to leave Africa in a sustained way, and the first to look recognizably human from the neck down.

Body proportions were similar to ours, though the brain was smaller and the skull thicker. Homo erectus made Acheulean tools, hunted or scavenged large animals, and likely controlled fire. Some sites show evidence of cooking, which would have allowed more efficient digestion and possibly supported larger brains. Social organization probably involved cooperation and food sharing.

Notable firsts

• First hominin to spread across Eurasia.
• First to use fire in a controlled way.
• First to make large bifacial hand axes.
• First to show body proportions close to modern humans.

Homo erectus was not a stupid ancestor. It was a successful species that thrived for over a million years.