Homo Habilis

Definition

Homo habilis ("handy man") is an extinct species of human that lived in East and South Africa between 2.3 and 1.5 million years ago and plays an interesting role in the discussion surrounding the dawn of our genus of Homo, which is thought to have first appeared around 2.5 million years ago.

More about: Homo Habilis

Timeline

  • c. 2600000 BCE - c. 12000 BCE
    The Pleistocene epoch, ranging from c. 2,6 million years ago until c. 12,000 years ago. It is characterised by repeated cycles of glacials and interglacials.
  • c. 2600000 BCE - c. 1000000 BCE
    Oldowan tool industry.
  • c. 2300000 BCE - c. 1500000 BCE
    Known timespan within which fossils attributed to Homo habilis fall.
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