Peking man

Peking man (Sinanthropus pekinensis), prehistoric upright human of the species Homo erectus whose first fossil remains were discovered near Beijing, China (1929). Intermediate between Java man (Pithecanthropus erectus) and Neanderthal man, Peking man lived between 500,000 and 250,000 years ago, had less brain development than modern humans, and reached about 5 ft (1.5 m) in height. Peking man used fire and developed stone tools.

See also: Prehistoric people.