Eugène Dubois

Dubois, Eugène (1858–1941), Dutch anatomist and physical anthropologist who in 1891–92, in Java, discovered the fossilized bones of a human-like creature who walked erect. Dubois named his discovery Pithecanthropus erectus. It led to the theory that there was a single “missing link” in the chain of evolution joining apes and human beings. It is now generally believed that there were various intermediary forms in human evolution, of which Pithecanthropus erectus was one.

See also: Anthropology; Prehistoric people.