Homo erectus

Homo erectus, early species of human being, having larger teeth and smaller brains than modern humans (Homo sapiens). They lived from about a million and a half years ago to 300,000 years ago. Homo erectus probably originated in Africa and later moved into Asia and Europe. Fossils of Homo erectus have been found in Indonesia (Java), China, and Kenya. Homo erectus made stone tools and used fire.

See also: Heidelberg man; Java man; Peking man.