Early Homo appears to be relatively well developed by 2.0 million years ago but appears to have definite roots that emerge at least by about 2.5 million years ago. The classification of earliest hominid has traditionally has been identified as "homo" has been that of Homo habilis. Now the picture is less clear as to an exact fossil that may have been the earliest ancestral root for "homo." The dating of these hominids also is shifting to a much earlier date. It was once assumed for a long time that the larger brained Homo erectus, for example, did not develop until after 1.5 million years ago and possible not until around 1.0 million years ago. Now it is recognized that Homo erectus dates back to at least 1.6 million years ago in east Africa and that earlier forms of homo date even earlier.

Generally, the definition of Homo has centered on larger brain capacities in the range of 650 cc. or greater.

Homo habilis, identified by Louis Leakey as the "handy man" due to increased brain size and association with tools, is not well defined as a taxonomic division of early homo. With the discovery of Homo erectus at 1.6 million years ago, it is unclear whether a separate division is necessary for Homo habilis. Almost all of the remains of Homo habilis date between 1.6 and more than 2.0 million years in age.

RETURN to HOMINID JOURNEY