Final answer:
The Nariokotome Boy skeleton offers critical insights into the growth and development of Homo ergaster, demonstrating similarities with modern humans and providing evidence of changes in diet and social behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
Importance of the Nariokotome Boy Skeleton
The Nariokotome Boy skeleton is a significant archaeological find that provides a wealth of information about Homo ergaster's growth and development, similar to modern human adolescents. Discovered in 1984, the near-complete skeleton of a roughly 12-year-old boy offers an unparalleled window into the physical stature, cranial capacity, and developmental processes of early humans. The skeleton showed that the boy was about 5 feet 4 inches tall at the time of his death, suggesting that Homo ergaster individuals had growth patterns not unlike those of modern Homo sapiens. With an estimated adult height of approximately 5 feet 10 inches and a cranial capacity of 900 cc, the specimen also provides evidence about the maturation rate and brain size of Homo ergaster. Another important aspect to understanding Homo ergaster is the evidence of increased meat consumption which is suggested by the analysis of another specimen, KNM ER 1808. This dietary shift may reflect changes in social organization, hunting practices, and the use of tools. Homo erectus, a longer surviving relative species, extended the understanding with its own features, such as a nuchal crest and longer legs, which gave further insight into the evolution of bipedality and hunting efficiency.