Final answer:
Homo erectus was an early human species that lived around 1.9 million years ago with a stature similar to modern humans, used fire, made sophisticated tools, and demonstrated social care. The Nariokotome Boy is a well-known Homo ergaster/Homo erectus specimen representing a pre-adolescent who would have appeared modern despite his ancient age. Their culture was marked by Oldowan and Acheulean tool industries, which played roles in their adaptation and evolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
Homo Erectus and The Nariokotome Boy
Homo erectus is an early human species that first evolved about 1.9 million years ago in East Africa and migrated to Eurasia before going extinct around 800,000 years ago. Thought to be ancestral to Homo heidelbergensis, Homo erectus exhibited various physical traits such as being around the same height as modern humans, sometimes reaching just over six feet, possessing a prominent brow, a down-pointing nose, and a larger brain capacity of 1,000 to 1,200 cubic centimeters. They made and used sophisticated stone tools, relied on fire for warmth and cooking, may have constructed huts, and displayed evidence of social care within their communities.
The Nariokotome boy is a well-known Homo ergaster specimen, which some classify as a subset of Homo erectus, discovered in Kenya. It represents the remains of a boy who was about 12 years old at death, standing about 5 feet 4 inches tall with a predicted adult height around 5 feet 10 inches and an estimated cranial capacity of 900 cubic centimeters, appearing remarkably modern despite being 1.6 million years old. Homo ergaster and Homo erectus shared many similarities but may have existed as distinct species in the same area at one point in time.
Homo erectus cultures were characterized by the use of the Oldowan and Acheulean tool industries, which facilitated new behaviors such as hunting and foraging, likely contributing to brain growth and the species' adaptability to changing environments. This adaptability is further evidenced by their spread from Africa into Europe and Asia, where they continued to evolve and diversify, giving rise to various other human species.