Homo Erectus - The First Humans

Homo Erectus was perhaps the most formative step in our evolution. I would argue they were the first humans.
Huge thanks to my patreons! Check it out if you're into a monthly, archaeology themed livestream!
/ stefanmilo
Artwork by Ettore Mazza:
/ ettore.mazza
Writing and research by Amanda Rossillo:
www.amandarossillo.com/
Sources: (you don't need to be a patreon to view them)
/ 50293307
Disclaimer: Use my videos as a rough guide to a topic. I am not an expert, I may get things wrong. This is why I always post my sources so you can critique my work and verify things for yourselves. Of course I aim to be as accurate as possible which is why you will only find reputable sources in my videos. Secondly, information is always subject to changes as new information is uncovered by archaeologists.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
www.stefanmilo.com
Historysmilo
historysmilo

[@StefanMilo]

Made a follow up video on whether hand axes were made to seduce partners. Check it out. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZobRe3yclLyHh9U

[@ShadowVXMaster]

ayo me monke

[@yaelhart9206]

There is so much potential for comment just in your choice of symbols. Food for thought.

[@randallridnour8954]

That's not an axe, THIS..... is an axe. phys.org/news/2009-09-giant-stone-age-axes-african-lake.html

[@kvarnerinfoTV]

As we invented term "humans" so it is defined by what we put in that box.

[@rangerg7278]

Stefan, hello! For a fellow educator that I consider a layman anthropologist ( no insult intended ) I think you do pretty well, but are a more humane or 'generous' person than are most of us. I see chimpanzees or bonobos and I see "us", so I get it. I sometimes see us in red foxes playing fox games. Many or most people ( or homo sapiens ) who saw any other homo species probably would have screamed "monster!" and killed them for looking different than themselves. We, or at least half of us, give or take, are still that way. Keep your generosity. We may need it to survive.

[@TheHistocrat]

Never been so excited to see some Erectus.

[@jasonjohinke5651]

Liar

[@histotrash4449]

@@jasonjohinke5651 what can I say, I was young

[@SuperManning11]

Who says History isn’t sexy?!

[@willek1335]

Homo erectus

[@usernamesrlamo]

Is that THE Histrocrat?! You do some premium historical/anthropology documentaries yourself. Love that channel!

[@Prrocess]

It really fascinates me to imagine that for 2 million years, there was another species of intelligent human beings struggling to survive on a very different Earth. They had real thoughts, dreams at night, aspirations and emotional connections, relationships. What was their life like? So many untold stories man, I wish time travel was possible. Just to observe our ancestors

[@CAMSLAYER13]

It was probably a lot like isolated tribes you find in say Africa or the Amazon

[@shaelisenberg8533]

Buying a home was probably way cheaper tho

[@Ziggerath]

One of the first things we did as a species was killout all other intelligent life until it was just humans lol

[@Prrocess]

@@Ziggerath Not really. Genetic evidence indicates that we interbred with most, if not all other human species

[@Ziggerath]

@@Prrocess they still got killed off overall

[@lip4159]

the whole video built up to the end where he giggles after saying “there is a little erectus in all of us” literally my fav part of the whole video😭

[@trebor3731]

Why is nobody talking about this 💀

[@StaryzHelios]

Homo Erectus is NOT The First Humans (homo sepians) Homo Erectus is DIFFERENT species that have no intelletual Homo Sepians have intellectual

[@justsomeguy335]

There is a little erectus 🤏 lmao

[@abelhapedras]

"little erectus" new nickname for my boyfriend

[@CaptainUnikitty]

Same!

[@AlanRobson_]

I´m a brazilian guy and your channel is being a wonderful find for me. Because here in Brazil the lack of the tipe of content is considerable. Paleoanthropology open a new world in my field of interess. Congratulation for your work here.

[@AlanRobson_]

@@pollyanne234 I didn't understand exactly what you meant. but if it was in a jocular tone it failed.

[@StaryzHelios]

Homo Erectus is NOT The First Humans (homo sepians) Homo Erectus is DIFFERENT species that have no intelletual Homo Sepians have intellectual

[@Just.A.T-Rex]

Work in the Amazon! So many lost cities that can be found with LiDAR

[@grahamsteele7907]

Love how these guys made tools, migrated thousands of miles, and survived nearly 2 million years all to be named “Homo erectus”

[@abdullahiabdille9758]

Pp

[@phongduringcoithoml8219]

@@user-gd7dc3om2l z

[@phongduringcoithoml8219]

@@abdullahiabdille9758 i

[@andrewharper3165]

Because they were stand up people.

[@Mrbfgray]

@@andrewharper3165 And they HAD to be sluts like all our ancestors or we wouldn't be here.

[@KhAnubis]

Geez, leave some documentary-style quality for the rest of us!

[@StefanMilo]

No can do. I’m going to be the last documentarian standing.

[@joshadams8761]

The next Ken Burns!

[@rustyspurs771]

(points at the documentary-style quality and shakes his head in the negative repeatedly)

[@animavideography1379]

@@StefanMilo no better man here Stefan. You de fossil hominin man!

[@Mynameismyumame]

DARE

[@cottonwoodslim3497]

I just discovered Stefan and his videos today. His sense of humor, frequent charges of locations, and talking into a spoon spices up what could be a dry presentation of a fascinating subject. Great job!

[@turdbbburgersam4318]

I really like how you do these mini documentaries with your own twist. This subject has always intrigued me on how we got here.

[@piland9167]

Did anyone walk by when you were sitting in the snow, talking to a camera, holding a spoon and waving a skull around?

[@StefanMilo]

Nah that’s my worst nightmare. I go pretty deep in the woods to avoid it.

[@Thor-Orion]

@@StefanMilo i’m pretty sure my worst nightmare is coming across someone doing something similar.

[@kelleren4840]

@@Thor-Orion🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@derekk.2263]

Talking about erections too.

[@dylanthompson869]

@Greg Artley was that just to flex you can run a mile in 7 mins

[@saratemp790]

I also like the "boiling water" theory of food. This ties back to my earlier theory, that early man developed, not with spears, but with 'baskets'. Some early monkey humanoid figured out you can carry more bird eggs, if you carry the whole nest down, with the eggs in them. So they figured out how to use containers. This use of containers led to us humanoids walking upright, so we would carry our baskets.

[@Craig_Black]

I like the way you think

[@psihostrumpf6233]

I like your theory, never heard something like that. However, i'm more prone to believe that upright walk had to do with predators. Descending from trees and into high grass and bushes it would be a great advantage to be able to see further than your natural height. Especially while spreading into new territories, where you would much more often have to check what roams around you. And with stereo vision it would be a game changer... such containers could be easily carried in our mouth when climbing down the tree and they wouldn't need to go that far to collect eggs and berries as they would to follow and hunt down the prey. Convenience of basket seems lesser of incentive for such endeavor, than it is to timely defend yourself or ambush a prey with your tools. Keep thinking, it seems like you do it well. And who knows after all, maybe you are absolutely right.

[@catpoke9557]

@@psihostrumpf6233 It was probably a mix of many things. Baskets and predators both call for upright walking, and so that's what happened.

[@TheMudwatcher]

I like your thinking. Most people seem pretty good at making twine, ropes, cordage, and basketry is a very useful skill. Most people had no metal or means of cooking over fire. In my part of the world -the Pacific - cooking was steamed in parcels wrapped in leaves or woven baskets, buried with preheated stones .I think the upright posture originally provided a far better view of what was going on, providing more time to grab one of the kids and get out of trouble .and only much later was two legs a stamina advantage. In a sprint to a tree and climb, chimps are twice as quick.

[@ahklys1321]

Hmm, a basket case.

[@commentingaccount1383]

Im honestly astounded that an anthropology channel has so many subscribers. Well, you deserve it!

[@lilykatmoon4508]

The complicated story of how we became to be is of endless fascination to me. Earlier today I watched a video by PBS Eons in fermentation and in this video they hypothesized that perhaps Homo Erectus had discovered the benefits of fermentation in food to aid in digestion since we don’t have any real evidence that they cooked their food in a regular basis. This would have allowed for the better diet that aided in our evolution. Like you, I think that the sophisticated tools they made and their ability to successfully spread across the globe suggests some rudimentary ability for purposeful communication not to mention the rudimentary art they produced. Fascinating video!

[@sophitsa79]

Before this video I watched a 1 hr lecture On the same topic. In 25 minutes you covered basically all the same areas and did it in a highly accessible way. There is a great talent in that

[@cyberblock7619]

The best book on this subject is called "Erectus walks among us"

[@DavidBrocekArt]

Adult me: "This is such a great documentary." That 13 yo me still living in the back of my head: "Hehe, Early Homo."

[@DavidBrocekArt]

@Mickey Last Yeah, I guess no one's perfect

[@insaneyogurt4993]

You are kicked from the mickey mouse club

[@yuibkys3522]

@Mickey Last you know whats sad? replying to youtube comments instead of doing something useful with your day

[@brute6436]

Lol

[@averageminecraftenjoyer9419]

Erectus 😏

[@dannydevito5729]

I've been binging all of your videos and I'm really impressed by your ability to talk about such a complicated subject for a half hour and you don't say "uh" 1,000 times

[@gjeraldh2989]

It’s literally the bare minimum given that this is not a single take.

[@ren7312]

Firstly and most importantly i would like to applaud you for how informative and enjoyable this video is, I always enjoy your video's and look forward to new releases. However- the horror and confusion I felt when I first saw Elmo in the background is indescribable.

[@TylerMcKinney]

We've evolved more in terms of technology in 80 years than our entire species has in millions of years. Wild.

[@organicfarm5524]

So much of untold stories in between..... Crazy

[@catlarry]

...or devolved depending on how you wish to look at it.

[@levidestin6783]

@@catlarry boomer

[@kolticc]

@@catlarry ok boomer 😐

[@wally2597]

more like 1 year

[@DoctorProfessorPablo]

Since a young child, I've had this fantasy that I somehow got access to a time machine. Somehow it didn't affect the environment, it was as if I wasn't there. Made for the perfect observatory of our ancient past. And sadly it's only science fiction!

[@adarshtiwari2727]

Damn! .....i had the exact same fantasy!.....i still fantasize about this sometimes lol

[@bigred8438]

Snap.

[@bigred8438]

Would it not be strange to think that astral travel was true and we have gone back and made observations in our sleep like creepy spirits hanging around.

[@joecraven2712]

@@bigred8438 Yes that would be strange. Because it’s entering the realm of silly spiritual nonsense.

[@Ray-lw2rh]

Same!

[@wilsoncaceres7205]

Very fascinating stuff and all the credit goes to Stefan . I fantasize in my mind that I am among those people , my ancestors. Thank you for your great contribution up to now . I wonder what my children will learn in the next few decades ?

[@solaceinshelling6552]

Dude, you channel is literally 🔥 Your knowledge, and presentation is unlike anything else on YT. I can't wait to see where you will take your content!

[@kostja789]

I love that you still have your spoon on the microphone

[@RhodeIslandWildlife]

The segment with him in the snow, waving around a skull with the spoon pasted to his mic was epic. What must innocent pedestrians must have thought stumbling across that scene?

[@jsheridan693]

I believe that the microphone is on the spoon, which points out the question "Which came first, the microphone or the spoon?"

[@papal1ef]

@@jsheridan693 the spoon :)

[@daveputnam5809]

@@papal1ef it was, in fact, The Tick

[@Gorboduc]

The spoon is probably a religious ritual of some kind.

[@StefanMilo]

Hey everyone! With every video I make, there’s always stuff that has to be left out, just for the sake of time. This is especially the case with homo erectus who lived for so long and was so crucial to our development. Stay tuned for some bonus vids including extra detail about the handaxes because there’s a lot of debate around those. Thanks for watching!

[@mireillelebeau2513]

Thanks for posting.

[@abiku2923]

Where do you buy your plastic skulls?

[@StefanMilo]

Bone clones

[@dustydesert1674]

Stone tools dating to 2.12 million years ago have been found in China recently.

[@StefanMilo]

Wow that’s crazy, I have to check that out

[@bombasticbushkin4985]

Very nice presentation Stefan. Very human and pointing out the flaws or unknowns in today's evidence. No effort to "make stuff up" and not delineate the possible deviations. Thanks, learning new things is fun and conscious raising.

[@cyberblock7619]

The best book on this subject is called "Erectus walks among us"

[@Sournale]

❗️⚠️ WARNING, DO NOT. REPEAT. DO NOT CLICK THE TAB “NEWEST FIRST” IN THE COMMENT SECTION. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. STAY SAFE, SOLDIERS ⚠️❗️

[@thatpigboss]

THANKS FOR SAVING ME CUZ AS A HOMO, ITS NATURE FOR US TO BE CURIOUS. SORRY CAPTAIN

[@patriciaclay.2683]

During the 1950s I was a Patrol Officer with the Australian Administration in Papua New Guinea. I used to patrol the villages built along the Turama River. There were also villages in the pinnacle limestone eastern interior which I also visited. On the way to these villages I walked past a number of huge caves. I have often wondered since if anyone has done any digging in these caves as I am sure people would have lived in them.

[@garyjaensch7143]

Some Papua New Guinea natives even in recent times have stories of seeing pterosaurs, as do some missionary’s.

[@garyjaensch7143]

Harriet sconce was one of the missionaries

[@pollyanne234]

There could be a few homos in them or even an erectus

[@cyberblock7619]

​@@dr2599The best book on this subject is called "Erectus walks among us"

[@arthurdewith7608]

@@cyberblock7619 well I hope he covers up its a very sensitive area

[@D-me-dream-smp]

Your “story telling” abilities are wonderful. No fancy effects or irrelevant stock footage just fascinating information in an easy to understand format. Thank you for sharing your big brain with us (and the adorable assistant who provided us with demonstrations of early communication)

[@justinbone4238]

He has a great voice for narrating the story.

[@driedpancake]

theres plenty of irrelevant stock footage lol

[@michael7324]

Drives me crazy when people put in unrelated B roll shots of thi gs that have no relevance to the video.

[@harshbutfair8993]

I think his story telling abilities are wonderful, BUT there are stock footages, and background music throughout the video. It does my head in when documentary style videos do this, actually any non music videos for that matter. I can't watch docu vids who do this., I wish Stefan didn't do this, because otherwise enjoy his channel.

[@AndrewCavaletto]

​@@harshbutfair8993 cringe take

[@danrozz1]

I think that developing and perfecting complex tools following a certain standard requires the ability to accumulate information and transfer it from one generation to another, and I can think of no other system than language, just as we do.

[@romz1]

These guys hunted, survived the elements while struggling to survive at times, where im here sat on the sofa eating a bowl of cereal that someone made and packaged for me. Whos more 'human' ? 🤔

[@kinglyzard]

Exactly the same here! Lol

[@norlanderduwallis9074]

Neither, cause I haven't met either of you. Therefore you are a figment of my imagination, as am I to you.

[@olliecherpuzi5045]

We’re equally human we just collectively figured it out and through collaboration. We created supply chains and massive farms that give us both a high quality of life and leisure time.

[@ThouArtOfWar0724]

Being lazy doesn't make you less human. It just makes a liability because you can do all the same things they could. You just choose not to.

[@csatacsibe]

Your question was about whos more 'animal'.

[@comatose1818]

the part where he showed the inscribed seashell in Java made me tear up, it's something so human to carve your mark into something, almost everytime I go for a walk in the wods I find a stick or a rock that grabs my attention and makes me wanna carve it, it's so humbling to see how the seeds of our existence date so far back in time, how even our most distant cousins were in a way human just like us would be, curious, inventive, kind and resourceful.

[@kyrab7914]

Graffiti, graffiti everywhere would certainly agree with you

[@nicoleahearne5392]

I think it's very human to interact with our environment, such as making marks or arrange nature in an artistic way (I like to make structures with twigs). It's a comforting thought that someone will see those twigs arranged in such a way, and think "another person did this".

[@beatjuiceworldwide1560]

I found an arrowhead in my front yard that was so old it didn’t have the tool marks on it anymore. They were all worn off. I used to find pottery too. I lost that damn arrowhead.

[@CaliforniaCarpenter7]

I was under the impression that the fire pit in Wonderwerk Cave in South Africa was dated to 900,000+. Initially I remember hearing about the "1 million year old fire pit" but it looks like the date has been pushed closer a bit. I read that there were animal bones amongst the ash and it was supposed that Early Humans had been cooking meat there.

[@coreyrini550]

I rarely comment on here, but I just would like to express the Creator how excellent this video is. I could tell this was not made by like a professional crew (National Geographic for example), but I think the intelligence in the presentation and even the visualizations are at that level; if not better. I'm very impressed!

[@coreyrini550]

Sorry for the poor English: should say " Express to the creator of this video."

[@StefanMilo]

Yo thank you man, I really try

[@thegreatestshenfan6484]

I thought Homo Erectus was a spell that wizards could use on men to make their "Wands" go up

[@DavoidJohnson]

Now that's the Harry Potter film they did not make.

[@thegreatestshenfan6484]

@@DavoidJohnson I'm sure thay did somewhere

[@ant7699]

I was like... Wait.. What? Is that a video? Like. Wtf man. Its that a freaking video son? Like wtf man... Wh at th r f u ck man. Is that like a video or something man.. Is that like like like a video man..or what? Like.. Wtf man. Hello.... Anyone there man. L. I. K. E wtf mon.. Helooooo???

[@thegreatestshenfan6484]

@@ant7699 Sharted, I farted, I just turned gay. Prince phillip's balls be BC

[@fomalhauto]

nope I learned about Homo Erectus as an archaic hominid species back in jr high school in 1980s

[@aresgardner]

I love how as we learn about our ancestors and evolutionary cousins we’re beginning to view them with more respect and insight. Love what you do, Stefan! Shout out from Oregon!

[@HendrikTheThird]

@@nickadm8321 No.

[@XAVIERCUERVO]

another lazy erectus here

[@blazeedge1631]

@@nickadm8321 Well for starters, learn what a monkey is

[@Thor-Orion]

@@blazeedge1631 well he’s not entirely wrong though. Apes evolved from monkeys with tails. It was just way longer ago.

[@seal9390]

Their is no evidence

[@JohnVance]

Your gesturing with the skull just never gets old.

[@JohnEglick-oz6cd]

What really boggled my mind was the video of Mr Begun 's finding the ancestors of our ancestors in a brilliant brief synapsis on this topic . The synergistic occurrences in climate , plate tectonics ( continental drifting ) all shaped the evolution of the Humans going as far back as nearly 12 million years ago , and one can go further back than that most definitely !

[@larryparis925]

Having watched a number of Stefan's videos, I have to say this is one of his best. Not only the science, but the way the science is communicated. Excellent. Louis Leakey and Carl Sagan would be proud.

[@StefanMilo]

That’s too kind by far, but I’m glad you enjoyed it. I’m always trying to improve my craft.

[@gnosticelk8193]

@@StefanMilo the picture of a face you drew on the notepad looks remarkably like the coach in the adult swim series, home movies

[@user-pt6uu4ry2g]

I love that the first humans were named “homo” and “erectus”

[@kerenhumphreys43]

Joey and Rachel laughed at homo erectus 🤣

[@Julian-qs8xq]

Haha well we are still named homo to this day

[@Bruh-oy7wh]

@@thatpandaz6094 why is the sapien homo😆😹😹😹😹😹😹😹😹😹😹🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😆🤣😆🤣😆😆😆😆😆😂🤭😹😆😂😹😆😆😆😂🤣😂🤣🤣😭😭😭🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😆🤣😆🤣😆😆😆😆😆😂🤭😹😆😂😹😆😆😆😂🤣😂🤣🤣😭😭😭🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😆🤣😆🤣😆😆😆😆😆😂🤭😹😆😂😹😆😆😆😂🤣😂🤣🤣😭😭😭🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😆🤣😆🤣😆😆😆😆😆😂🤭😹😆😂😹😆😆😆😂🤣😂🤣🤣😭😭😭🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@pollyanne234]

It was the erectus bit that got me.

[@flatearthgodsarenotreal]

I'm a homoerectus also 😭 it's always up

[@Changelax]

Why's there a plastic spoon on your mic

[@Balagon999]

One critique amongst this interesting video, the word "primitive" isn't used in anthropology as it gives such a pejorative tone to what is described we rather use archaic, early, ancient. I would argue that he is not the first human just because he looks more like us as it is a very Sapiens-centric point of view. He is the most remarkable of our genus as the earliest Homo to migrate out of Africa but remarkability doesn't influence the taxonomy of the human genus. Other than that, it is a VERY good vulgarisation of what we know about Homo Erectus and it's importance in human evolution. It is also refreshing to see an educational video constantly reminding to the viewer that these information aren't set in stone(pun intended). Interestingly enough, the discovery of the Lomekwian lithic culture in Dikika, ethiopia might suggest(at least to me) that vocalization in the goal of transmitting knowledge from generation to generation was present in earlier hominids than Homo Habilis or Erectus. In this case, Australopithecus Afarensis is the earliest hominin to really modify rocks in the goal of carcass processing and the behavior is observable in the Lomekwi 3 site in Kenya suggesting a certain complexification of transmission abilities in early hominins. It also shows " hominin knappers already had considerable abilities in terms of planning depth, manual dexterity and raw material selectivity." Source : Harmand, S., Lewis, J., Feibel, C. et al. 3.3-million-year-old stone tools from Lomekwi 3, West Turkana, Kenya. Nature 521, 310-315 (2015). doi.org/10.1038/nature14464

[@mrandrew481]

For me, all these chaps and chapettes are like family, I wish I could know more about them, even meet them, and it makes me sad knowing that I won't

[@RedDragon91]

My wife thinks I'm crazy for this but I genuinely feel sad when I think about the future and everything I won't know or see because I'll be gone. I almost mourn what I will never learn because it will be figured out after my time. It feels like a great loss.

[@gitfarkt9690]

I don't relate...so I'm gonna be ignorant and say that sounds stupid, both of you 😂

[@ianrandall482]

if you know any white people, you probably know someone that is a hybrid of Neanderthal and Cro Magnon. If you know anyone from SE Asia or Australasia, then you know someone that is a cross between Cro Magnon and Denesivians. Just say Hi, we are still here.

[@bigalsnow8199]

@@ianrandall482 If you know any sub Sahara Africans you probably know someone who is among the only pure homo sapians left. Don't genocide them or you'll wipe out yet Another human species .

[@dodgecrockett3474]

@@bigalsnow8199, well since you asked nicely, I'll cancel the slaughter that I'd planned.

[@mstalcup]

Acheulean hand axes are so complex I don't see how H. erectus could have passed on skills like that without using language.

[@555Trout]

I think some experiments were done trying to teach it without language. As I recall it was possible . But of course that was with a sapien brain. Though I tend to agree with your premise.

[@StefanMilo]

I agree to be honest

[@onahilltopsatthemoon]

We're so reliant on language today so it's easy for us to overestimate the need of it to accomplish things. As someone mentioned before there was an experiment on passing a skill nonverbally, but with human brain "replacements". What if erectus was a master visual learner compared top us? This is not so far-fetched, average chimp today "destroys" average human in photographic memory experiments. Humans eventually gained a language ability but it's harder to account for millions years old things we've lost on our way there.

[@STALKER1918]

Even though much emphasis is being put on the importance of lanuguage, and even if we can say that even australopitheci had means of communications, i'm sure that knowledge transmission by these means of communication, visual observation, trial and error is definitely possible. The bifacial knapping method (or alternate flaking as called by some) which is used when knapping a handaxe was used to prepare the Oldowan and Early Acheulean choppers, which in my opinion is an indication of a `longue durée` knowledge and know-how transmission, or what other call cumulative culture

[@Pouncer9000]

@@onahilltopsatthemoon We're still very much visual learners though, "Here, let me show you" has got to be the most common phrase uttered when teaching a skill. And while chimps are stunning at instant visual memorisation I doubt they can internalise what they see to the degree we do: when you watch someone knap a flintstone you're absorbing a truckload of info: you're feeling the weight of the piece in your hand, you're noting the angle and speed of the hammer which combined with the sound of the impact tells you a lot about the consistency of flint even if you've never handled it in your life, you'll start analysing the pattern it's being worked by, and maybe even worry about the risks involved, such as hitting a finger or cutting the palm of your hand on the new edge _all without any internal vocalisation_. And then we go into effing overdrive when we actually use language because that allows us to explain _why_ we just did what we did.

[@SaltedKillick]

Zooming in on that 400,000 year old shell was fascinating. I have to wonder if there was more intent than just squiggly lines. Almost see other faint images on it - perhaps those lines were intended to be trees and other lines behind it faded? There is one part of the evolutionary dynamic that's not spoken enough about and that's the fact our spinal column exits straight out of our skull unlike other hominids which is out of the back or foramen magnum. The constant evolutionary imagery of a line of succession portraying apes and then man is wrong, imo. The spinal column and limbs are totally different. This is the real reason we walk upright and we don't have proof it was food scarcity that forced a bone composition changes over a million years to an upright status. Theirs has not changed one iota. You've shone an interesting light on ancient homo-erectus and makes sense on that species' ability to migrate.

[@yaredtsegayeart4970]

"There's a little Erectus in all of us" Well said lol

[@pollyanne234]

And a lot in some men

[@shadowphoenix8962]

On the subject of language,babies easily pickup gestures. So it's not hard to believe the first languages were non verbal and that fired the nerves to create verbal language.

[@tortron]

my dog follows hand gestures better than spoken commands, so its not a stretch

[@KRYMauL]

Chimps and other great apes can learn sign language, so I wouldn't put it pass the Hominds to develop sign language on their own.

[@thedwightguy]

My son caught up with his Japanese cousin and since neither spoke each others language, as TODDLERS, they simply started inventing their own language. Grandparents were puzzled.

[@ianrandall482]

Babies are smarter than anyone thinks, spend enough time around the little ones, and you understand that they have, we had, a way of communicating that is not totally verbal. Yes they can laugh, cry and make coo noises, but there is so much more than that.

[@KRYMauL]

@@ianrandall482 Babies are as smart as most animals.

[@mothlightmedia1936]

Great Video!

[@swagilyph]

me seeing that one guy I watch comment on that other guy I watch

[@foxhound963]

I he was on the last video I watched too.

[@StefanMilo]

Thanks man! I’m just trying to keep up with you.

[@listentome2648]

@@swagilyph so true!!! I can relate to this :'D

[@andrewmantle7627]

Hear hear.

[@tharaka5951]

This video is so cool and your vibe is so nice. Keep up the good work ❤️🔥

[@guyjperson]

Interesting stuff. Subscribed. I'd already seen a couple others. I'd wondered why the front of your mike looked like a plastic spoon, but you've referred to it now, so I know there's a story somewhere. I'll have to backtrack to find it.

[@hectoraarlott]

ahh Home Erectus. the most hilarious science name next to Uranus

[@coalkingryan881]

Unfortunately the Homo Erectus couldn’t land on Uranus due to them disappearing before the deed could be done.

[@ThehoodieGuy.]

@@coalkingryan881 lmfao I'm cryinggg🤣🤣

[@clementnade972]

God created Adam and Eve, not Erectus in Uranus.

[@cakapcakep241]

Homo Erectus. Homo means G*y and Erectus means er*ection. So Homo Erectus means a g*y who had an er***tion.

[@sitdown3991]

@@cakapcakep241 it’s not tik tok you can say the whole thing

[@jackieroberts6316]

How can anyone not think the hand axe is art!

[@StefanMilo]

Very true, that attention to detail certainly suggests an interest in form and symmetry. Wish I’d said that in the video, next time

[@terraflow__bryanburdo4547]

I think there are some that think that some of the bigger ones are ceremonial/decorative.

[@chairde]

Art is symbolic isn’t it. An axe is a tool. The decorations on the axe may be art though.

[@lucidd4103]

@@chairde Study a bit more flintknapping and then you'd get a better idea. Making the axe the way it is need some kind of artistic sense. The symmetry alone is a testament to this, but the evolution of flintknapping is a proof of it.

[@chairde]

@@lucidd4103 Yes, a good point. The man must have a vision in his head.

[@adamlederer5872]

Fist time watcher, Awesome delivery! enjoyed and looking forward to catching up. Cheers!

[@primevalseeker3952]

I am certain HE must have been creative and enjoyed art and culture just like us. I love this subject and thanks for this.

[@memomorph5375]

I remember reading a paper on how an orthopedic surgeon recognized an early hominid’s skeletal injury as a “fall on outstretched limb”, one he sees in people frequently

[@fredneecher1746]

A Collis fracture? Like when you fall suddenly and stick your arm out and your hand gets thrust back a 90 degrees.

[@sliceymcdicey7974]

"It's quite heavy and could definitely kill something" *murders random banana without warning*

[@venicec3310]

Lol

[@ollytropics1735]

A non circumsized goomba a man of culture I see

[@jonothandoeser]

"Homo Erectus" sound like gay porn.

[@roberthickerty390]

Now I know which weapon to use when attacked by someone wielding a banana. Still not sure how to survive an attack with a handful of cherries😱

[@jonothandoeser]

@@roberthickerty390 It's the pits.

[@judemorales4U]

The host is just so darn likable! Great presenter of good content. Love the channel!

[@BassGoBomb]

'There's a little ... in all of us ..' .. Not sure how you kept a straight face on that one either .. lol.. Great stuff .. love your work .

[@chuckvt5196]

IT really puts things in perspective! When I was a wee lad many years ago, I had walk miles to school in any weather and brave the elements and nature. Homo Erectus crossed continents and oceans. I bow to their spirit!

[@glennmejorada7395]

"There's a little erectus in all of us." True. But some bigger than others.

[@user-vm3gx7sp2n]

Explain

[@kakyoin7248]

@@user-vm3gx7sp2n pp

[@user-wf3bx5qd8c]

thanks for all the information, they are very valuable. I had a question about why you always have a white plastic spoon in the hand holding the microphone

[@hexyellow9873]

I feel relived knowing that the newest-first comments are just kids laughing at the name instead of hundreds of Christian and Islamic people bashing you.

[@sonjavandenende9586]

Human evolution keeps getting more fascinating! Thanks for another very informative video. :^)

[@StefanMilo]

Glad you think you enjoyed it!

[@vklnew9824]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/poClgqOMarGSedk

[@tireachan6178]

When the camera angle went back and I saw the fire, I thought that crazy bastard has an open fire burning in his garage 😳

[@jamiboothe]

lol...Homo Erectus I suspect was not that dumb, implying fire use and its inherent unseen and unfelt dangers could have become stories and ways of life. In other words culture out of necessity.

[@mathewadams2929]

"What are we if not big walking brains?" Such a great quote!

[@trucker-ham]

It is crazy that I am a ole southern christian hillbilly, and realize this is not that far out there, and it is actually very easy to see and understand. Why are so many resistant to evolution? It was scary how quick I dropped the status quo and began to awake from the dogma. The creation idea never made true sense to me, like much of the other rhetoric of the idea of creation and creator. It is truly just a product of our infancy as a species. We have to do better!

[@stefanottomanski]

This is such a slick and smoothly produced video. Clever use of obviously limited resources, disciplined research, tight editing, passionate delivery with a rich voice and killer smile. Have only recently discovered this channel and have been binge-watching all your videos. Great stuff. You are doing important work.

[@DynamicAlex]

Dude, you are so natural at spreading your passion around, and you make it feel it so light, that seeing your videos is not just knowledge, but a pleasure and entertainment...

[@NotSomeJustinWithoutAMoustache]

When I heard that outro line I was so touched. It's almost like I could feel the little Erectus coming inside me.

[@anannyayahoo4197]

hello Stefan, i came across to your channel, and i listen to it now almost everyday, love your work. can you make any video about Homo semipens and Dinosaurs cohabitaion on the earth? keep up the good work ❤

[@lumberBT]

Im just a simple hominid, i see new Milo video, I tap.

[@machematix]

We're all just simple hominids. But damn Milo makes great work. I think he has a big cc brain.

[@morcoroni]

same 😩

[@getayereigns2438]

@@machematix you're all just simple mutations of us hominids

[@adamchilders836]

I wish I could observe our ancient ancestors. Very interesting. Many species use sound to communicate, it benefits survival and reproduction, but the impact of our development in that area of our history is really cool to think about. I also wonder how art can be linked to our evolution as a relatively hyper intelligent species. I assume the same parts of our brain that are easily explained with evolution such as caring for our tribe, thinking creatively to get out of a dangerous situation or make a kill, curiosity and being amused enjoying new things, are linked to artistic development as well.

[@StaryzHelios]

Homo Erectus is NOT The First Humans (homo sepians) Homo Erectus is DIFFERENT species that have no intelletual Homo Sepians have intellectual The first human is ADAM!

[@spoonaddict8805]

The idea of ancient humans cooking without fire is funny to me. "What Bogh do with food?" "Bogh put food in warm water." "Bogh will loose food!" "No, Let Bogh cook." "What is cook?" "I no know."

[@PhanTasmGoriA]

The Homo Erectus skull has some interesting features. Firstly, archaic Proto-Hominids retained their prognathism from earlier great ape ancestors; As the protrusion creates more jaw muscle attachment sites, allowing for a more powerful bite. Simian prognathism is always correlated with smaller cranial capacity, whereas a flatter facial profile and level jaw bone - as seen in Cro-Magnon - is correlated with a more developed pre-frontal cortex and larger cranial capacity. Secondly, the recessed, sloping forehead is indicative of the under-evolved pre-frontal cortex - An essential development in human reasoning, cognition, and the quelling of our emotional, animalistic impulses.

[@JohnnyUtah13]

I didn't realize how much I wanted this video. Homo erectus has always been one of my favorite humans. Great video!

[@richardschuerger3214]

By far the most successful.

[@kellkenyon406]

The person who came up with the name was clearly a homosexual.

[@RageTyrannosaurus]

@@kellkenyon406 Is that also true for those who named homo sapiens sapiens?

[@kellkenyon406]

@@RageTyrannosaurus Very

[@arandompharaoh5549]

@@RageTyrannosaurus Apparently that's Google's answer, not that I mind being named homo :) Homo can mean two things in biology, the Greek meaning (same) is used in genetics for words like homozygous, while the Latin meaning (man) is used in the binomial naming of species such as Homo sapiens (wise man). Here homo means the same and hetero simply means different. mammothmemory.net/biology/dna-genetics-and-inheritance/gregor-mendel/homo-vs-hetero.html#:~:text=Homo%20can%20mean%20two%20things,and%20hetero%20simply%20means%20different.

[@stockrex]

Not sure why I never thought of those HandAxes as being that huge. I like it.

[@StefanMilo]

Some are massive, suspiciously massive. Stay tuned for a bonus video on them very soon.

[@TheEloheim]

Honestly this was the first time I realized hand-axe means an axe held in hand, without a handle. Somehow that never clicked for me before.

[@mpetersen6]

@@StefanMilo Hand axes are a tool. Making or fashioning one out of rock requires the ability to analyze and plan. The really big leap in my opinion is when the first person realized they could somehow attach that worked piece of stone onto a stick to make either a better spear or a more effective club. This is when humanity went from simple to complex tools. I also happen to think that Erectus was using worked bone in tools. Primarily as stabbing weapons for hunting and probably war. War or tribal conflict seems to be hardwired into us.

[@angelsinthearchitecture7106]

@@mpetersen6 Hand axes require a parent stone and a hammerstone. No intense intelligence required. They're pretty easy to make.

[@mpetersen6]

@@angelsinthearchitecture7106 And just how many have you made?

[@napalmholocaust9093]

About the only defining human characteristic is our ability to have feelings for non-relatives in the distant past sometimes a hundred generations removed, like Shakespeare or Caligula. Sometimes just by their image.

[@talltayls21]

Its so wild to think about the time scales here, with some of these beings having lived 1.5 to 2 million years ago, on this same Earth we live now, and then to think that our ENTIRE recorded history for humans that live even somewhat similarly to what we do today can be traced over only the last few thousand years. A few thousand, compared to a few MILLION years in the past. At the direction we are currently moving our species, and assuming we can manage to keep our Earth in livable conditions, imagine what our species (with our brains) could accomplish given several MILLION years on this planet…!!! We’ve managed to influence huuge changes/evolution in dog species in just the last 200 years or so!

[@TexRenner]

Following your development these last few years has been lots of fun; I always appreciate the research you put into them. Keep up the good work, and hold on to that sense of humor (it isn't lost on everybody). And thanks for introducing me to the illustrations of Ettore Mazza!

[@OAlem]

Nice argument and I tend to agree. As an anthropologist, I'm quite certain that while Erectus was not the first upright hominid, erect posture itself in the savannas was the key essential trait that led to all the others that define us, including speech, because a flute-like trachea entering the foramen magnum at 90 degrees is required for vocalizing human language.

[@billybobhouse9559]

Fascinating. I just don't understand how such a successful species can just die out. They proved they could survive in many environments. It makes sense that they did survive and simply evolved into us eventually.

[@nima9340]

I like to think that Homo Erectus were curious, just like us. An let's be honest, who among us has not seen an island in a lake and thought "I'd like to go out there, I wanna see what's there"? I imagine that Erectus would have been just as curious. And maybe, just maybe, a few of them were bold enough to actually go there.

[@dianadegracia3586]

i think ive just found my next favourite channel. everything about paleontological anthropology fascinates me and i LOVE whenever you mention art and creativity and it makes me love humans so much more :D you just GET it, man, i love this so much

[@judeangione3732]

I love the idea of us sitting around in hot tubs, chillin' and waiting for our soup to boil.

[@sfall616]

They probably cooked their soup while relaxing *in* the soup.

[@brucetucker4847]

That, or we were sitting in hot tubs while a saber-tooth was lurking around waiting for its dinner to boil.

[@bradscharlott]

You're a rock star of the Stone Age, Stephan. You should investigate getting a contract with a streaming service. Your persona could work well with a mass audience. Netflix or Amazon or Disney might bite for a multi-part series; each part could have a central person or family as the star: Lucy, Turkana Boy, DNA Eve and Adam, the Hobbit guy, the mixed Denisovan/Neanderthal family suggested by a child's DNA. Or maybe all that sounds like a pipe dream. Anyway, thanks for your great work.

[@robertreynolds442]

I like seeing Elmo in the background jaw dropped while being blown away by your knowledge. I'm right there with you Elmo!

[@Eamonshort1]

I am unoriginal and have nothing clever to say just commenting to boost engagement with the algorithm

[@LuxisAlukard]

I'm just lazy, but here's a comment

[@sonkeschluter3654]

Similar unoriginal answer for the algorithm.

[@drkalowski256]

Testicles.

[@poleroso85]

Well done, we need to get the Silver Play Button for Stefan. Great channel, thank you for the great content!

[@oddjam]

🙌

[@kraekennedy]

So happy to hear from Stephen Milo again! I have been searching KZbin. You have been missed!🤗

[@paulryan2128]

So Kimberly, if you subscribe to his channel then you will get a notice of new content. Also, if you "touch" the photo of Milo in just under the thumbnail pic, YT will bring you to his channel, which has ALL his past video content. FYI.

[@kraekennedy]

@@paulryan2128 I am already subscribed Paul, but thanks for the suggestion. I am a big fan of Stephen's videos. I simply meant that I assumed I had missed a video because it had been awhile. Thanks again.

[@user-up3dd1vw6b]

@@kraekennedy you look so cutte in your profile pic ^-^

[@sfall616]

@@user-up3dd1vw6b Ur so cutte as well homie.

[@user-up3dd1vw6b]

@brett smith oh its very tough for me irl I look exactly like the dude in my pfp ;_;

[@paulscarponescarpone.8681]

Love it, Stephan where did you get the Shulan hand from? Very cool

[@vast634]

Hunting a hippo or giraffe requires a larger group, ranged weapons and a lot of coordination. That all points to them having a good enough way to communicate. Using the mouth for vowels is just a detail then.

[@adrianrafaelmagana804]

I absolutely love this channel, I'm only just really getting into it, I think I first came across this when you collaborated with history KZbinrs on maritime navigation but I had forgotten to hit the bell at the time and only just fixed that a few days ago, well I have been binging ever since. Fantastic videos Stefan, thank you so much for sharing this all with us!

[@GustavSvard]

A pleasant calm voice explaining who Erectus were and how they fit into the greater human saga. This is some of the best content on all of youtube.

[@nicholaspesa696]

My question is that why, how and when did homo erectus split off from other organisms to become what we are now. What was the turning point for us to branch off from our pre-human species. And also what animal or creature were we before the first humans evolved and the animal we were before humans and primates split from one another

[@GustavoSilva-ny8jc]

Insane thumbnail, it feel like it's going to move at any second and the impact it's going to be hard. Really anime style.

[@mrbonk3139]

I’m taking anthropology this year and I’m learning about human history since 8 mya or so. It’s crazy, we don’t really know why we’re the last one of our species. And we haven’t been so prominent compared to other species up until some thousands of years ago out of just 200k years ago. This class I’m taking is honestly extremely interesting.

[@cyberblock7619]

The best book on this subject is called "Erectus walks among us"

[@monicaluketich6913]

Do we really know that we are the last Homo species? We are still evolving and do have genes from other species or subspecies. We are a very young subspecies. In 200,000 years, we will probably look different, that is only if we don't change our climate to the point we can no longer survive.

[@conorlong6243]

You go through all sides of the discussion but then you show the beauty in it and that just keeps me coming back man

[@kevincronk7981]

20:44 Island dwarfism isn't a condition you suffer from, it's just an evolutionary phenomenon. It happens because for that species it's a good thing, not something they suffer from

[@Nonamelol.]

Homo-sapiens (us) were honestly the luckiest species on the planet. We were also the most advantaged. Many would argue that we almost went extinct several times and although that may be true, those near extinctions were lessons which simply made us stronger. We prioritized intelligence over power which lead to more advanced technology, our profound sexual drive which lead us to outnumbering other humans, our greed for power and territory, all these factors are what makes us us.

[@Schmerb]

The artwork is so amazing on these videos, it really makes them stand out, big fan!

[@gerulais]

It's fascinating to imagine that at some point in our anthropological past, several species of humans would live side by side and, perhaps, interact with each other. Just like you see different species of the same animals interacting with each other. I wonder how the world would look like right now if there would not one, but two or three more species of humans in the present day?!

[@cyberblock7619]

The best book on this subject is called "Erectus walks among us"

[@basilbrush9075]

Slavery probably :( but an interesting thought

[@thatpigboss]

​@@basilbrush9075and specism

[@mazzalobo]

Well researched, easily explained and with great ilustrations

[@chuzzahfromtongah]

*Cue snickering from the back of the classroom.*