Anthropology › Section E · The genus Homo › Topic E.1
Defining the genus Homo
Our genus once held several species, and only one, Homo sapiens, survives. Deciding which fossils belong in Homo turns out to be one of the hardest questions in palaeoanthropology, because the traits that mark our genus appeared gradually and in mixed combinations.
In this topic
- One genus, many species, a long timescale
- What sets Homo apart?
- The 1964 definition
- A contested boundary
- The earliest Homo and the first tools
- Brains and the encephalization quotient
- Worked example: calculating EQ
- The limits of brain size measures
- Worked example: classifying a mosaic fossil
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Key takeaways
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