Ancient Insights: How Homo Erectus Mastered the Steppe-Desert Terrain a Million Years Ago

Homo erectus, an ancient representative of the genus Homo, effectively adapted to tougher and more arid landscapes for extended periods in Eastern Africa than previously believed, according to recent studies.

Archaic hominins. Image credit: Ninara / CC BY 2.0.

Discussion has frequently revolved around when the genus Homo developed the adaptability necessary to excel in extreme habitats such as deserts and rainforests.

Historically, only Homo sapiens was presumed capable of persistent habitation in such ecosystems, while archaic hominins were perceived as confined to more restricted ranges.

Nevertheless, indications reveal that early Homo possessed the ability to adjust to varied and unstable environments as early as two million years ago.

“Now extinct, Homo erectus sustained an existence of more than an estimated 1.5 million years, making them a success story in species survival within the context of human evolution, especially when contrasted with our estimated existence of roughly 300,000 years to this point,” stated Professor Michael Petraglia from Griffith University.

“This success can be attributed to their capacity to endure over an extended duration characterized by numerous environmental and climatic changes,” added Professor Julio Mercader from the University of Calgary.

To investigate how variations in climate influenced the ecological scope, dispersal patterns, and technological advancements of Homo erectus, the researchers engaged in interdisciplinary studies at Engaji Nanyori in Oldupai Gorge — a critical early hominin site situated in Tanzania’s equatorial region.

Findings indicated that between roughly 1.2 million and 1 million years ago, semi-desert conditions were present in the region with typical vegetation visible.

The archaeological findings suggest that groups of Homo erectus in the vicinity adapted to the environmental conditions during this era by frequently returning to reside in areas with available freshwater like ponds, and developing specialized stone tools including scrapers and notched tools (referred to as denticulates).

The researchers propose that these discoveries collectively illustrate that Homo erectus demonstrated a far superior adaptability to endure in extreme environments than previously understood.

“This adaptive characteristics, signified by resilience in arid regions, contest preconceived notions about early hominin dispersal limits and positions Homo erectus as a flexible generalist and the first hominin to overcome environmental barriers on a global scale,” remarked Professor Petraglia.

“This flexibility likely permitted the expansion of Homo erectus into the arid territories of Africa and Eurasia, redefining their status as ecological generalists thriving in some of the most formidable landscapes of the Middle Pleistocene,” added Professor Paul Durkin from the University of Manitoba.

The results were published today in the journal Nature Communications Earth & Environment.

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J. Mercader et al. 2025. Homo erectus adapted to steppe-desert climate extremes one million years ago. Commun Earth Environ 6, 1; doi: 10.1038/s43247-024-01919-1