Sea-Faring Homo Erectus May Have Used Language Up To 1.9 Million Years Ago
Sea-Faring Homo Erectus May Have Used Language Up To 1.9 Million Years Ago
By Josh Davis
20 FEB 2018, 17:34
Before our ancestors even existed, ancient hominins might have been sailing the seas and discovering new lands. This, according to one researcher, suggests they were also talking to each other as a result.
It's generally believed that language first evolved with our own species around 300,000 years ago, although there's some evidence to suggest that Neanderthals may have been able to speak as well. Now, researchers are questioning whether or not language might have evolved much earlier than this.
When our own species stepped out of the African continent, we were following in the footsteps of another ancient hominin. Homo erectus is thought to have evolved roughly 1.9 million years ago in Africa and is the first to have had itchy feet. By 500,000 years ago, the ape had made three expansions out of the continent, making it to southern Europe, China, and even several Indonesian islands.
It's this last feat that has intrigued paleoanthropologists.
More:
http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/seafaring-homo-erectus-may-have-used-language-up-to-19-million-years-ago/
