Homo Habilis
By
Elizabeth, Jenny, Jessica, and Rachel
Introduction
Homo Habilis means “Handy Man” because these
humans were the first to use tools. (1) They lived
approximately 2.5 million to at least 1.6 million years
ago. (2) Since they did not have very big brains, they
were not able to develop things as easily as we do.
They did not have religion, but they managed to
survive without it. Join us on our journey through East
Africa to meet the Homo Habilis.
Dates and Places of Existence
Homo Habilis lived about 2.5 million to 1.6
million years ago.(3) They were one of the
earliest species of humans to live. They lived
in the Olduvai Gorge in East Africa. The
Olduvai Gorge was dry, but had some plants
and rocks. Homo Habilis always lived close to
water so they could survive. (4)
Physical Appearance
Homo Habilis looked like apes. They had half
the size of a modern human’s brain and they
were only 4.5 feet tall. They had a more
rounded skull than Australopithecus did.
Homo Habilis had a human looking face and
pelvis. Their legs and feet had been fully
adapted to walking upright. (5)
Food
Homo Habilis ate meat from animals, bird eggs, fruit,
nuts, roots, plants, and vegetables. They got their
meat from animals by killing them with their
homemade tools. The meat was eaten raw since fire
was not discovered yet. They got the bird eggs by
stealing them from the nests when birds weren’t
there. (6) Homo Habilis had to hunt for their food. To
make the hunts easy, they had to organize
themselves into groups. (7)
Shelters
Homo Habilis had simple huts made from branches
and these were held in place by stones. Their huts
were not made for traveling, but were made for longlasting use. The dome-shaped huts protected the
Homo Habilis from animals and the wind. The huts
were not very big, so the Homo Habilis had to keep
their belongings in smaller spaces. Overall, the huts
lasted a long time. (8)
Daily Life
Homo Habilis men were hunters and the women
were gatherers. In the morning, the Homo Habilis
women would go down to the river to get water
that they would carry in large gourds. Along the
way, they gathered pods and fruit. Some men
would go hunt for food while other men would
stay back at the huts and help the women and
children. They would also make more tools and
keep everyone safe when unwanted guests
visited/invaded. (9)
Tools
Homo Habilis had tools. One of their very
useful tools was the hammer stone. The
hammer stone would break other stones into
smaller pieces. Another tool was a stone ax
that was used for cutting animals to get food.
Most of the tools were made of rocks and
bones. (10)
Fire
Homo Habilis could not make fire on their
own. They had to wait for natural fires to
occur such as a lightning strike. Otherwise, the
meat would be raw because there was no fire.
Homo Erectus was the first species to create
fire on their own without natural fires. Homo
Habilis was an earlier species, but survived
fine without fire. (11)
Religion and Ceremonies
Homo Habilis had no religion or ceremonies.
They were too busy hunting or finding food on
their own. Their brains were not developed
enough to even think about having religion or
ceremonies. Scientists also know that they were
not capable of talking, so we don’t know how
they would have religion and ceremonies. (12)
Development of Language
Homo Habilis did not have written language. They
were not capable of speech. Since they didn’t have
written language, they communicated by using
primitive gestures and simple sounds. Language
made it easier for the humans to work together to
solve problems. (13) Greater cooperation made it
easier for humans to survive. Their language was
very useful. (14)
Clothing
Homo Habilis did not have clothing. Their first
clothing wasn’t clothes at all, but hair. Later
on, they would use animal skin for clothing.
Before they thought of the animal skin as
clothing, they didn’t wear anything. The Homo
Habilis didn’t think of using animal skin for
clothing, but they were hunting animals and
so began to drape the skins over themselves
in cold weather. (15)
Are You Smarter than Homo Habilis?
1. What does Homo Habilis mean?
2. Why were Homo Habilis given their name by
scientists?
3. Name three things Homo Habilis ate.
Answers
1. Homo Habilis means handy man.
2. Scientists named Homo Habilis
this because that group is
believed to be the first group of
Early Humans to use tools.
3. Homo Habilis ate roots, nuts,
fruits, raw meat.
Conclusion
Now that are journey meeting the Homo
Habilis is over, we must travel back to our
time. We hope you enjoyed our magnificent,
fact-filling PowerPoint by Elizabeth, Jenny,
Jessica, and Rachel.
Endnotes
1. Kearns, Marsha, “Homo Habilis,” Early Humans, Creative Teaching Press ,
CA, 1993.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
4. California Visits Ancient Civilizations, Macmillan/ Macmillan/McGraw-Hill,
New York, NY, 2007, p. 72.
5. Kearns, Marsha, “Homo Habilis,” Early Humans, Creative Teaching Press ,
CA, 1993.
6. Ibid.
7. Facchini, Fiorenzo, “A Day with Homo Habilis”, Twenty-First Century Books,
Connecticut, 2003, p. 26.
8. Kearns, Marsha, “Homo Habilis,” Early Humans, Creative Teaching Press ,
CA, 1993.
9. Facchini, Fiorenzo, “A Day with Homo Habilis, Twenty-First Century Books,
Connecticut, 2003, p. 24.
10. California Visits Ancient Civilizations, Macmillan/McGraw-Hill, New York, NY,
2007, p. 74.
11. Kearns, Marsha, “Homo Habilis,” Early Humans, Creative Teaching Press , CA,
1993.
12. “Homo habilis,” Homo habilis, http://www.earlyhumans.mrdonn.org/.
13. Kearns, Marsha, “Homo Habilis,” Early Humans, Creative Teaching Press , CA,
1993.
14. California Visits Ancient Civilizations, Macmillan/ Macmillan/McGraw-Hill,
New York, NY, 2007, p. 74.
15. “Homo habilis,” Homo habilis, http://www.earlyhumans.mrdonn.org/.
16. Kearns, Marsha, “Homo Habilis,” Early Humans, Creative Teaching Press , CA,
Bibliography
California Visits Ancient Civilizations.
Macmillan/MacGraw Hill: New York, NY,
2007.
Facchini, Fiorenzo. A Day with Homo Habilis.
Books: Connecticut, Twenty-First
Century, 2003.
“Homo Habilis.” Homo habilis.
http://www.earlyhumans.mrdonn.org/.
Kearns, Marsha.“Homo Habilis.” Early
Humans. Creative Teaching Press: CA,
1993.