What is Pithecanthropus Robustus? About 1.9 million years ago, our beloved country of Indonesia has become a place of human life. In the Pleistocene era, there lived humans who at this time we often refer to as early humans. For this reason, it can be said that early humans were humans who lived in ancient times or could be said to be prehistoric times.
About Early Man and Pithecanthropus Robustus
In prehistoric times, humans did not know the script as it is today. They do not know about letters or numbers. So there is nothing wrong if someone says that ancient times are pre-literate times.
Humans and the Differences with Modern Early Humans
Did ancient humans who lived in ancient times also have characteristics like us? Of course, humans who lived in ancient times had different characteristics from us. This is because we already live in a modern era, while early humans themselves live in an era that is still experiencing pre-literacy. This automatically gives the difference between ancient humans and us today.
The most prominent differences, among others:
1. Body Shape
It is obvious if we compare the shape of the ancient human body with the shape of the human body at this time. If you want to compare, you can see pictures of ancient humans on blogs or sites that provide pictures of ancient humans.
You can compare with your body shape. You will definitely see the difference. The shape of the body of ancient humans can be said to be almost like an ape, while the shape of our bodies today can be said to be a complete human form.
2. Civilization
Human civilization in ancient times or what is referred to as ancient humans they still rely on what is in the natural surroundings. It's not like it's currently available. However, it can be said that without civilization in ancient humans, we might also not feel civilization as it is today. Early humans can be said to be the people who first started civilization on this earth.
Well, for that the characteristics of early humans in general are as follows.
Early humans walked upright on their feet. This proves that early humans had a way of walking that was not far from us. Because early humans also walked on legs like us.
Early humans had a brain volume that was certainly larger when compared to other primates. This is also not much different from our current situation. But maybe the difference, maybe in ancient times ancient humans had not used their brains as much as possible like humans today.
Early humans also knew language or could be said to be able to speak. We too as humans who live in this modern era also know language and can speak. This also proves that early humans were not much different from us.
Early human life was usually in groups and they knew the division of tasks or division of labor. This is also not much different from what is happening in our lives today.
Early humans also had civilizations. We too who live in modern times also have civilization.
For that, do we have to believe in ancient humans? Like it or not, we have to believe. Because there are many things that prove that in ancient times ancient humans lived. This is evidenced by the discovery of ancient human fossils in the territory of Indonesia.
Fossils are the remains of plants, animal and human skeletons that have been petrified or have hardened and dried. Or it could be said that at the time we found only the bones or skeletons. In addition to ancient human fossils, there are several other evidences that ancient humans lived in ancient times, namely by the discovery of shelters under corals.
This shelter under the reef is found in the Triton Bay area in Irian Jaya. In addition, garbage kitchens were also found in Medan and Aceh as well as tools that may have been used by early humans for the purposes of daily life such as oval axes, flakes, and so on.
Not only one human fossil was found in Indonesia. There are so many types of ancient human fossils found in Indonesia, including pithecanthropus, meganthropus paleojavanicus, homo soloensis, and homo mojokensis.
This pithecanthropus fossil is the most common type of fossil found in this beloved country. Pithecanthropus itself is still divided into several types, including Pithecanthropus Erectus, Pithecanthropus Mojokertensis and Pithecanthropus Robustus.
Pithecanthropus Robustus
This time we will focus on ancient human fossils found in the Trinil area, Bengawan Solo Valley. The fossil found by Weidenreich and Von Koenigswald was named Pithecanthropus Robustus. Pithecanthropus Robustus is one of the fossils found in 1939.
This type of fossil has the meaning of the name, namely as a strong human. Actually, not only this type of fossil is found in the Trinil area. There are still other types of fossils found in the Trinil area, including Pithecanthropus Erectus.
This Pithecanthropus Robustus fossil comes from the lower Pleistocene layer. In addition, Von Koenigswald argues that fossils from the lower Pleistocene layer have characteristics that are almost the same as Pithecanthropus mojokertensis which has the following characteristics:
- Has a body shape and limbs that look sturdy.
- Has a height ranging from 165 to 180 cm. This means that this type of fossil is an ancient human who has a tall body like today's humans.
- The facial bones of this fossil type protrude slightly forward. This can be seen because the types of fossils found by Weidenreich and Von Koenigswald have large molars and strong jaws.
- Has a strong chewing apparatus. This may be due to the fact that this type of fossil has large molars and strong jaws which also affect the strong chewing apparatus.
- Has a strong neck.
- This type of fossil has a prominent forehead that looks thick.
- Have strong cheekbones.
- Has a brain volume between 750 to 1000 cc
- The back of the head of this type of fossil stands out.
If we look at the pictures of ancient humans that exist, it can be said that ancient humans in ancient times had a body shape that resembled an ape. But from time to time the human form that resembles an ape has changed according to the times.
Until now this is the form of a complete human who lives on earth. It can also be said that early humans are also our ancestors. Because according to existing history, ancient humans are the forerunners of today's humans. The current human being is the perfect human form.
Well, now you know about Pithecanthropus Robustus. Yes, it is one of the types of ancient humans in Indonesia.