The Spirit in Human Evolution - Waldorf Research Institute

Fig 5.2 Comparison of australopithecine and erectus anatomy, represented here by the two most
complete fossil skeletons known, the Nariokotome Boy (an African erectus) and Lucy (Australopithecus
afarensis). Lucy is not only significantly smaller but has a more ape-like, bell-shaped rib cage and was
certainly potbellied, whereas the erectus people had long torsos, narrow hips and waists and much more
closely resembled modern human beings in overall body proportions (after Lovejoy, quoted in Walker
and Shipman, 1996).
In evolutionary terms, the australopithecines were certainly successful, surviving
in some habitats for well over 2 million years. It has been suggested by Elizabeth
Vbra 12 that they became extinct due to climate pressures and competition from other
herbivores. R.G. Klein 13 suggests that the demise of the robust australopithecines was
due to climatic change around 0.9 mya. It is likely that a number of factors came together
to place evolutionary pressure on a dwindling population, including competition from
the successful Homo erectus groups.
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12
Vbra, E., 1985.
13
Klein, R.G., 1988, quoted in Bilsborough, 1992, p135.
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