Literally meaning Heidelberg man, this is a species suspected of being a ancestor of Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthal. Where heidelbergensis who had migration to Europe first evolved into a neanderthal, while that remains in Africa to develop into sapiens. Heidelbergensis has characteristics between erectus and sapiens. The name heidelbergensis was given by Professor Otto Schoetensack of the University of Heidelberg, who received the fossil jaw and first identified it.
Homo heidelbergensis lived about 600-250 thousand years ago. they have larger brain volumes than antecessor, ranging from 1100-1400 cc, and use more advanced tools than antecessor. Their average height of 1.8 meters, but there are high indications they can reach more than 2 meters, and more muscular than modern humans. Their temples are more prominent than cows
Heidelbergensis is thought to have started burying the dead, and may have been able to speak simple language.
Fossil findings:
- Mauer 1 (Heidelberg Man), piece of chin found by Daniel Hartmann workers on 21 October 1907 near Heidelberg, Germany
- Steinheim Skull, discovered in 1933 near Steinheim an der Murr, Germany
- Petralona 1, found the inhabitants in 1960 in Petralona, ??Greece
- Arago XXI (Tautavel Man), discovered by Henry de Lumley in 1971 in Southern France.
- Atapuerca 5, discovered by Juan-Luis Arsuaga in 1992-1993 at Sima de los Huesos, Atapuerca, Spain
- Boxgrove Man, leg bone found in 1994 in Boxgrove Quarry, England
