What is Homo rhodesiensis?
Q: What is Homo rhodesiensis?
A: Homo rhodesiensis is a hominin species described from a single fossil skull.
Q: Where was the fossil skull found?
A: The fossil skull was found in the colony of Northern Rhodesia, (now Zambia) at a mine called Broken Hill (now Kabwe) in 1921.
Q: How old is Rhodesian Man estimated to be?
A: Rhodesian Man is estimated to be between 125,000 and 300,000 years old.
Q: What other remains were discovered with the cranium?
A: In addition to the cranium, an upper jaw from another individual, a sacrum (bone of the pelvis), a tibia, and two femur fragments were also found.
Q: What has been estimated as its cranial capacity?
A: The cranial capacity of the Broken Hill skull has been estimated at 1,100 cm³.
Q: How does it compare to modern Homo sapiens and Neanderthals?
A: It has been described as having a broad face similar to Homo neanderthalensis (i.e. large nose and thick protruding brow ridges), and has been interpreted as an "African Neanderthal". There are several features intermediate between modern Homo sapiens and Neanderthals.
Q: What group do most experts believe Rhodesian Man belongs to?
A: Most current experts believe Rhodesian Man to be within the group of Homo heidelbergensis.
