Wanderlust

Abstract

Abstract Human success is often based on evidence that we have moved beyond expectations for a primate of our size. Yet great ecological tolerance and range expansion occurred earlier in our evolutionary history. Using estimates of dispersability in Homo erectus and other fossil primates, along with anatomical evidence of differences in fossil variation, this chapter explores why H. erectus was able to disperse so far and persist so long. It argues that present-day success should be assessed by how far we have come from this basis and whether we can manage to persist for another two million years, as did H. erectus.