‘Homo sapiens’: who are we? Essential traits of our species

Authors

  • Eudald Carbonell Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES). He is a professor at the Rovira i Virgili University (URV) in Tarragona (Spain). Atapuerca Foundation.
  • José María Bermúdez de Castro National Research Centre on Human Evolution (CENIEH), in Burgos (Spain).
  • Robert Sala Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES), Rovira i Virgili University (URV) in Tarragona (Spain).

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7203/metode.8.9481

Keywords:

hominisation, humanisation, singularity, tools, language, complexity, species

Abstract

In this text we analyse the traits, from their genesis, that constitute current human beings with the objective of characterising the biological and cultural evolution of humanity within the evolutionary framework of our genus. Paleoanthropologists organise our differential traits within the animal kingdom hierarchically: the ability to manufacture a wide range of tools and control fire, language, funeral rituals, etc. However, whether these increases in complexity occurred only in our species or if it is a process which other species have also undergone, or will undergo, remains to be explored.

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Author Biographies

Eudald Carbonell, Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES). He is a professor at the Rovira i Virgili University (URV) in Tarragona (Spain). Atapuerca Foundation.

Researcher at the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES). He is a professor at the Rovira i Virgili University (URV) in Tarragona (Spain). General manager of the Atapuerca Foundation, and specialist prehistorian in human evolution and lithic technology.

José María Bermúdez de Castro, National Research Centre on Human Evolution (CENIEH), in Burgos (Spain).

Head of Research of the Department of Palaeoanthropology at the National Research Centre on Human Evolution (CENIEH), in Burgos (Spain) and Vice-President of the Atapuerca Foundation. He is a biologist specialised in human evolution and dentition.

Robert Sala, Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES), Rovira i Virgili University (URV) in Tarragona (Spain).

Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES), Rovira i Virgili University (URV) in Tarragona (Spain). He is a prehistorian specialised in lithic technology, especially in tracing the use of Palaeolithic tools.

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Published

2018-06-05

How to Cite

Carbonell, E., Bermúdez de Castro, J. M., & Sala, R. (2018). ‘Homo sapiens’: who are we? Essential traits of our species. Metode Science Studies Journal, (8), 107–113. https://doi.org/10.7203/metode.8.9481
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Issue

Making science: A multitude of perspectives (2018)

Section

Sapiens. In the path of the human being

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