Solo Man (Homo erectus soloensis) is the last known subspecies of Homo erectus, existing 117 to 108 thousand years ago along the Solo River in Java, Indonesia. First discovered in 1931, the subspecies was originally considered a direct ancestor of Aboriginal Australians, in accordance with historical race concepts. Solo Man probably has no living descendants, since the remains far predate modern human immigration into the area. The skull is elongated, and has inflated brows and cheekbones. Brain volume was large for the species, with some fossils indicating 1,013 to 1,251 cubic centimeters (61.8 to 76.3 cu in). The subspecies inhabited an open woodland environment much cooler than present-day Java, and probably went extinct with the replacement of this habitat by tropical rainforest. Solo Man manufactured simple stone tools, and possibly also made spears or harpoons from bones, daggers from stingray stingers, and bolas or hammerstones from andesite.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solo_Man
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1779:
American Revolution: James Wilson and his colleagues were forced to defend themselves after a mob, angered by his successful legal defense of 23 people from exile, converged on his house, resulting in six deaths. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Wilson_%28Founding_Father%29
1925:
Great Syrian Revolt: Rebels led by Fawzi al-Qawuqji captured the city of Hama from the French Mandate of Syria. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1925_Hama_uprising
1941:
Willie Gillis, one of Norman Rockwell's trademark characters, debuted on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Gillis
1958:
The current Constitution of France was signed into law, establishing the French Fifth Republic. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Fifth_Republic
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
orient: 1. (transitive) To build or place (something) so as to face eastward. 2. (transitive, by extension) To align or place (a person or object) so that his, her, or its east side, north side, etc., is positioned toward the corresponding points of the compass; (specifically, surveying) to rotate (a map attached to a plane table) until the line of direction between any two of its points is parallel to the corresponding direction in nature. 3. (transitive) To direct towards or point at a particular direction. 4. (transitive, reflexive) To determine which direction one is facing. 5. (transitive, often reflexive, figuratively) To familiarize (oneself or someone) with a circumstance or situation. 6. (transitive, figuratively) To set the focus of (something) so as to appeal or relate to a certain group. 7. (intransitive) To change direction to face a certain way. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/orient
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
The melancholy thing in our public life is the insane desire to get higher. --Rutherford B. Hayes https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Rutherford_B._Hayes