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>
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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>
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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>
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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>
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