Torralba

Evolving from Homo habilis, Homo erectus migrated north from Africa into Asia and then Europe at least 400,000 years ago. By the time of the mass killing, Homo erectus was a seasonal traveler to different camps with oval-shaped huts. It appears that plants were gathered, and animals were not returned to the seasonal shelters, but eaten where they had fallen. Torralba is one of the sites were many animals fell. Animals traveled in herds, and occasionally wandered into a swamp. With the sticky mud pulling the animals deeper into the ground, they became helpless to defend themselves. Elephants happened to wander into a swamp some 250,000 years ago, now referred to as Torralba, Spain. As the elephants sank into the swamps, Homo erectus saw a great opportunity and went for the kill. The strategy was sometimes hastened by setting a grass fire to drive the crazed elephants into the swamp. Once the animals were exhausted from struggling in the mud, Homo erectus attacked. They would use the legs of one elephant as planks across the mud to reach the others. The animals were killed with Achuelian stone and wood tools such as cleavers, hand axes and scrapers to shed the skin. After the scrapers became dull, they were simply discarded and new ones were made. This site shows evidence of charcoal pieces, presumably used to smoke the meat and keep away insects. There is no evidence of taking meat with them on their journeys, however, since Homo erectus is the only predator of the elephant at the time, they were surely in abundance. The traveling group was practically guaranteed to run into another herd in due time. Meanwhile, plants, fruits, and shellfish were used for subsistence. Along with a treasure trove of elephant bones, there are tools, charcoal, and a wealth of information about Homo erectus and their hunting patterns.

http://www.dla.utexas.edu/depts/anthro/courses/98spring/selby302/lecture2.html

Jennifer Kiesow