Who is turkana boy

An infection seems to have set in and he probably died of septicaemia blood poisoning. Another individual who lived about , years ago probably died as a result of severe tooth decay and gum disease. The skull of this ancient human Homo heidelbergensis , known as Kabwe or Broken Hill, had many large tooth cavities and abscesses which affected the jaw bone in which the teeth were embedded.

This individual was unusual because ancient humans rarely showed such significant dental decay, probably because human diets were generally low in sugar until the beginnings of agriculture about 10, years ago.

She died about 1. This cause of death is suggested by the layer of abnormal bone which covered the bones in her arms and legs. This abnormal bone is similar to that found in modern humans with vitamin A poisoning. Excess vitamin A in the diet is toxic to our bodies and causes the tissues around the bone to tear, bleed and form huge clots. Foods that have concentrated levels of vitamin A in them include honeybee broods eggs, pupae and larvae and the livers from carnivorous animals.

The Australian Museum respects and acknowledges the Gadigal people as the First Peoples and Traditional Custodians of the land and waterways on which the Museum stands. He was 1. His vertebrae, which form the spine, were diseased, causing a subtle curvature and probably slow movement.

This may have contributed to the his death, although his cause of death at such a young age is unknown. Although he had a disability which hindered his movement, his body shows long legs and narrow shoulders typical of humans who live in hot, dry climate today. These long legs helped Homo erectus walk and possibly run long distances. Homo erectus is the first known species to spread widely within Africa and throughout Asia. Skip to main content. Media If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer.

Text Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. Interactives Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website.

Related Resources. Human Origins. View Collection. View Article. View Photograph. Turkana Community. Educational Resources in Your Inbox. Educational Resources in Your Inbox Join our community of educators and receive the latest information on National Geographic's resources for you and your students.