Identify the human evolutionary stage, which used hides to protect their bodies and buried their dead ones.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Neanderthal Man
The stages of human evolution differ in brain size, in the tools they used and in the way they lived. Using animal hides to cover the body and burying the dead are signs of a more advanced way of life. These are recorded for the Neanderthal man.
(1) Homo erectus — Incorrect. Homo erectus lived about 1.5 million years ago and had a brain of about 900 cc. It probably ate meat, but covering the body with hides and burying the dead are not recorded for it.
(2) Homo habilis — Incorrect. Homo habilis was the first human-like being. Its brain was only 650-800 cc, and it probably did not eat meat.
(3) Neanderthal Man — Correct. The Neanderthal man had a brain of about 1400 cc. He lived in the near east and central Asia between 1,00,000 and 40,000 years ago. He used hides to protect the body and buried the dead.
(4) Homo sapiens — Incorrect. Homo sapiens (modern man) arose in Africa and spread across the continents. The feature asked about is recorded for the Neanderthal man.
Note: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2023 on 22-05-2023 (Slot 1).
NCERT Extract:
Origin and Evolution of Man – “… Fossils discovered in Java in 1891 revealed the next stage, i.e., Homo erectus about 1.5 mya. Homo erectus had a large brain around 900cc. Homo erectus probably ate meat. The Neanderthal man with a brain size of 1400cc lived in near east and central Asia between 1,00,000-40,000 years back. They used hides to protect their body and buried their dead.”