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How did the Homo erectus skull differ from the Homo sapiens skull?

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Side-view illustration of a Homo erectus individual, depicted with a robust, upright body covered in hair, walking with one arm bent. A scale bar beside the figure shows measurements in inches and centimeters. — Homo erectus Artist's rendering of *Homo erectus*, which lived from approximately 1,700,000 to 200,000 years ago.

The skull of Homo erectus differs significantly from that of Homo sapiens in both capacity and structural features.1

Key anatomical differences include:

Brain Capacity: The average endocranial capacity of H. erectus is less than 1,000 cubic cm, whereas modern Homo sapiens average 1,350 cubic cm.1
Cranial Shape: H. erectus possesses a low-profile braincase with thick bones, a flattened forehead, and sides that taper upward. In contrast, Homo sapiens typically have thinner skull bones and a more rounded, higher cranium.1
Facial Structure: H. erectus features a massively constructed face with forward-projecting lower parts and a strongly jutting browridge (supraorbital torus).1
Jaw and Teeth: The lower jaw of H. erectus is deep and robust, lacking the chin development characteristic of Homo sapiens. Additionally, the teeth of H. erectus are generally larger.1
Muscle Attachment: The area on the skull where neck muscles attach is much larger in H. erectus than in Homo sapiens.1

While H. erectus exhibits these distinct, robust features, it also displays a high, prominent nasal bridge, which may have provided a physiological advantage in arid environments.1