KNM-ER 1813

KNM-ER 1813 is a fossil skull discovered in Kenya, dating back approximately 1.9 million years. It is attributed to Homo habilis, an extinct species of human considered the earliest representative of the genus Homo. Homo habilis lived in parts of sub-Saharan Africa from about 2.4 to 1.5 million years ago.1

The discovery of Homo habilis fossils, including KNM-ER 1813, was significant because it predated previously known human fossils from Asia. These fossils showed intermediate features between more primitive ancestors like Australopithecus and later Homo species. The name Homo habilis means "handy man," reflecting the association of these fossils with simple stone tools, suggesting an ability to manipulate objects with precision. KNM-ER 1813 is noted for its smaller cranial capacity compared to some other Homo habilis specimens, resembling earlier finds from Olduvai Gorge.1