Where did Homo erectus live besides caves?

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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.

While Homo erectus remains have been discovered in cave and fissure deposits, such as those at Zhoukoudian, there is no evidence that they were exclusively cave dwellers. Archaeological findings indicate that they also lived in open encampments.1

These open-air sites have been identified in various locations, including Tighenif, Koobi Fora, and sites in Lantian, Trinil, Sangiran, and Mojokerto. The geological context of these remains—often found in stream gravels, clays, river sandstones, and lake beds—suggests that Homo erectus frequently established campsites along the banks of streams or the shores of lakes. This proximity to water was likely a crucial factor for their survival.1

These open sites are characterized by the presence of abundant stone implements and chips, as well as fractured and burned animal bones, which indicate that these locations served as areas for tool manufacture and food processing.1