What skeletal remains were discovered at Zhoukoudian, near Peking, China, in the late 1930s?

The discovery of skeletal remains known as Peking Man at Zhoukoudian, near Peking (now Beijing), China, is significant because these remains represent an early form of Homo erectus. Excavated in the late 1930s, Peking Man dates back to approximately 770,000 to 230,000 years ago and provides crucial evidence of human evolution and prehistoric life in East Asia.

Peking Man was notable for its association with tools and evidence of using fire, indicating a level of cultural and technological development. These findings suggest that early humans were not only physically distinct from modern humans but also demonstrated behaviors that would lay the groundwork for later hominins. The skeletal remains also offered insights into the morphology of Homo erectus, including dental, cranial, and post-cranial characteristics.

Understanding Peking Man aids in grasping the complexity of human evolution, particularly in addressing the migration and adaptation of early hominins. In contrast, the other names listed—Java Man, Neanderthals, and Homo sapiens—represent different hominin species or evolutionary stages, but they do not specifically relate to the key discoveries made at Zhoukoudian.