Homo erectus, also known as “Peking Man,” is an ancient species of hominid. Having originated in Africa and spread to Europe and the furthest reaches of East Asia, this ancient man is mankind’s true Prometheus – harnessing fire and using it for his benefit. The hand axe is the greatest invention of Paleolithic man and the most common artifact from the era. It is in a sense, the symbol of Man’s intellectual awakening whereby he was able to fashion in reality, what he envisioned in his mind. In “Homo Erectus and the Hand Axe Revolution,” we investigate a hand axe found at the Jeongok-ri archeological site in Korea in order to reconstruct the life of prehistoric man – his migrations, foraging and hunting activities, and his use of fire. Through vivid 3D cinematography, we recreate the lush forests of Asia 300,000 years ago where Homo erectus once roamed.
