Homo athielensis

Homo athielensis (also H. erectus athielensis) is an extinct species, or subspecies, that existed that existed between 120,000 - 776,000 years ago. It is subsumed to be a subspecies of H. erectus. Due to the very recent discovery of this subspecies, many classifications are still debated.

H. athielensis is placed as the most recent common ancestor between modern humans and H. erectus. The specimens that were discovered may have existed just before the human/H. erectus split. As research continues, more and more discoveries, especially concerning the relationship between elves and humans, may unravel. During the era in which this specimen lived, brain size averaged around 1,200 cc, comparable to modern humans and elves. Height averaged around 165.5 cm (1.655 blocks) for the specimens in Athiel, Tortuga. They are also postulated to have wide chests and robust overall.

H. athielensis oversaw the advent of distinctive flint handaxes, diverging from contemporary H. erectus, and probably relates to increasing intelligence. Fire, or possibly other heating sources such as springs in nearby mountains, may have became an integral part of daily life, coinciding with the appearance of widespread occupation of Rathnir and the appearance of hafting technology to create more sophisticated weapons. Because of this, H. athielensis carried out more coordinated hunting strategies and seemed to have a higher dependence on meat.

Discovery
The first specimen of H. athielensis was discovered by paleoanthropologist Regulus in the Atoan Mountain ranges, near the cities of Atopolis and Athiel, in 938 ACA. Due to this discovery, that area has been designated as a dig site. Regulus had split this off as a subspecies of H. erectus, which has been a major gray area in paleontology despite several discoveries in caves, primarily because of the mandible's archaicness - in particular its similarities to the few descriptions of H. erectus. The mandible was somewhat preserved, with much issue. As it was dug out, the mandible flung into the air and had only been discovered after it was broken into two parts. A piece of the left side of the mandible broke off in the process and was never found. Fragments of the mid-section had also been lost.

Further finds in the Atoan Mountain Digsite are several hundred flint artefacts, which were interpreted as tools of the H. athielensis. Six months after the discovery of the specimen, a well preserved 1st left molar was discovered and has also been associated with the H. athielensis.

Evolution
H. athielensis is thought to have descended from a group of H. erectus that had ventured off course from its initial projection of migration, traveling through Haven.

Food
H. athielensis seem to have consumed big game at a higher frequency than H. erectus near the Ardol Formation, with meat becoming a vital dietary component. Larger jawbones seem to suggest consumption of medium- to large animals. The inhabitants seem to have mainly eaten wild pigs, but was also found to consume baboons, cows, and other large creatures. As more research is being done, more evidence of coordinated hunting strategies have been found in addition to the existence of big game. For instance, animals may have been run into swamplands before being killed, entailing encircling and driving by a large group of hunters in a coordinated and organized attack. However, exploitation of aquatic environments are virtually non-existent despite easy access to nearby rivers and streams.

Plants were also probably frequently consumed, but the extent of their exploitation is unknown as they do not fossilize as well as animal bones. Assuming they had a diet largely dependent on meat, an individual would have to take in high amounts of sugar to prevent food poisoning, such as by eating abundant berries, sugar-cane, grass, or nuts. Southern Sørligste, especially, contains abundant amounts of edible berries.