What does the robusticity of the H. erectus fossils suggest about their lifestyle?

The robustness of H. erectus fossils suggests that they engaged in physical activities such as hunting. This is inferred from their skeletal features, which are characterized by strong bones and well-developed muscle attachments. Such physical traits are indicative of individuals who performed demanding activities, likely related to locomotion and the exertion required during hunting and gathering.

The robusticity implies not only strength but also a lifestyle that involved regular physical labor. Hunters, for example, would need endurance and the capacity to handle heavy objects, such as tools and the meat of large prey. Thus, the anatomical adaptations seen in H. erectus fossils point to an active lifestyle, predominantly characterized by hunting as a significant part of their subsistence strategy, rather than being primarily herbivores or scavengers. Additionally, the physical resilience suggested by these fossils hints at their capacity for prolonged activities and possibly social structures that facilitated cooperative hunting efforts, reinforcing the idea that they participated in complex social interactions surrounding these activities.