Who conducted the first study of the Zhoukoudian site for H. erectus?

Davidson Black is recognized for conducting the first significant study of the Zhoukoudian site, where important fossils of Homo erectus were unearthed. This site, located near Beijing, China, has provided a wealth of information about early human evolution. Black's work at Zhoukoudian in the 1920s and 1930s was pivotal in identifying the remains of "Peking Man," a specific example of Homo erectus. His contributions helped advance the understanding of human ancestry and migration.

Other figures in the choices played important roles in paleoanthropology, but their work was either not focused on this specific site or occurred later. Franz Weidenreich, for example, is known for his efforts to preserve and study the Zhoukoudian fossils after they were lost during World War II. Eugene Dubois is credited with the discovery of the first Java Man, another significant early human find. Richard Leakey is famous for his discoveries in East Africa but was not involved with Zhoukoudian. Each of these other scientists made their own unique contributions, but it was Davidson Black who first systematically studied the Zhoukoudian site.