Which group of hominins was initially referred to as archaic Homo sapiens and is known for systematic hunting practices?

The group of hominins initially referred to as archaic Homo sapiens and noted for their systematic hunting practices is Homo heidelbergensis. This species represents an important link in human evolution, as they exhibited advanced behaviors that set them apart from earlier hominins.

Homo heidelbergensis, which lived approximately 700,000 to 300,000 years ago, demonstrated significant advancements in tool technology and social organization. Archaeological evidence suggests that they engaged in coordinated hunting strategies, allowing them to effectively target larger game animals. This indicates a level of social cooperation and planning that is characteristic of more modern human behaviors. Furthermore, they had a larger brain size and physical adaptations that suggest they were capable of more complex thinking and problem-solving strategies compared to their predecessors.

In contrast, while other hominin species such as Homo erectus and Homo neanderthalensis also demonstrated some advanced tool-making and hunting practices, Homo heidelbergensis is specifically noted for a blend of traits that align with the concept of archaic modern humans, which includes systematic hunting techniques. Homo habilis, on the other hand, is associated with earlier tool use but lacks the evidence of the advanced hunting strategies seen in Homo heidelbergensis.