Samu (Homo Erectus)

Samu (Homo Erectus)

Samu is the nickname given to a prehistoric man (described as Homo erectus seu sapiens palaeohungaricus, i. e., "ancient Hungarian Homo erectus or sapiens") whose remains were found in 1965 near Vértesszőlős, Hungary. He was a late Homo erectus, somewhere between Homo erectus and Homo sapiens. Only a part of the occipital bone was found. He lived about 350,000 years ago.

The archaeological site was discovered by Márton Pécsi in 1962; the occipital bone was found three years later during a dig led by László Vértes. Since it was found on August 21, the name day of Sámuel, it was named Samu (Hungarian version of Sam). Two child teeth were also found. Samu was an intelligent early human who made tools out of rocks and bones, knew and used fire and was able to hunt for larger animals. A fireplace was also found along the bones and tools. The remains can be viewed in the local Vértesszőlős Museum. Also on display are some of his stone and bone tools, a prehistoric footprint, animal and plant remains.