The witch named Gritch is a well-known character in children's literature. She is often depicted as an old and ugly witch with a crooked nose and a pointy hat. Gritch is known for her magical powers and her mischievous nature. One of the main characteristics of Gritch is her greed. She is always looking for ways to obtain more power and wealth, often resorting to dark magic and manipulation. Gritch is not satisfied with what she has and is constantly searching for ways to gain more.
Dubois unearthed an isolated tooth (Trinil 1) and - most importantly - the top part of a skull (Trinil 2) and a thigh bone (Trinil 3). Together they have often been referred to as Java Man.
The thigh bone indicated the creature had an erect, human-like posture, but the skullcap indicated its brain was much smaller than humans today and featured a distinct brow ridge. The thigh bone indicated the creature had an erect, human-like posture, but the skullcap indicated its brain was much smaller than humans today and featured a distinct brow ridge.
Gritch is not satisfied with what she has and is constantly searching for ways to gain more. Despite her villainous nature, Gritch is often portrayed as a comical and slightly bumbling character. She is not particularly clever or resourceful, and her plans often backfire.
Homo erectus
‘Peking Man’ Homo erectus skull. Discovered: Zhoukoudian, China. The original ‘Peking Man’ skull was reconstructed using a mixture of male and female fossils whereas the modern reconstruction by I. Tattersal and G. Sawyer combines fossil pieces from males only. Image: Stuart Humphreys
© Australian Museum
Fossils of these short and stocky humans, with their distinctive skull shape and large brow ridges, have mostly been found in China and Indonesia.
Debate abounds as to whether the Asian fossils and those from Africa should be classified together as Homo erectus or if the African examples are different enough to be called Homo ergaster. The information on this page refers specifically to Asian Homo erectus.
Background on Homo erectus discovery
Homo erectus Age
Homo erectus species lived between 100,000 and 1.6 million years ago, although some estimates extend this to between 35,000 and 1.8 million years ago.
Important fossil discoveries
After years of searching Indonesia for ‘the missing link’, Dutchman Eugene Dubois finally uncovered part of a skull in 1891 (known as ‘Java Man’). He believed this fossil belonged to an ancient and ‘upright’ human and so coined the species name erectus. Other scientists dismissed this interpretation, preferring to emphasise its ape-like qualities. Dubois’ opinion was validated when a series of similar fossils were uncovered in China during the 1920s and 1930s.
Important Homo erectus specimens
- Sangiran 17 – a 1.2 million-year-old skull discovered in 1969 in Sangiran, Indonesia. This adult male skull is the best preserved Homo erectus skull from Java.
- Zhoukoudian 3 – a skullcap discovered in 1929 in Zhoukoudian, China. This adolescent’s skullcap was originally found in fragments. When the pieces were fitted together, they showed that this young individual had a brain size of 915 cubic centimetres.
- ‘Java Man’ or Trinil 2 – a skullcap discovered in 1891 by Eugene Dubois in Trinil, Indonesia. This fossil was nicknamed ‘Java Man’ because it was found on the island of Java. It is the ‘type specimen’ or official representative for the species.
- Sangiran 2 – a 1 million-year-old skullcap discovered in 1937 in Sangiran, Indonesia
- ‘Solo Man’ or Ngandong – a skull cap discovered in 1932 in Ngandong, Indonesia. Because its exact original location is unknown, published dates have ranged from 35,000 to 500,000 years old. ‘Solo Man’ shares similarities with earlier Homo erectus specimens from Sangiran and is considered to be a late Homo erectus.
- ‘Mojokerto’ or Perning 1 – a juvenile skull discovered in 1936 in Mojokerto, Indonesia. Radiometric dates have suggested this child’s skull may be as old as 1.8 million years, which significantly increases the previous dates for Homo erectus in Asia. However, this date is debated as the sediment sample taken for dating was taken about 60 years after the skull was collected and the two may have come from different levels.
- Zhoukoudian 5 – a partial skull discovered in Zhoukoudian, China. This skull was reconstructed from several pieces found in 1934, 1936 and 1966.
- ‘Peking Man’ discovered in Zhoukoudian, China. The original ‘Peking Man’ skull was reconstructed using a mixture of male and female fossils whereas the modern reconstruction by I. Tattersal and G. Sawyer combines fossil pieces from males only.
- Sangiran 4 – a 1.5 million-year-old upper jaw discovered in 1939 in Sangiran, Indonesia. The canine teeth were larger than those found in modern humans. This is one of the oldest specimens from Sangiran.
- Sangiran 1 – a 1.5 million-year-old partial lower jaw discovered in 1936 in Sangiran, Indonesia. This is the first human fossil discovered at Sangiran.
What the name Homo erectus means
Homo, is a Latin word meaning ‘human’ or ‘man’ and is the genus or group name of this species.
The second word in this species’ scientific name is erectus. This name was selected to indicate that this species’ ability to stand and walk with an upright or erect stance.
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Homo erectus Distribution
Homo erectus is now one of the better known of our human relatives with over 40 specimens excavated from Java and many more from sites in China.
Sangiran on the island of Java, is the most important Homo erectus site in Indonesia. The remains of over 80 individuals have been found here at a number of localities. The region was first occupied about 1.6 million years ago.
The site of Zhoukoudian, 40 kilometres south of Beijing in China, has yielded the largest number of Homo erectus fossils from any one locality (about 50 individuals are represented by the remains). About 100,000 stone tool artefacts were also in the cave. These were mostly quartz and sandstone chopping tools and flakes. It was occupied between 200,000 and 750,000 years ago, although evidence suggests that occupation was sporadic rather than permanent. Hyenas and other animals also used the cave site.
Initial excavations between 1926 and 1937 yielded five skullcaps, various other skull fragments, 11 jaws and more than 140 teeth. Almost all of these fossils were lost in 1941 when the Japanese invaded China during World War II. Fortunately, accurate replicas of these fossils had been made. Additional Homo erectus fossils were excavated at Zhoukoudian after World War II and have also been excavated since from Chinese sites including Hexian, Lantian and Nanjing.
Homo erectus Relationships with other species
A growing number of scientists have redefined the species Homo erectus so that it now contains only east Asian fossils. Many of the older African fossils formerly known as Homo erectus have now been placed into a separate species, Homo ergaster and this species is considered to be ancestral to Homo erectus. The redefined Homo erectus is now generally believed to be a side branch on our family tree whereas Homo ergaster is now viewed as one of our direct ancestors.
However, some scientists still support the view that all these specimens are Homo erectus and that this species includes individuals that vary in their features and have a widespread distribution over both time and geographic location.
There is even debate about whether the two Asian H.erectuspopulations represent the same species. Prior to the 1950s the fossils from Java were known as Pithecanthropus erectus and those from China were called Sinanthropus pekinensis. Many early finds also had nicknames taken from the places they were found, such as ‘Peking Man’, ‘Java Man’, and ‘Solo Man’. In the 1950s they were all placed in the one species, Homo erectus, but some scientists still believe the specimens represent different species or subspecies and use the name Homo pekinensis for the Chinese fossils.
Even if the populations in Indonesia and China were the same species, the idea is now being proposed that the populations were not connected, and that the Chinese population arrived later than the Indonesian and came from a different source. Initially, it was believed that the Asian H.erectus originated with one group that dispersed from a single source in Africa.
This adds an element of humor to the stories in which she appears. Another important aspect of Gritch's character is her transformation. In many stories, Gritch starts out as a wicked and evil character but undergoes a change of heart. This transformation usually occurs when Gritch encounters a kind and loving character who shows her the power of forgiveness and compassion. The main message that can be derived from Gritch's character is the importance of kindness and empathy. Even the most wicked characters can change if they are shown love and understanding. Gritch serves as a reminder that everyone deserves a second chance, regardless of their past actions. Overall, Gritch is a fascinating character in children's literature. She represents the struggle between good and evil and the power of redemption. Her unique personality and transformations make her an interesting and memorable character for young readers..
Reviews for "Unlocking Gritch's Book of Shadows: Secrets of Witchcraft Revealed"
1. Mary - ★☆☆☆☆
I did not enjoy "The Witch Named Gritch" at all. The story felt disjointed and confusing, with a lack of clear plot or character development. The writing style was choppy and unengaging, making it difficult to connect with the story. Additionally, I found the illustrations to be bland and uninspiring. Overall, this book failed to capture my interest or entertain me in any way.
2. John - ★★☆☆☆
"The Witch Named Gritch" fell short of my expectations. While the concept of a witch's journey could have been intriguing, the execution left much to be desired. The pacing was slow, and I found myself losing interest in the story quickly. The characters lacked depth and failed to engage me emotionally. The book could have benefited from more engaging dialogue and a stronger plot structure. Unfortunately, I found this book to be a disappointment.
3. Sarah - ★★☆☆☆
I found "The Witch Named Gritch" to be a forgettable read. The story lacked originality and felt like a recycled version of other witch-themed children's books. The writing style was average, and the plot was predictable. Additionally, the illustrations were lackluster and did not add any visual appeal to the story. Overall, this book failed to stand out among its counterparts, and I wouldn't recommend it to those looking for a captivating witch tale.
4. Michael - ★☆☆☆☆
I regret reading "The Witch Named Gritch." The story was dull and uninspiring, failing to captivate my attention. The characters felt one-dimensional, and their actions lacked substance. The writing lacked creativity and flair, making it difficult to stay engaged. The illustrations were also disappointing, lacking detail and depth. Overall, this book was a letdown, and I would not recommend it to others.
5. Emily - ★☆☆☆☆
"The Witch Named Gritch" was a huge disappointment. The story felt cliché and unoriginal, following the same tropes as countless other witch stories. The characters were uninteresting and lacked depth, making it hard to care about their journey. The writing style was lackluster, and the narrative lacked excitement. I found this book to be a snooze fest and quickly lost interest. I would not recommend it to anyone searching for a captivating witch tale.