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Approximately 500,000 BC: Homo erectus is building huts; the primate Gigantopithecus may be going extinct

Note the construction of artificial shelters shows that primitive humanity is 'thinking bigger' now in regard to tool-making: they are building housing.

If nothing else, the primate Gigantopithecus is suffering a drastic reduction in total population numbers and territory, possibly due to adverse climatic changes as well as increasingly severe competition for food.

Possibly 600-1200 pounds and up to 10 feet in height, Gigantopithecus will be the largest primate known to have ever existed, by 1999 AD humanity.

Gigantopithecus may be a gentle vegetarian like 20th century mountain gorillas-- a trait which may not help it much in the cut throat competition happening among primates today.

For instance, Homo erectus (a predecessor of 20th century humans) may be actively hunting, killing, and eating Gigantopithecus (or at least driving them out of their preferred territories). Gigantopithecus has lived throughout southeast asia for millions of years by now. But due to many factors, change (or extinction) is now in the air. A close relative of Gigantopithecus lived in India, but predated the southeast asian variety by millions of years. Gigantopithecus may usually move on all fours like the mountain gorillas of the 20th century (though this is uncertain due to complete skeletons of the species being unavailable in the late 20th century).

Gigantopithecus seems far too large to ever utilize trees like its primate ancestors. So it appears limited to ground living. However, its primate heritage gives it an excellent capacity for climbing up rocks and mountains (and down into caves).

Gigantopithecus females may be only 50% the size of their mates.

A diet highly dependent on bamboo and its sprouts may be putting Gigantopithecus into competition with both giant pandas (bears) and Homo erectus, as well as be making it vulnerable to the periodic dearths of bamboo which occur in the region.

If Gigantopithecus shares a love for bamboo sprouts with the giant pandas, Gigantopithecus may also share some digestive characteristics with the Chinese bear-- such as sleeping as little as four hours a day, and eating almost constantly. Of course, if Gigantopithecus is forced to leave its native regions it may also be forced to give up the bamboo-- and develop somewhat different eating habits. In theory this could allow them to cut back on the time spent eating, even while they retain the short sleep period per day-- thus making it much less likely that Homo erectus can come upon them while they are in slumber.

One intriguing element of Gigantopithecus to 20th century humanity will be its resemblance to 20th century myths of the Sasquatch, Yeti, and Bigfoot of widely diverse geographical locales.

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