Question | Answer |
Sahelanthropus tchadensis | (6-7 MYA) Reported by Michel Brunet. The fossil consists of a remarkably complete skull (cranium). Non-prognathic profile, small canines and many other traits of the teeth distinguish it as a hominid not an ape. Small cranial capacity (380 cc) |
Ardipithecus ramidus | (4.5 MYA) Found in the Awash area of the Great Rift Valley in Ethiopia. Reported by Tim White from U. C. Berkeley who argues that the species was bipedal but also spent a lot of time in trees (chimp-like feet). |
Australopithecus africanus | (3.0-2.5 MYA) Taung baby, Taung Limestone Mine South Africa 1925 (reported by Raymond Dart). iv A. africanus appears to represent one of two lines of Australopithecines that split from A afarensis (the Lucy line) |
Australopithecus garhi | e New find: In Ethiopia, Middle Awash: Australopithecus garhi 2.5 MYA. Found by Tim White appears to be associated with animal bones that were butchered with stone tools. |
Homo habilis (Early Homo) | 2.5-2.0 MYA
> 600 cc
Less prognathic |
Homo erectus (Middle Homo) | 1.9-0.2 MYA
800-1000cc
Generally very robust
No chin
Almost no forehead—low and sloping |
Homo heidelbergensis (Transitional or Archaic) | |
Homo sapiens (Late Homo) | >= 1200cc |
Homo sapiens idalto | |
Homo sapiens sapiens | brow ridge absent
1400cc
gracile |
Homo sapiens neanderthalensis | 150,000 years ago
brow ridge present
1450 cc. Some up to 1850
robust |
Homo floresiensis | Last hominin
38,000-18,000 BP
1 Bi-pedal, waist down not fully modern
2 Stone tools (flakes & cores)
3 Brow ridge
4 Hunted |
Anatomically Modern Homo sapiens sapiens (AMHSS) | |
“Lucy” | Australopithecus afarensis
3.2 MYA
40% complete female found at Hadar in the Rift Valley in Ethiopia. Discovered in 1974 by Donald Johanson.
(a) Prognathous, human like hands, 415cc, no tools
(b) Bipedal, but with robust curved arms tree climb |
“Ardi” | Ardipithecus ramidus (4.5 MYA) Found in the Awash area of the Great Rift Valley in Ethiopia. Reported by Tim White from U. C. Berkeley who argues that the species was bipedal but also spent a lot of time in trees (chimp-like feet). |
Cro Magnon | Europe, 35,000 BP |