Fossil evidence for the origins of humans in Africa

Hominin fossils can be roughly divided into three phases of human evolution: the Ardipithecus phase, the
Australopithecus phase and the Homo phase.

SCIENTIFIC NAME “NICKNAME” PLACE FOUND DISCOVERED BY CHARACTERISTIC TIME EXISTED

FEATURES
Ardipithecus Ardi Ethiopia Professor Tim small canines and molars 5.8 – 4.4 mya
ramidus Female White ate softer fruit and leaves
50kg like chimps
small brain (like chimp)
very prognathous
bowl shaped pelvis
bipedal and on all fours
good climber
Australopithecus larger brain case 4.4 – 1.2 mya
smaller eyebrow ridges
less prognathous
bowl shaped pelvis
central foramen magnum
bipedal

Australopithecus Lucy Ethiopia Professor Don larger eyebrow ridges 3.6-3.0 mya
afarensis Johanson more prognathous face
lower forehead
Australopithecus Taung child Northern Cape, Professor larger brain than 3.3 – 2.1 mya
africanus Taung Raymond Dart smaller molars
Mrs Ples Sterkfontein caves Robert Broom
J. Robinson
Australopithecus Karabo Cradle of Matthew Berger less prognathous 1.9 mya
 sediba Humankind higher forehead
bowl shaped pelvis
smaller teeth
Australopithecus Little foot Sterkfontein caves Dr Clarke divergent big toe but not
prometheus as much as in
chimpanzees
provides link between life
in trees and on ground
larger brain size than
chimp
Homo
Homo habilis Handyman Tanzania Jonathan Leakey larger brain, higher 2.3 – 1.6 mya
forehead, smaller
eyebrow ridges, smaller
molars, less prognathous
Homo erectus Turkana boy Lake Turkana, less prognathous, larger 1.9mya –
Africa brain case; first to leave 200000 ya
africa
Homo Florisbad man Florisbad, controlled fire, hunted 200 000 –
heidelbergensis Bloemfontein big game, used wooden 700 000 ya
spears, built shelters
Homo sapiens Ethiopia Richard Leakey large cranium, controlled 70,000-
fire, cultural development 100,000 ya
etc