Human evolutionHuman evolution

 

Human family treeHuman family tree• Humans, Homo sapiens, are Humans, Homo sapiens, are

primatesprimates• Homo sapiens are members of the Homo sapiens are members of the

hominid grouphominid group• Hominids split from chimpanzee Hominids split from chimpanzee

about 8-6 million years ago.about 8-6 million years ago.

Hominid groupHominid group

• There are 2 main genera There are 2 main genera of hominids: of hominids: Austalopithecus & Homo Austalopithecus & Homo

• For millions of years For millions of years more than one hominid more than one hominid species exited at one species exited at one time time

• Now Now Homo sapiensHomo sapiens are are the only surviving the only surviving member of the group member of the group

Australopithicus Australopithicus afarensisafarensis

The most complete fossilevidence of a biped primate. 3 million yrs old,stood 3 ft tall

Facial recreation from fossilremains

Characteristic of the Characteristic of the hominid grouphominid group

• Opposable thumbOpposable thumb• UprightUpright• BipedalBipedal• Large cranial capacityLarge cranial capacity

Milestones in hominid Milestones in hominid evolutionevolution

• bipedalbipedal - -Australopitecus Australopitecus afarensisafarensis , 4MYA , 4MYA

• ToolsTools - -Homo habilisHomo habilis, 2.8 , 2.8 MYAMYA

• FireFire - - Homo erectusHomo erectus, 120 , 120 MYAMYA

• BurialBurial - - Homo Homo neanderthalensisneanderthalensis, 300 TYA, 300 TYA

• ArtArt - -Homo sapiensHomo sapiens, 35 TYA, 35 TYA

Fossil evidenceFossil evidence• All of the earliest fossils All of the earliest fossils

are found in Africaare found in Africa• Homo erectus was the Homo erectus was the

first spread around the first spread around the worldworld

• The fossil record is not The fossil record is not completecomplete

• There are different There are different interpretations of the interpretations of the data data

• Homo sapiens later Homo sapiens later spread around the worldspread around the world

Homo Sapiens & Homo Homo Sapiens & Homo neanderthalensisneanderthalensis • 30,000 years ago during the Ice 30,000 years ago during the Ice

Ages in Europe both existedAges in Europe both existed• Both had tools, fire, and cultureBoth had tools, fire, and culture• The Neanderthals were larger & The Neanderthals were larger &

physically hardier physically hardier • The Neanderthals disappeared from The Neanderthals disappeared from

the fossil record 32 TYA the fossil record 32 TYA • * * Homo sapiensHomo sapiens are thought to be are thought to be

200 -250 thousand years old. 200 -250 thousand years old.