Human Fossil Record

BBC News: Fossil links humans and monkeys

Scientists find the skull of a 29m-year-old primate, shedding light on when our evolutionary line diverged from monkeys.

Understanding Evolution: Making Sense of Ancient hominin DNA

News outlets have been abuzz with the announcement of what many suggested was a new hominin species.

BBC News: To mate, or not to mate: The Neanderthal question

There are moments in science when spectacular new evidence stops us in our tracks and makes us think and rethink.

Science AAAS: Ardipithecus ramidus

Science magazine, in its 2 October 2009 issue, presents 11 papers describing an early hominid species, Ardipithecus ramidus, and its environment. These 4.4 million year old hominid fossils sit within a critical early part of human evolution, and cast new light on the evolution of human limbs and locomotion, the habitats occupied by early hominids, and the nature of our last common ancestor with chimps. Science magazine is making access to this extraordinary set of materials FREE (non-subscribers require a simple registration).

• Reexamining Human Origins in Light of Ardipithecus ramidus
• PODCAST

Discovery Channel: Discovering Ardi

Interactive page covering what some believe to be a 'missing-link' between humans and apes, Ardipithecus ramidus. Includes videos, galleries and information (requires the latest version of Adobe Flash).

BBC News: Fossil finds extend human story

Fossils of A. ramidus were first found in Ethiopia in 1992, but it has taken 17 years to assess their significance. Independent experts in the field are struck by how primitive Ardipithecus appears compared with the Australopithecines, another group of hominid (human-like) creatures from Africa that lived slightly nearer to us in time. And because many of Ardipithecus' traits do not appear in modern-day African apes, it suggests this common ancestor may have existed much further back in time than had previously been supposed - perhaps seven or nine million years ago.

BBC News: Oldest human skulls found

Three fossilised skulls unearthed in Ethiopia are said by scientists to be among the most important discoveries ever made in the search for the origin of humans.

Becoming Human

View the documentary on becoming human. Includes latest news and views, as well as a glossary and other resources.

Cavemen-Human Evolution

This BBC website lets you journey through time from primates to modern people.

Dmanisi

This site looks at the oldest Hominid site found out side of Africa.

Early Human Evolution

Easy to read and well presented with information on early transitional humans, Homo erectus, and early human culture.

Fossil Evidence for Human Evolution in China

Fossil evidence for human evolution in China. Includes a catalogue of Chinese human fossil remains, a picture gallery of important fossil specimens, maps, and a time line.

Hominid Species

Hosted by Talk Origins Archive, these pages briefly list the various hominid species found.

Human Evolution

Learn about the patterns of hominid dispersal, the human fossil record, the hominid brain, and hominid tools. A well presented web site, well worth a look.

Human Evolution: Skulls

The ancestors of today's modern apes (gorillas, orangutans, gibbons, chimpanzees and humans) first appeared in the fossil record about 27 million years ago. By examining their skulls we can explore characteristics which reflect their evolutionary relationships. click on the virtual skulls section to view interactive 3D versions of many skulls

Human Origins and Evolution Page

This page was established by Professor Jeanne Sept to maintain links to this constantly growing scientific database, and teaching resources for her students taking the Human Origins and Evolution in Africa course.

Peter Brown's Australian and Asian Palaeoanthropology

Learn about the sites and human hominid fossils found in the Australasian area. Also looks at the human origins of Asia and Australia. Also includes research and teacher resources.

BBC NEWS | 'Proof' our brains are evolving

By comparing modern man with our ancestors of 37,000 years ago, a Chicago University team has discovered big changes in two genes linked to brain size.

BBC NEWS | Earliest 'human footprints' found

The earliest footprints showing evidence of modern human foot anatomy and gait have been unearthed in Kenya.

BBC NEWS | 'Peking Man' older than thought

Iconic ancient human fossils from China are 200,000 years older than had previously been thought, a study shows.

BBC NEWS | Age of ancient humans reassessed

Two skulls originally found in 1967 have been shown to be about 195,000 years old, making them the oldest modern human remains known to science.

Stone Age Institute

The Stone Age Institute is a non-profit organization devoted to the study of technology, adaptation and evolution in human prehistory.

The Evidence for Human Evolution

Part of the Talk Origins Archive, this site includes hominid fossils that are considered important either for their scientific or historic interest. Includes photos and a brief description of fossils.

The Human Origins Program

A site maintained by the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, this site gives information on the Human Origins Program, and also provides users with the opportunity to ask questions of the Smithsonian scientists.

Primates

NOVA: Read my Lips

Bonobos have many ways of letting other bonobos know what's on their mind. In this slide show, study a random sampling of bonobo facial expressions and gestures

THE LINK: 'Ida'

A webside centered on the discovery of a new ancestoral lemur fossil nicknamed 'Ida'.

BBC News: Primate fossil 'not an ancestor'

The exceptionally well-preserved fossil known as "Ida" is not a missing link. The suggestion that Ida [was]... related to the higher primates, namely monkeys apes and humans, was actually a minority view from the start.

Bonobo Sex and Society

The behaviour of a close relative challenges assumptions about male supremacy in human evolution. by Frans B. M. de Waal.

Chimpanzee Hunting Habits

After living for much of the past four years among the chimpanzees of Tanzania's Gombe National Park, anthropologist Craig Stanford believes he may have discovered a model for the origins of human sexual politics.

Demonic Males: Apes and the Origins of Human Violence

The Washington Post web site provides Chapter 1 of the book: "Demonic Males - Apes and the Origins of Human Violence", by Richard Wrangham and Dale Peterson.

Duke Lemur Center

The only chimpanzee fossils known to science have been unearthed in Kenya, the journal Nature reports. The three 545,000-year-old chimp teeth were dug up in the country's Tugen Hills and probably belonged to the same individual, the US discoverers say.

BBC NEWS | First chimpanzee fossils found

The Duke Lemur Center was established in 1966 and today is the world's largest sanctuary for rare and endangered prosimian primates. The center's site provides information, photo's and latest prosimian news and updates.

BBC NEWS | Scientists hail stunning fossil

The fossil nicknamed Ida, was launched amid great fanfare at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, by the city's mayor. It was discovered in the 1980s in a fossil treasure-trove called Messel Pit, near Darmstadt in Germany. For much of the intervening period, it has been in a private collection.The preservation is so good, it is possible to see the outline of its fur and even traces of its last meal.

Fossil Primates 1

Describes details of early primates. Lecture notes by Dr. Bill Sellars, Part 1.

Fossil Primates 2

Describes details of early primates. Lecture notes by Dr. Bill Sellars, Part 2.

Order Primates

Learn about primate characteristics and the distinguishing features of the 13 families which make up the primate order.

Physical Anthropology Tutorials

Provided by Palomar College, these 16 tutorials range from Early Theories of Evolution to Evolution of Modern Humans. The tutorials contain detailed discussions, audio files, diagrams and practice quiz's.

Primate Images

Provides a large collection of images of gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, gibbons, old world monkeys, new world monkeys and prosimians.

Primates.com

Provides information on: Lemurs, Monkeys, Gorrilas, Bonobos and Chimpanzees. Each section is broken up into further headings of related information, including links to more detailed information.

Cultural Evolution

BBC News: Oldest evidence of arrows found

Researchers in South Africa have revealed the earliest direct evidence of human-made arrows.

BBC News: Tool-making and meat-eating began 3.5 million years ago

Researchers have found evidence that hominins - early human ancestors - used stone tools to cleave meat from animal bones more than 3.2 million years ago.

BBC News: 'Oldest musical instrument' found

The flutes are the oldest musical instruments found to date. Professor Nicholas Conard of Tubingen University suggests that the playing of music was common as far back as when modern humans spread across Europe. "It's becoming increasingly clear that music was part of day-to-day life," he said. "Music was used in many kinds of social contexts: possibly religious, possibly recreational - much like we use music today in many kinds of settings."

Study of the Early Human Journey

A comprehensive study into the origins of early human migration, using sophisticated laboratory and computer analysis of DNA.

Stone Age Reference Collection

Stone Age Reference Collection (at the institute of Archaeology, University of Oslo) is an excellent site showing stone tool types and the various tool making technologies used to make them.

Stone Pages

An excellent, comprehensive guide to European megaliths (stone circles, dolmens, standing stones, cairns, barrows and hill forts). Provides detailed information on many archaeological sites.

The Chauvet Cave

Describes the recently discovered Paleolithic cave in the Ardéche Region of France that contains more than 300 exceptional paintings and engravings dated between 32,000 and 30,000 years ago. Excellent photos of the paintings.

Video Links

Teachers TV

Homo Sapiens - The Birth of a New Man (50min)

Dramatic reconstructions and explanations from experts tell the story of the rise of Homo sapiens and humankind from its origins in Africa in the first episode of this three-part series.
Published: 24 October 2008

Homo Sapiens - He Conquers the World (55min)

Dramatic reconstructions and explanations from experts tell the story of the rise of Homo sapiens and humankind from its origins in Africa in the second episode of this three-part series.
Published: 24 October 2008

Homo Sapiens - He Lives in Harmony with Nature (50min)

Dramatic reconstructions and explanations from experts tell the story of the rise of Homo sapiens and humankind from its origins in Africa in the first episode of this three-part series.
Published: 24 October 2008

The Rise of Man - Episode 1 (50min)

This first instalment in an epic two-part journey shows the development of human civilisation from its earliest origins. Through re-enactments, the emergence of Homo sapiens from prehistory is shown.
Published: 24 October 2008

The Rise of Man - Episode 2 (60min)

This second instalment in an epic two-part journey shows the development of human civilisation from its earliest origins. Through re-enactments, the emergence of Homo sapiens from prehistory is shown.
Published: 24 October 2008

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