Sahelanthropus tchadensis
“Toumai”
6 -7 m y.a.
brain size 350cc
possibly bipedal?
Ardipithecus kadabba and ramidus
“Ardi“
4.7 to 4.4 m y.a.
Brain capacity 350 – 400 cc
check out those canines!!
Australopithecus afarensis
“Lucy” and “Salaam”
3.9 to 3.4 m y.a.
Brain capacity approx. 400 cc
2 m y.a.
Brain capacity 650 cc
first evidence of stone tools
Homo georgicus “Dimanisi Man”
1.8 m y.a.
Brain Capacity 600 – 700 cc
found in the Caucuses, may have been earliest to migrate from Africa — skull of elder without teeth is evidence of cooperative care of community members
1.3 m to 250k y.a.
Brain capacity 900 cc
Meat eater, evidence of fire use and control
Homo heidelbergensis
500k – 350k y.a.
Brain capacity 1100cc
common ancestor of Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens
first evidence of intentional burial, with burial goods (pink axe)
Homo neaderthanlensis
400k to 50k y.a.
Brain capacity 1400 – 1700cc
limited tool kit, buried their dead, co-existed with Homo sapiens until they were displaced by them
Homo sapiens the anatomically modern human
200k to 35k y.a.
Brain capacity 1300cc
evolved in Africa during profound drought. believed to have been as few as 600 individuals at one point; cultural adaptability seen as the key to their success as a species.
Just for comparison — here’s the new fossil everyone is trying to figure out:
Homo floresiensis “The Hobbit”
100k to 12k y.a.
Brain capacity 400cc
modern skulls, primitive hands and feet; scientists are still trying to figure out where this small version of humans came from and how it fits into the larger picture of human evolution.