Human Evolution Flashcards
Fossil sites in other African Countries, including the Great Rift Valley
These fossils are
Nutcracker man (Paranthropus Boise) 1.2 to 2.2 million year fossil founded by Mary and Louis Leakey in 1959 at the Olduivai George in Tanzania.
Ardi (Ardipithecus) 4.6 million years old fossils found by Tim White and his team, in Ethiopia.
Handy Man (Homo habilis) discovered by Peter Nzube in 1968 in the Olduivai Gorge in Tanzania. Homo habilis is the earliest species of the genus Homo.
The 3.6 million year old laetoli footprints found by Mary Leaky at Tanzania.
In August 2012, Meave Leaky, daughter-in-law of Louis and Mary Leaky found a fossil in Kenya which many considered to be a new species of Homo.
Based on the above fossil finds they thought the East Africa was the cradle.
The ‘Out of Africa’ Hypothesis
According to the ‘Out of Africa’ hypothesis, most scientists believed humans originated in Africa and then migrated out of Africa to all parts of the world.
What the ‘Out of Africa’ hypothesis is based on
The ‘Out of Africa’ hypothesis is based on fossil evidence as well as on genetic evidence.
Fossil Evidence for the ‘Out of Africa’ Hypothesis
Taung Child (Australopithecus africanus), a 2.6 to 2.8 million old fossil found by Raymond Dart in 1924, outside the village of Taung in the Northern Cape.
Mrs Ples (Australopithecus africanus), an adult form of the Taung Child, found by Robert Broom in the Sterkfontein Caves in 1947.
Kromdraai (Paranthropus robustus) discovered by Robert Broom in 1938, about 1.4 km from Sterkfontein.
Florisbad man (an earlier form of Homo Sapiens), a 250000 year fossil found in Florisbad in the Free State.
Fossils found outside South Africa
Nutcracker Man (Paranthropus boisei) 1.2 to 2.2 million years fossil found by Mary and Louis Leaky in 1959 at the Olduivai George in Tanzania.
Handy man (Homo habilis) discovered by Peter Nzube in 1968 in the Olduivai George in Tanzania is the earliest species of the genus Homo.
The 3.6 million year old Laetoli footprints found by Mary Leaky at Tanzania.
Toumai (Sahelanthropus tachadensis), a 6-7 million year old fossil found in Chad in 2001 by Michael brunet and his team, made up of people from France as well as from Chad.
In 1992-1993 a research team headed by Tim White discovered seventeen fragments including the skull, mandible, teeth and arm bones of Ardipithecus in Tanzania.
In August 2012, Maeve Leaky (daughter-in-law of Louis and Mary Leaky) and her daughter, Louise announced that they had found new fossils in Kenya. These fossils suggest that there were two additional species of our genus-Homo-living alongside our direct ancestral species, Homo erectus, almost two million years ago.
