A comparison of hominid skulls, including species, date, and absolute brain size.
The study of hominid fossils provides crucial evidence for understanding human evolution. These "human-like" fossils, discovered across various locations and time periods, offer insights into our ancestral lineage and support the theory of evolution. Why would God create a gradient of fossils that appear to move from fully ape to fully human?
| Species | Holotype Fossil | Dated (yrs) | Discovered | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sahelanthropus tchadensis | TM266-01-060-1 | ~7 million | 2001 | Chad |
| Orrorin tugenensis | BAR 1000'00 | ~6 million | 2000 | Kenya |
| Ardipithecus kadabba | ALA-VP-2/10 | ~5.8 million | 1997 | Ethiopia |
| Ardipithecus ramidus | ARA-VP-6/1 | ~4.4 million | 1994 | Ethiopia |
| Australopithecus anamensis | KNM-KP 29281 | ~4.2 million | 1995 | Kenya |
| Australopithecus afarensis | AL 288-1 ("Lucy") | ~3.2 million | 1974 | Ethiopia |
| Kenyanthropus platyops | KNM-WT 40000 | ~3.5 million | 1999 | Kenya |
| Australopithecus africanus | STS 5 ("Mrs. Ples") | ~3 million | 1947 | South Africa |
| Paranthropus aethiopicus | KNM-WT 17000 | ~2.5 million | 1985 | Kenya |
| Paranthropus boisei | OH 5 | ~1.75 million | 1959 | Tanzania |
| Paranthropus robustus | TM 1517 | ~2 million | 1938 | South Africa |
| Homo habilis | KNM-ER 1813 | ~1.9 million | 1973 | Kenya |
| Homo rudolfensis | KNM-ER 1470 | ~1.9 million | 1972 | Kenya |
| Homo erectus | KNM-WT 15000 | ~1.6 million | 1984 | Kenya |
| Homo ergaster | KNM-ER 992 | ~1.5 million | 1971 | Kenya |
| Homo antecessor | ATD6-69 | ~800,000 | 1997 | Spain |
| Homo heidelbergensis | Mauer 1 | ~600,000 | 1907 | Germany |
| Homo rhodesiensis | Kabwe 1 | ~300,000 | 1921 | Zambia |
| Homo neanderthalensis | Neanderthal 1 | ~40,000 | 1856 | Germany |
| Homo sapiens | Cro-Magnon 1 | ~30,000 | 1868 | France |
A comparison of hominid skulls, including species, date, and absolute brain size.