Human Evolution Collection

Stages in human evolution
Human evolution. Illustration showing stages in the evolution of humans. At left, proconsul (23-15 million years ago) is depicted hypothetically as an African ape with both primitive

Laetoli fossil footprints. Artwork showing the Laetoli footprints that were preserved in volcanic ash deposits around 3.5 million years ago. They were discovered in 1976 in Laetoli, Tanzania

Prehistoric spear-thrower. Artwork of how a spear-thrower (or atlatl) is used to throw a feathered dart. At top and centre, the dart is loaded. At bottom, it is being thrown

Female Australopithecus africanus, artists impression. A. Africanus was a bipedal hominid that lived between 3.5 and 2 million years ago

Scimitar cat attacking a hominid, artists impression. The scimitar cat (Homotherium sp.) was a member of the sabre-toothed cat family (Machairodontinae) which lived throughout Africa

Artwork of the stages in human evolution
Human evolution. Illustration showing stages in the evolution of humans. At left, proconsul (23-15 million years ago) is depicted hypothetically as an African ape with both primitive

1881 Charles Darwin Portrait aftr Collier
1881 Charles Robert Darwin ( 12 February 1809 - 19 April 1882) English Naturalist and author of the Origin of Species. 1922 Hand coloured portrait aquatint of Darwin by G

Australopithecus afarensis, artwork
Australopithecus afarensis. Artwork of a female Australopithecus afarensis hominid with her child. This hominid lived between 3.9 and 2.9 million years ago

Homo heidelbergensis. Artists impression of two male H. heidelbergensis hominids which lived between 600, 000 and 250, 000 years ago in the Pleistocene era

Sahelanthropus tchadensis skull. Artwork of a reconstruction of the Toumai skull, one of only a small number of fossils of the hominin Sahelanthropus tchadensis

Homo heidelbergensis skull and face of a male, artists impression. H. heidelbergensis lived between 600, 000 and 250, 000 years ago in the Pleistocene era

Female Homo habilis. Artists impression of a female Homo habilis holding her young and plucking fruit from a tree. H. habilis was an ancestor of modern humans that lived between around 2.1

Australopithecus boisei. Artists impression of the skull and head of an Australopithecus boisei, a hominid that lived in Africa between about 2.3 to 1.3 million years ago

Olduvai Gorge landscape, Tanzania C015 / 6429
Olduvai Gorge landscape, Tanzania. This gorge (also called Oldupai Gorge) is famous for the fossils discovered here of extinct hominins that form part of the human evolutionary tree

Ardipithecus ramidus landscape. Artwork of Ardipithecus ramidus male and female hominids (right) climbing a fallen branch and standing in an African forest during the Pliocene. A

Homo erectus skull. Artwork, from 1931, showing a reconstruction of the skull of Java Man, based on the fossil skull fragments (dark grey) discovered by Dubois in Java in 1891

Engraved Ocher Plaque from Blombos Cave, South Africa. The oldest artifact of mankind, 70th millennium BC. Found in the collection of Smithsonian Institution Archives

Two Mothers. Artist: Faivre, Leon Maxime (1856-1941)
Two Mothers. Found in the collection of Musee d Orsay, Paris

The Stone Age. A Feast, 1883. Artist: Vasnetsov, Viktor Mikhaylovich (1848-1926)
The Stone Age. A Feast, 1883. Found in the collection of the State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

The Flight Before the Mammoth, 1885. Found in the Collection of Muse e de l Homme, Paris

Caveman Playing the Flute. Artist: Kuznetsov, Konstantin Pavlovich (1863-1936)
Caveman Playing the Flute. From a private collection

Perforated shell beads from Blombos Cave, South Africa. The oldest artifact of mankind, 70th millennium BC. Found in the collection of © Christopher Henshilwood

adults, homo habilis, homo sapiens sapiens, human evolution, plain background
From so simple beginning

Neanderthal woman, artwork. The bones of of her right hip joint are shown here. Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) inhabited Europe and western Asia between 230, 000 and 29, 000 years ago

Neanderthals hunting Irish elk, artwork. Group of Neanderthal hunters attacking a male Irish elk (Megaloceros giganteus). The Irish elk was one of the largest deer that ever lived

Homo heidelbergensis skull (Cranium 5) C015 / 6921
Homo heidelbergensis skull (Cranium 5). Excavated in 1992 from the Sima de los Huesos pit in the Atapuerca foothills in Spain, this fossil skull dates from around 400, 000 years ago

Homo ergaster. Model of a male Homo ergaster. H. ergaster was a hominid that emerged about 1.9 million years ago in Africa. It is considered to be an ancestor of later Homo populations. H

Australopithecus afarensis. Model of a male Australopithecus afarensis hominid. This hominid lived between 3.9 and 2.9 million years ago. Fossil specimens have only be found in eastern Africa

Homo ergaster females and young, artists impression. The hominid H. ergaster is traditionally considered an early type of H. erectus by scientists

Modern human and Homo floresiensis
Modern human and Homo floriensis. Illustration comparing a modern human female (Homo sapiens sapiens) with a female Homo floriensis

Male and female Homo habilis, artists impression. H. habilis was an ancestor of modern humans that lived between around 2.1 and 1.6 million years ago

Stages in female human evolution
Human evolution. Artwork of female apes and humans showing some of the stages in human evolution. At left, Proconsul sp. (23-17 million years ago)

1881 Charles Darwin Face portrait
1881 Charles Robert Darwin ( 12 February 1809 - 19 April 1882) English Naturalist and author of the Origin of Species. 1922 Hand coloured portrait aquatint of Darwin by G

Human evolution as described in the 1870s
Theory of the " descent of man" as illustrated in the 1870s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Prehistoric hominin females, artwork. From left to right: Flores Man (Homo floresiensis), Cro-Magnon (European Early Modern Humans or EEMH, Homo sapiens sapiens)

Australopithecus africanus pelvis, STS-14 C015 / 6919
Australopithecus africanus pelvis (STS-14). This fossil specimen was discovered in 1947, in Sterkfontein, South Africa. The entire specimen consists of the pelvis, part of the vertebral column

Australopithecus africanus skull (STS-5) C015 / 6916
Australopithecus africanus skull. This is specimen STS-5, also known as Mrs Ples. It dates from around 2 million years ago and was discovered in Sterkfontein, South Africa, in 1947

Sima de los Huesos fossils C015 / 6587
Sima de los Huesos fossils. Researchers with a display of fossil bones of Homo heidelbergensis from the Sima de los Huesos (Pit of Bones) site, Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain

Cro-Magnon 1 fossil skull C016 / 5882
Cro-Magnon 1 fossil skull. Cast of a fossil of the skull of a male aged around 45 years of age. It dates from around 28, 000 years ago

Neanderthal couple, artwork C016 / 5791
Neanderthal couple, artwork. Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) inhabited Europe and western Asia between 230, 000 and 29, 000 years ago

Paranthropus boisei anatomy, artwork C013 / 9582
Paranthropus boisei anatomy. Artwork showing a reconstruction of the head of Paranthropus boisei (previously Australopithecus bosei), based on skull OH5 (top left) found at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania

Homo ergaster, artwork C013 / 9576
Homo ergaster. Artwork of Homo ergaster early humans using tools. H. ergaster was a hominid that emerged about 1.9 million years ago in Africa

Homo habilis hunting, artwork C013 / 6549
Homo habilis group using tools to share a kill, artwork. H. habilis is thought to have lived approximately 2 to 1.6 million years ago in East Africa

Homo floresiensis. Artists impression of the skull, head and face of Homo floresiensis. The remains of this hominid were found in 2003 at the Liang Bua Cave on the island of Flores, Indonesia

Australopithecus africanus skeleton, artists impression. A. Africanus was a bipedal hominid that lived between 3.5 and 2 million years ago

Modern human. Model of an early human (Homo sapiens) or Cro-Magnon man. Cro-Magnon is the earliest European example of Homo sapiens

Human evolution, artwork
Human evolution. Artwork showing a snapshot of the evolution of humans from earlier forms of life. At far left is the shrew-like mammal, Purgatorius (65 million years ago, mya)

Homo ergaster hunting group, artists impression. These hominids are shown attacking a species of saber-toothed cat (Machairdontinae) using wooden branches and a spear. H

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"Unveiling the Tapestry of Human Evolution: A Journey through Time" Embarking on a captivating journey, we delve into the intricate stages of human evolution. From the dawn of time to our modern existence, this remarkable transformation has shaped who we are today. We begin with prehistoric discoveries that shed light on our ancestors' ingenuity and adaptability. The invention of the spear-thrower marked a significant milestone in early human development, showcasing their resourcefulness and hunting prowess. Tracing back millions of years, we encounter the astonishing Laetoli fossil footprints imprinted by Australopithecus afarensis. These ancient tracks offer us a glimpse into their bipedal locomotion, revealing how they walked upon Earth's surface long before us. Through mesmerizing artwork depicting Australopithecus afarensis and Australopithecus africanus females, we witness their physical features and speculate about their social dynamics within primitive communities. The struggle for survival becomes vivid as we observe an intense scene—an awe-inspiring scimitar cat attacking a hominid. This depiction reminds us of the challenges faced by our ancestors during their evolutionary journey. Artwork further guides us along this transformative path, illustrating various stages in human evolution. Each stage represents pivotal moments where anatomical changes occurred over millennia—shaping Homo sapiens as we know them today. In 1881 Charles Darwin's portrait after Collier serves as a reminder of his groundbreaking theory on natural selection—a cornerstone in understanding our place within this grand narrative. Our exploration takes an intriguing turn with Sahelanthropus tchadensis skull—the earliest known representative from the hominin lineage—providing crucial insights into our common ancestry with chimpanzees and bonobos. Homo heidelbergensis emerges next—a species bridging gaps between earlier hominins and modern humans—showcasing advancements in tool-making abilities while adapting to diverse environments.