Taung Child skull
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Taung Child skull
Taung Child skull. Artwork, from 1931, showing the appearance and size (scale in millimetres) of the fossil skull discovered by Dart in Taung, South Africa, in 1924. It is thought to be the skull of a three-year-old. The specimen is classified as Australopithecus africanus. Dart considered it to be an early hominid (somewhere between an ape and a human), while Sir Arthur Keith proposed that it was the skull of a young ape. Australopithecus was eventually classified as an early hominid. A. africanus dates to 3 to 2.4 million years ago. Its brain was about the size of that of a chimpanzee. A human brain is much larger. Artwork from New Discoveries relating to The Antiquity of Man (Sir Arthur Keith, 1931)
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 6369063
© SHEILA TERRY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
1900s 1924 1931 Ancestor Anthropological Anthropology Australopithecus Africanus Bones Controversy Cranium Dart Diagram Early 20th Century Early Human Evolution Evolutionary Biology Fossil Fossil Man Fossils Front Frontal View Hominid Hominids Human Evolution Palaeoanthropology Paleoanthropology Reconstructed Reconstruction Scale Bar Size The Antiquity Of Man Palaeontology Sir Arthur Keith
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases the Taung Child skull, a significant archaeological discovery made by Raymond Dart in 1924. The artwork, dating back to 1931, provides a detailed depiction of the fossil skull's appearance and size. Believed to belong to a three-year-old individual, this specimen is classified as Australopithecus africanus. The photograph sheds light on the intriguing debate surrounding the nature of this ancient hominid. Dart initially proposed that it represented an early human ancestor bridging the gap between apes and humans. However, Sir Arthur Keith countered with his theory that it was merely the skull of a young ape. Over time, Australopithecus was eventually recognized as an early hominid species. Dating back approximately 3 to 2.4 million years ago, this particular A. africanus had a brain size comparable to that of chimpanzees but significantly smaller than modern humans. The historical significance of this artifact cannot be overstated; it played a pivotal role in shaping our understanding of human evolution during the early 20th century. This reconstruction offers valuable insights into our ancestral past and continues to fuel ongoing research in anthropology and paleoanthropology. Displayed against a scale bar for reference, this mesmerizing artwork from "New Discoveries relating to The Antiquity of Man" by Sir Arthur Keith serves as both an educational tool and testament to humanity's relentless pursuit of knowledge about our origins.
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