1. The Earliest Human Ancestors
Anthropology
The Earliest Human Ancestors

2. This is wrong.

3. This is awesome…

4. Common Ancestry Humans and Chimpanzees shared a common ancestor
between 5 and 7 million years ago. What happened?
Roughly our s grandparent.
This common ancestor probably looked very different
from both a chimpanzee and a human.
Define both cultures.

5. Some of the Early Ones… Ardipithecus Ramidus
Australopithecus Anamensis
Australopithecus Afarensis (Lucy & Laetoli)
Robust Australopithecus’ (Boisei/Robustus)
Some of the Early Ones…

6. Ardipithecus ramidus

7. Lived 4.4 million years ago in Africa.
One of the earliest known
human ancestors.
Walked on two legs on the
ground, but walked on all fours
on the tops of tree branches.
“Ardi”
Like this =>

8. ARDI
It is likely that Ardipithecus Ramidus was the ancestor of the many
different species of humans that came afterwards.

9. Ramidus Small cranium (350cc) Reduced canines
Long curved fingers/opposable big toe
Pelvis modified for bipedalism
Ramidus

10. Kenyanthropus Platyops
mya
Put in line with robustus, rudolfensis, boisei, erectus and face seemed to be flatter (hence name: “flat face”)…face was :prognathic
Different enough, therefore: a new species.
Most similar to Rudolfensis
Platyops
Kenyanthropus Platyops

11. Australopithecus Anamensis

12. Anamensis Fossils found 1000k ms away from Ramidus
1st hominoid femur found/largest canines found
Similarities and close proximity lead to a “newer” species…
mya
A direct ancestor of Afarensis!
Anamensis

13. Australopithecus Afarensis

14. 4-3 mya
Samples taken out of volcanic ash (which can be dated)
Footprints and femur length determin it as bipedal! A first!
Also adapted to life in trees too (hands and feet)
Lucy and Laetoli footprints

15. Lucy

16. Laetoli Footprints

17. A split?

18. Robustus
Boisei
mya
The Robust Type…

19. Robustus Remarkably bigger than africanus (teeth)
Specialized chewing teeth compared to others
Cranial capacity of 530cc (not just a big dumb dude as thought to be compared to slender-sleek africanus)
Lack of post cranial remains….
Robustus

21. A. Boisei Amazing! Close to whole cranium found (dated to 2.3-1.2mya)
Thickest enamel on hominoid ever found (molars also about twice our size but with microwear). Diet?
Robust looking skull: massive sagittal crest, large jaws
Massive sexual dimorphism (males: 65kgs/ females: 45kgs)
A. Boisei