1. Fossil evidence of Human Evolution 17. pp.324-326
Earliest Evidence of Human Ancestors
Central Africa about 3 million years ago
Not a human but
Walked upright
About 4 feet tall
Brain smaller than human
Most famous is “Lucy”
Australopithecus afarensis
Brain about 475 cm3
Human about 1400 cm3

2. Fossil evidence of Human Evolution 17. pp.324-326
Other Fossils give a picture of human evolution
Australopithecines = species in the genus Australopithecus
A. africanus: 2-3 mya, brain cm3
A. robustus: mya, brain cm3
A. boisei: mya, brain cm3
Australopithecines probably not direct ancestors of humans

3. Fossil evidence of Human Evolution 17. pp.324-326
Genus Homo:
Homo habilis: “handy human”
Homo erectus: “ upright human”
Homo sapiens: “thinking human”

4. Fossil evidence of Human Evolution 17. pp.324-326