Evolution of human

Auntralopithecus afarensis

3 BCE

This species is one of the best known of our ancestors due to a number of major discoveries including a set of fossil footprints and a fairly complete fossil skeleton of a female nicknamed 'Lucy'.

Homo habilis

2 BCE

Homo habilis, known as 'handy man' is a species of the genus Homo which lived from approximately 2.33 to 1.4 million years ago, during the Gelasian Pleistocene period. The discovery and description of this species is credited to both Mary and Louis Leakey, who discovered the fossils in Tanzania between 1962 and 1964.

Homo neanderthalensis

1 BCE

The first Neanderthal fossil was found in 1829, but it was not recognised as a possible human ancestor until more fossils were discovered during the second half of the 19th century. Since then, thousands of fossils representing the remains of many hundreds of Neanderthal individuals have been recovered from sites across Europe and the Middle East. These include babies, children and adults up to about 40 years of age. As a result, more is known about this human ancestor than about any other.

Homo sapiens

1000

The first Neanderthal fossil was found in 1829, but it was not recognised as a possible human ancestor until more fossils were discovered during the second half of the 19th century. Since then, thousands of fossils representing the remains of many hundreds of Neanderthal individuals have been recovered from sites across Europe and the Middle East. These include babies, children and adults up to about 40 years of age. As a result, more is known about this human ancestor than about any other.