Human fossils

The species to which humans belong, homo sapiens, is believed to have come into existence between 100 000 - 200 000 years ago. Because this is too long ago for any written records to have existed, scientists must use other methods to gather information about our evolutionary past. The most useful of these methods have been the study of human fossils, the archeological record, and genetic analysis.

Footprints found at White Sands National Park in New Mexico provide the earliest unequivocal evidence of human activity in the Americas and offer insight into life over 23,000 years ago.

South Africa's status as a major cradle in the African nursery of humankind has been reinforced with today's unveiling of "Little Foot", the country's oldest, virtually complete fossil human ancestor. - HeritageDaily - Archaeology News

This is the account of the discovery of a skull that has the potential to change what we know about human evolution, and a suppression and cover-up which followed.

The richest hominin fossil-bed in the world is a million years older than previously thought

I'm known as the "Upright Man!"

Modern humans, Homo Sapiens, are now the only surviving member of the homo genus. It is almost inconceivable to us that there was a time we walked with other human species, but as the science of archaeology has progressed and more findings have been made it has become clear that the homo genus was once rife with different species.

We are the naked apes of the world, having shed most of our body hair long ago

Lucy, the world’s most famous fossil human ancestor, has gone digital in 3-D. A new high-resolution CT scan of the 3.2 million-year-old skeleton will provide scientists around the globe with information that may help settle debates about human evolution. The virtual Lucy could prove invaluable to scientists by giving them their first glimpse inside her […]

Find out how climate change might have driven turning points in human evolution. Learn more on EarthSky.