Evolution Part 3 – Timeline and Human Evolution Jim Whitfield.

Evolution Part 3 – Timeline and Human EvolutionJim Whitfield

Origin and Evolution of Man

Fossils found in the Olduvai Gorge, principally by the Louis and Mary Leaky, show that about 3-4 million years ago a small man-like primate standing under four feet tall walked upright (bipedalism) in the region that is now Tanzania and Ethiopia.


Fossils found in the Olduvai Gorge, principally by the Louis and Mary Leaky, show that about 3-4 million years ago a small man-like primate standing under four feet tall walked upright (bipedalism) in the region that is now Tanzania and Ethiopia.

In 1975 Mary Leaky, working in Laetoli, Tanzania unearthed a track way showing three distinct individuals (2 adults and a child) walking through what at one time had been mud. The site was dated to 3.7 million years ago

Cast of the Laetoli footprints at the NationalMuseum of Natural History, in Washington, D.C. (above)

Replica of the track way at the National Museumof Science in Tokyo, Japan (left)

The original track way has been reburied with its where abouts only vaguely known to be rediscovered at some time in the future


The most ancient and complete hominid skeleton was discovered in 1972 by American Donald Johnson and other members of the multinational team in Afar, Ethiopia. “Lucy” as she came to be known was a member of the the Australopithecus Afarensis. She stood 1.1 meters tall and weighed in at 29 kg. Though she looked somewhat chimpanzee like, reconstruction of pelvic and knee joint showed that she walked like a modern human. Her skeleton was dated to 3.2 million years ago. The fact that she had a very small brain case lent support to the theory that bipedalism preceded brain size in humans

Australopithecus afarensis, cast from Museum National D'histoire Naturelle, Paris, France

Walking cast of Lucy in theNational Museum of MexicoCity, Mexico


The evolution of modern man begins about 1.5 million years ago



During this time two distinct humanoid-like primates walked the African savannah – Ramapithecus and Dryopithecus



During this time two distinct humanoid-like primates walked the African savannah – Ramapithecus and Dryopithecus

Of the two Ramapithecus was more human-like. There are relatively few fossilized remains from any human-like organism from this time period


About two million years ago Australopithecines inhabited the East-African grasslands. Australopithecines continued to walk upright, fossil evidence of teeth indicated that he was a plant eater. There is also evidence that she used tools


About two million years ago Australopithecines inhabited the East-African grasslands. Australopithecines continued to walk upright, fossil evidence of teeth indicated that he was a plant eater. There is also evidence that she used tools

Scattered amongst the bones were other more “modern” human remains. This human-like “hominoid” had a significantly larger brain case (650-800 cc’s) and had other more human-like features particularly in the joints this individual was called Homo Habilis


Fossils discovered on the Island of Java in 1891 showed the next step in human evolution Homo Erectus (previously called Java Man) was prevalent about 1.5 million years ago. His brain case had increased to about 900 cc and their is evidence (structure of the jaw and teeth) that they were meat eaters. It is also important that the location of these fossils show that either humans evolved independently in different locations or more likely that at some point in the distant past the emigrated out of Africa and into Asia


From approximately 100,000 to 40,000 years ago Neanderthal man lived in both Asia and in Europe. Neanderthal man had a brain case of about 1400cc’s he fashioned tools from stone and wood, worn animal hides, made jewelry, produced primitive artwork on cave walls and buried their dead


From approximately 100,000 to 40,000 years ago Neanderthal man lived in both Asia and in Europe. Neanderthal man had a brain case of about 1400cc’s he fashioned tools from stone and wood, worn animal hides, made jewelry, produced primitive artwork on cave walls and buried their dead

Neanderthal man had a more significant brow ridge as well as a larger thicker jaw which could accommodate more teeth. Our wisdom teeth are vestigial structures now, however they feet very nicely into the jaw of the Neanderthal


During the last ice age (75,000 – 10,000 years ago) modern Homo Sapiens arose. Homo Sapiens and Neanderthals lived together in Europe for about 5,000 years. Why Neanderthals went extinct is up for debate. However, all non-Africans share between 1.5 and 2.5% of their DNA with Neanderthal DNA – perhaps we bred them out of existence.


During the last ice age (75,000 – 10,000 years ago) modern Homo Sapiens arose. Homo Sapiens and Neanderthals lived together in Europe for about 5,000 years. Why Neanderthals went extinct is up for debate. However, all non-Africans share between 1.5 and 2.5% of their DNA with Neanderthal DNA – perhaps we bred them out of existence.

Cave art reached its zenith about 18,000 years ago. Modern agriculture began about 10,000 years ago, this is the same time human settlements began to appear and civilization as we know it began to form

Lascaux cave painting in Southern France

Evolution Part 3 – Timeline and Human Evolution Jim Whitfield.

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Transcript of Evolution Part 3 – Timeline and Human Evolution Jim Whitfield.