Oldest human fossil found outside of Africa throws popular theory into doubt

The closest ancestors of modern-day humans (Homo sapiens) and other subspecies of the genus Homo are thought to have originated in Eastern Africa around 2.85 million years ago. Archaeologists interested in the link between the earliest members of the genus Homo and modern humans often study the migration patterns of Homo sapiens and their closest relatives to refine our evolutionary tree. The earliest record of … Continue reading Oldest human fossil found outside of Africa throws popular theory into doubt

Newly Discovered Footprints Indicate Early Human Relatives Taller Than Previously Estimated

In Laetoli, Tanzania, researches were investigating the area where a new field archeology museum was proposed when they found two sets of human footprints. These footprints were left in volcanic ash 3-4 million years ago, likely by members of the Australopithecus afarensis species. Based on the size of the footprints, researches estimate that they were left by a female standing 4’9” and weighing 87 pounds … Continue reading Newly Discovered Footprints Indicate Early Human Relatives Taller Than Previously Estimated