Where Did the Hominids Originate?

The scientific evidence suggests that Hominids They originated On the continent of Africa; The East African region is specifically indicated.

Most fossils of hominids, as well as the oldest, have been found throughout the African continent. This is one of the main reasons why it is theorized that modern humans developed in Africa.

Where Did the Hominids Originate?

The family of hominids separated from the primates about 6-8 million. The word hominid refers to members of the family of humans, Hominidae : Species directly related to the last common predecessor between humans and primates.

Humans and primates split about 15-20 years ago or about 20-40 million years ago. Some primates that existed during that time can be considered homínidos or relatives of the humans.

Studies indicate that hominids may have migrated to the continents of Europe and Asia. Tracing the origin of modern humans is complicated since the evidence is not completely conclusive. However, the theory that humans originated in Africa and then spread throughout the world is the most accepted.

You may want to know more about the context where these hominids came from. For this you can see Stages of prehistory: Stone Age and Neolithic .

Origin of hominids

What is a homer?

Hominids refer to the family of related primates, including humans. These species include 4 genera and 7 living species: the gorilla, the orangutan, the chimpanzee, the bonobo, and the human.

This term has varied over the years, initially referring only to humans and their near extinct relatives. However, hominid is now used to refer to all great apes, including humans.

The first hominid specimens walked on two feet, which means that they were bipedal. Scientific consensus indicates that these creatures originated and evolved to the east of the African continent.

Early data on the origin of hominids

The earliest fossils of hominids have been found on the continent of Africa. Most hominids date back to the Paleolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic Stone Age periods.

In the province of Gauteng, located near Johannesburg in South Africa, is the Cradle of Humanity. This anthropological pale site was declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO because of its historical importance.

In this site more than a third of the fossils of discovered hominids have been found, in addition to that the fossils of homínidos found in this place have been the oldest ones. Some specimens date from about 3.5 million years ago.

Some species of hominids

Sahelanthropus tchadensis

This species was discovered in Chad, Central Africa in 2002. It is the oldest species of a hominid that has been found, although it is not known whether it was bipedal. It is estimated that the fossils found date from about 6-7 million years ago; His skull was small and had small, canine teeth.

Very few specimens have been found, the most famous being a child named Toumai. Its characteristics, as well as the fact that it comes from the period in which hominids diverged from chimpanzees, suggest that it was close to the common ancestor between humans and chimpanzees.

Australopithecus Anamensis

The fossils of these hominids were found in Kenya and Ethiopia, on the African continent. These remains belong to the oldest hominid species found in the Turkana basin, a geographic site filled with thousands of fossils located between Kenya and Ethiopia.

It existed about 3.9 million years ago; Had a mix of primitive features and more advanced body parts.

Ardipithecus ramidus

It was named after remains of 4.4 million years ago in Ethiopia. Studies carried out concluded that this hominid weighed about 50 kilos and measured approximately 120 centimeters. His skull and brain were the size of a chimpanzee and he could walk on two legs.

Australopithecus afarensis

These creatures existed from 3.9 to 3 million years ago. The most famous fossil found of this species was named Lucy. It is more related to the human species than to a primate.

Only fossils have been found in regions of East Africa. Lucy was found in the Hadar region of Ethiopia, however, Laetoli in Tanzania is generally associated with this species because of the numerous specimens that have been found there. In addition, remains have been found in other regions of Ethiopia and Kenya.

Although his skull was similar to that of a chimpanzee, his teeth were similar to those of humans. Your pelvis and leg bones have many things in common with those of modern humans.

It was biped and adapted well to walk, however running was not his forte. Physically they were very strong and their hands were also very similar to those of humans today.

Homo habilis

It existed about 2.4 and 1.5 million years ago and was very similar to the Australopithecus species. His face was primitive yet, but the shape of his skull was very similar to that of a modern human. Studies have shown that he was fully qualified to perform some kind of rudimentary speech.

He was found in Tanzania in the 1960s and was named that way because he was a"skilled man". Tools were found near the fossils, so scientists believe that this species was able to use tools.

Homo erectus

This species existed between 1.8 million years and 300,000 years ago. His skeleton was more robust than that of humans; This implies a great force.

The proportions of his body vary since tall and thin specimens have been found, but others indicate that they were smaller and compact. They used primitive tools and there is evidence that they cooked their food.

While species of australopithecines and Homo habilis Have been found only on the continent of Africa, Homo erectus In other parts of the world. Asia, Europe and Africa have been the places where evidence of this species has been found.

Thanks to these findings scientists assume that hominids originated in Africa, therefore humans were born on this continent. From Homo erectus Or a direct ancestor of the same, migrated to other parts of the world.

Homo predecessor

It is the oldest European hominid that has been found; Was discovered in 1977 in Atapuerca, Spain.

Scientists say this species must be related to the first migratory series of hominids that left Africa and expanded to Eurasia. Traces and fossils of the Homo antecessor In England and France.

Homo sapiens sapiens

Anatomically modern humans developed about 200,000 years ago. The remains of Homo sapiens Oldest dating back 195 million years and were found in Omo, Ethiopia, in East Africa. These fossils are known as the Kibish men.

References

  1. The Hominids. The origins of life. Biology Online. Retrieved from biology-org.com.
  2. Hominid species. Talk of origins (2010). Retrieved from talkorigins.org.
  3. Mammal Species of the World: a taxonomic and geographic reference (2005) Baltimore: John Hopkins University. 3rd edition. Retrieved from Scielo.org.ar.
  4. Discovery of early hominins (1999-2002). Hominids. Retrieved from anthro.palomar.edu.
  5. What have archaeologists learned about early hominids? Answers - Science. Retrieved from answers.com.
  6. The cradle of humankind (2008). 30 South Publishers.
  1. Defining the Homo Genus. (2015). 2nd edition . Springer Berlin Heidelberg. Retrieved from link.springer.com
  2. Worlds Together, Worlds Apart. (2015). New York, USA. Retrieved from ncia.wwnorton.com.
  3. Stratigraphic placement and age of modern humans from Kibish, Ethiopia. (2005) Nature, 433. Retrieved from adsabs.harvard.edu.com.
  4. Why Is The Cradle Of Humankind Important? (2017) Maropeng. Recovered from maropeng.co.za.


Loading ..

Recent Posts

Loading ..