Becoming human
Millions of years ago, our ancestors started an evolutionary journey...
Where do we fit in?
We have unique characteristics but also similarities with other animals.
Meet the family
Our family tree includes different species from our evolutionary past.
- The human family tree
- Sahelanthropus tchadensis
- Orrorin tugenensis
- Ardipithecus kadabba
- Ardipithecus ramidus
- Australopithecus anamensis
- Australopithecus afarensis
- Australopithecus garhi
- Australopithecus bahrelghazali
- Australopithecus africanus
- Australopithecus sediba
- Paranthropus genus
- Homo habilis
- Homo rudolfensis
- Homo ergaster
- Homo erectus
- Homo antecessor
- Homo heidelbergensis
- Homo neanderthalensis – The Neanderthals
- Homo sapiens – modern humans
- Homo floresiensis
Analysing the evidence
Scientists can recover a lot of information about our ancestors.
- Our ancestors’ fossils – ancient bones and footprints
- How do we know how they behaved?
- How do we know if they could speak?
- How do we know what they ate?
- How do we know what their environments were like?
- How do we know an individual’s age at death?
- How do we know how they died?
- How do we know what they looked like?
- The influence of science on the human story
- A timeline of fossil discoveries
Human movement around the world
When and where our species originated and more.
Virtual Skulls
Manipulate 360 degree images of skulls and view them from any angle.
- Virtual Skull - Male Gorilla
- Virtual Skull - Chimpanzee pan troglodytes
- Virtual Skull - Australopithecus africanus
- Virtual Skull - Paranthropus boisei
- Virtual Skull - Homo habilis
- Virtual Skull - Homo rudolfensis
- Virtual Skull - Homo ergaster
- Virtual Skull - Homo erectus
- Virtual Skull - Homo heidelbergensis
- Virtual Skull - Homo neanderthalensis
- Virtual Skull - Homo sapiens
Are we still evolving?
Human evolution did not stop when our own species appeared.
