From 100th century BCE
Africa
African hominid evolution is presented as a long biological sequence extending from possible hominid-like primates in the later Miocene through Australopithecus and the emergence of Homo. The extract stresses that the fossil record is especially prolonged in Africa, while the origins and biological nature of early Homo sapiens and the differentiation of more modern human subspecies remain poorly known. This is a broad evolutionary framework rather than a single polity or archaeological culture.
Continue exploring
The Story
Palaeo-anthropological research in several parts of Africa has revealed what is described as the most prolonged fossil record of hominid evolution known anywhere. The evidence begins with tantalizing suggestions of hominid-like primates in the later Miocene, between ten and five million years ago, while the possible proto-hominid source may be earlier still. The extract consequently places Africa at the center of current explanations for the deep origins of the human family, while preserving a cautious tone about the fragmentary evidence.
The adaptive success of the hominid lineage is said to be documented during the Pliocene and into the earlier Quaternary through successive or allopatric species of Australopithecus. From some members of that genus, probably closely related to Australopithecus afarensis, the genus Homo arose. New discoveries within Africa were progressively illuminating the sequential phyletic evolution of several Homo species, but the record remained incomplete.
The origins and biological nature of earlier representatives of Homo sapiens are described as only scantily revealed. Even more modern human subspecies remained almost wholly unknown in terms of their evolutionary differentiation. The conclusion therefore combines a strong claim for Africa's importance with an explicit recognition that major parts of hominid evolution remain unresolved.
From 100th century BCE
Africa
African hominid evolution is presented as a long biological sequence extending from possible hominid-like primates in the later Miocene through Australopithecus and the emergence of Homo. The extract stresses that the fossil record is especially prolonged in Africa, while the origins and biological nature of early Homo sapiens and the differentiation of more modern human subspecies remain poorly known. This is a broad evolutionary framework rather than a single polity or archaeological culture.
Continue exploring
The Story
Palaeo-anthropological research in several parts of Africa has revealed what is described as the most prolonged fossil record of hominid evolution known anywhere. The evidence begins with tantalizing suggestions of hominid-like primates in the later Miocene, between ten and five million years ago, while the possible proto-hominid source may be earlier still. The extract consequently places Africa at the center of current explanations for the deep origins of the human family, while preserving a cautious tone about the fragmentary evidence.
The adaptive success of the hominid lineage is said to be documented during the Pliocene and into the earlier Quaternary through successive or allopatric species of Australopithecus. From some members of that genus, probably closely related to Australopithecus afarensis, the genus Homo arose. New discoveries within Africa were progressively illuminating the sequential phyletic evolution of several Homo species, but the record remained incomplete.
The origins and biological nature of earlier representatives of Homo sapiens are described as only scantily revealed. Even more modern human subspecies remained almost wholly unknown in terms of their evolutionary differentiation. The conclusion therefore combines a strong claim for Africa's importance with an explicit recognition that major parts of hominid evolution remain unresolved.
Continue the journey
Other paths related to this story.