The age of the Earth is estimated to be 4.54 ± 0.05 billion years. From around 5.5 million years, Primates have been living on the earth. After the time passing of around 8 – 5 million years and the part of evolution, these primates diverged into two groups, Apes(gorillas, Chimpanzees, orangutans and gibbons) and Homos. Thus, our first human kinds are more similar to the apes as these species have properties of both, apes and human, but with a little brain. All remains and research have shown that our kind was originated from the African region first and after improving ability to travel and other development, traveled to the eastern parts of the earth
These groups can be studied in details by dividing them into two parts, “Homo” families which was the ancestors of Modern Human being and “Non-Homo” Families which was the ancestors of Apes. Sure, there are some debatable issues are there for the consideration of species into respective families, but here, we have tried to cover those species into their families by considering the latest remains and evidence that we have till today.
In 2002, Remains of our ancestor found near Chad, African region, specifically from Toros-Menalla site which dated to around 7.2 – 6.8 million years old and thus it became the oldest known remains related to our ancestor species. As this region also known as Sahel region, It has been named as “Sahelanthropus tchadensis” where Sahelanthropus mean “Sahel man” and tchadensis represent the French spelling for Chad (as it has been found in the lead of the French archaeological team). It has also given the nickname of “Tomui” which means “Hope of Life” in local means. This species said to be extinct during the geological period called “Miocene epoch”. Some of researcher believes that this species were related to “Homo” families due to their bipedalism while others have disagreement on both of these.
(From Wikimedia Commons)
In other earlier development, researchers have found remains in form of Teeth, Jaw fragment and limb bones in today’s Kenya region in 2000 which was dated around 6 – 5.7 million years old, just recently after “Sahelanthropus” Species. It was named as “Orrorin Tugenesis” in which Orrorin means “original man” while Tugenesis means “In Tugenesis Region”. These species also confirmed the bipedalism nature from its remains. Despite its connection with “Homo” Families was still not confirmed.
“Ardipithecus Kadabba” a 5.54 – 5.77 million years old species found in Ethiopia region specifically from “Asa Koma” & “Kuseralee” sites. From these sites, toe bone, mandibular fragment, teeth & post cranial elements have been found. In the name of this species “Ardi” means “Ground” or “root” in afar language The Greek word ‘pithecus’ meaning ‘ape’ “Kadabba’ means ‘oldest ancestor’ in the Afar language” By studying these remains, researchers concluded to have a bipedal nature of these species. Firstly, these species have been associated with the “Ardipithecus Ramidus” species, but latterly it has been designated with the separate species. One thing is marked in these remains was, having the gripped leg, which represent that these species may have ability to climb tress as normal apes does.
Fossils for “Australopithecus anamensis” were discovered first in 1965. But it was insufficient to prove the species’ existence by only single bone. In 1996 again some fossils have been found in the form of teeth and fragmented bone from the same site which bridge the connection with these species. Both the remains were dated around 4.2 – 3.9 million years old. Also, they have the same ability of bipedalism and tree climbing as “Ardipithecus Kadabba” have. In a recent development, whole cranium was found from Woranso-mille, Ethiopia, which was dated around 3.8 million years old. In talking about names, Australopithecus is the genus or group name. It is derived from the Latin word ‘australo’ meaning ‘southern’. This ‘southern ape’ name was created for another species discovered in South Africa, but the name ‘Australopithecus’ is now shared by several different species whose similarities place them into the same group [1]. Whereas “Anam” word taken from the Turkana language which means “Lake” and also suggest the area in Kenya from where remains of these species were discovered.
After “Australopithecus anamensis” and from the period of 3.8 – 3 million years ago, two more species have been known to be emerged in the African region. First, “Australopithecus afarensis” which was discovered around Ethiopian, Tanzania & the Eastern Africa region and second one was “Australopithecus bahrelgazali”, which was discovered near South Africa. It also believed that due to overlap of time between both the species, it has the possibilities that both the species may have met each other! Although, it has been found that “Australopithecus bahrelgazali” was not lived long and got extinct nearly around 3.5 million years ago, whereas “Australopithecus afarensis” known to be lived till 3 million years on various locations of earth. Let’s understand the fossil discovery of A.afarensis in a simple way. In 1930, some of remains were found which were not sufficient to specify it as a new species, in early 1970s, two teams have been identified to find the fossils, in which one went to Hadar, Ethiopia other to Laetoli, Tanzania and the chronology of the remains discovery occurred as below.
- 1973 – Old knee has been found near Hadar, which was dated around 3 million years old and solid evidence to prove the bipedalism of this species.
- 1974 – The complete female skeleton found near Hadar by Donald Johanson. Latterly, she became famous as “The Lucy”, named after the famous song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” of the Beatles at that time. During this time one more discovery of Lower jaw found in Laetoli, Tanzania by the Mary Leakey’s team.
- 1975 – Mega jackpot was found in Hadar as a Fossil of “First Family” a nine adult and four children’s group. It was the first time ever that paleontologist has ever found.
- 2000 – Partial skeleton of Juvenile (Children) has found in Dikika, Hadar, which was dated around 3.3 Million years old. In relation to Lucy, it was named as “Lucy’s baby” although it has been dated 120,000 years older than the Lucy. It also named as “Selan” which means peace in local language.
- 2005 – Body parts like shoulder blade, ribs, neck, vertebra, pelvis and leg bones of male adult have been found in Afar, Ethiopia, which were dated around 3 – 3.6 million years old and again named “Lucy’s Big Bro” in relation with the Lucy. Also called as “Kudanuumuu” means “Big man” in afar language. It is also very interesting that, it has been taken four years to collect the all parts of his body.
In 1999, Paleontologist named, Meave Leakey found important fossils like crushed skull, two partial maxillae, temporal bone, three partial mandibles & 44 teeth from West Lake, Turkana region, Kenya. All these remains were dated around 3.5 – 3.2 million years old. For having depression behind the brow ridge, almost same like modern humans, and due to their flat face, they were firstly related with “Homo” Family structure, but some researchers were not agreed and don’t think it’s a viable decision to be taken from almost cracked skull. And thus, they got the new name of “Kenyanthropus platyops”, In which “Kenyanthropus” means” man from Kenya” while” platyops” means a “flat face” in Greek language. These species are known to be extinct in a very short period of time. They have a small sized brain case of around 430 cm3. Some of researchers still considered this species as a Kenyan version of “A.afansis”.
Fossils like partial skull & brain encrust found in Taung, South Africa which were dated around 3.2 – 2 million years old” found in 1920s by the Raymond Dart and named this new species as “Australupicus Africans” which means southern ape from Africa. However, Dart was not fully convinced scientist for the new species. Latterly 1947 another remain discovery concluded the establishment of this species. It is also called as sister species of “A.afansis”.
In 1938, a schoolboy found some remain at Kromdraai in South Africa. And thus the new species “Paranthropus” instigate. Paranthropus includes three species, Paranthropus boisei, Paranthropus robustus and Paranthropus walkeri. Paranthropus is based on the Greek words, ‘para’ meaning ‘beside’ or ‘near’ and ‘anthropus’ means ‘man’. There are three species in the Paranthropus genus or group. The second word from each species’ scientific name is: walkeri, honoring Alan Walker who found the ‘Black Skull’. Boisei, honoring Charles Boise who helped to fund Louis Leakey’s fossil hunting expeditions, Robustus, a Latin word meaning ‘strongly built’ which refers to this species’ robust skulls and jaws.(2). In chronology, “P.boisei” was known to be exist around 2.2 million years ago while “P.robusts” was known to be exists around 1.7 million years ago.
All above species has been categories in “Non-Homo” Families as not proven track records have been found to justify its place of ancient to Modern Human being till date. But there are still many areas to be discovered yet which can change the face of Human evolution History.
In next Article we will learn about Homo Families, the direct ancestors of Modern Human beings.
