1. Evolution Part 3 – Timeline and Human Evolution
Jim Whitfield

2. Origin and Evolution of Man
Fossils found in the Olduvai Gorge, principally by the Louis and Mary Leaky, show that about 3-4 million years ago a small man-like primate standing under four feet tall walked upright (bipedalism) in the region that is now Tanzania and Ethiopia.

3. Origin and Evolution of Man
Fossils found in the Olduvai Gorge, principally by the Louis and Mary Leaky, show that about 3-4 million years ago a small man-like primate standing under four feet tall walked upright (bipedalism) in the region that is now Tanzania and Ethiopia.
In 1975 Mary Leaky, working in Laetoli, Tanzania unearthed a track way showing three distinct individuals (2 adults and a child) walking through what at one time had been mud. The site was dated to 3.7 million years ago

4. Cast of the Laetoli footprints at the National
Museum of Natural History, in Washington, D.C.
(above)
Replica of the track way at the National Museum
of Science in Tokyo, Japan (left)
The original track way has been reburied with
its where abouts only vaguely known to be
rediscovered at some time in the future

5. Origin and Evolution of Man
The most ancient and complete hominid skeleton was discovered in 1972 by American Donald Johnson and other members of the multinational team in Afar, Ethiopia. “Lucy” as she came to be known was a member of the the Australopithecus Afarensis. She stood 1.1 meters tall and weighed in at 29 kg. Though she looked somewhat chimpanzee like, reconstruction of pelvic and knee joint showed that she walked like a modern human. Her skeleton was dated to 3.2 million years ago. The fact that she had a very small brain case lent support to the theory that bipedalism preceded brain size in humans

6. Walking cast of Lucy in the
National Museum of Mexico
City, Mexico
Australopithecus afarensis, cast from Museum National D'histoire Naturelle, Paris, France

7. Origin and Evolution of Man
The evolution of modern man begins about 1.5 million years ago

8. Origin and Evolution of Man
The evolution of modern man begins about 1.5 million years ago
During this time two distinct humanoid-like primates walked the African savannah – Ramapithecus and Dryopithecus

9. Origin and Evolution of Man
The evolution of modern man begins about 1.5 million years ago
During this time two distinct humanoid-like primates walked the African savannah – Ramapithecus and Dryopithecus
Of the two Ramapithecus was more human-like. There are relatively few fossilized remains from any human- like organism from this time period

10. Origin and Evolution of Man
About two million years ago Australopithecines inhabited the East-African grasslands. Australopithecines continued to walk upright, fossil evidence of teeth indicated that he was a plant eater. There is also evidence that she used tools

11. Origin and Evolution of Man
About two million years ago Australopithecines inhabited the East-African grasslands. Australopithecines continued to walk upright, fossil evidence of teeth indicated that he was a plant eater. There is also evidence that she used tools
Scattered amongst the bones were other more “modern” human remains. This human-like “hominoid” had a significantly larger brain case ( cc’s) and had other more human-like features particularly in the joints this individual was called Homo Habilis

12. Origin and Evolution of Man
Fossils discovered on the Island of Java in 1891 showed the next step in human evolution Homo Erectus (previously called Java Man) was prevalent about 1.5 million years ago. His brain case had increased to about 900 cc and their is evidence (structure of the jaw and teeth) that they were meat eaters. It is also important that the location of these fossils show that either humans evolved independently in different locations or more likely that at some point in the distant past the emigrated out of Africa and into Asia

13. Origin and Evolution of Man
From approximately 100,000 to 40,000 years ago Neanderthal man lived in both Asia and in Europe. Neanderthal man had a brain case of about 1400cc’s he fashioned tools from stone and wood, worn animal hides, made jewelry, produced primitive artwork on cave walls and buried their dead

14. Origin and Evolution of Man
From approximately 100,000 to 40,000 years ago Neanderthal man lived in both Asia and in Europe. Neanderthal man had a brain case of about 1400cc’s he fashioned tools from stone and wood, worn animal hides, made jewelry, produced primitive artwork on cave walls and buried their dead
Neanderthal man had a more significant brow ridge as well as a larger thicker jaw which could accommodate more teeth. Our wisdom teeth are vestigial structures now, however they feet very nicely into the jaw of the Neanderthal

15. Origin and Evolution of Man
During the last ice age (75,000 – 10,000 years ago) modern Homo Sapiens arose. Homo Sapiens and Neanderthals lived together in Europe for about 5,000 years. Why Neanderthals went extinct is up for debate. However, all non-Africans share between 1.5 and 2.5% of their DNA with Neanderthal DNA – perhaps we bred them out of existence.

16. Origin and Evolution of Man
During the last ice age (75,000 – 10,000 years ago) modern Homo Sapiens arose. Homo Sapiens and Neanderthals lived together in Europe for about 5,000 years. Why Neanderthals went extinct is up for debate. However, all non-Africans share between 1.5 and 2.5% of their DNA with Neanderthal DNA – perhaps we bred them out of existence.
Cave art reached its zenith about 18,000 years ago. Modern agriculture began about 10,000 years ago, this is the same time human settlements began to appear and civilization as we know it began to form

17. Lascaux cave painting in Southern France