Hominids

Early Hominids

By Just_Keep_Swimming2125
  • 70,000 BCE

    Sahelanthropus tchadensis (7 million BCE)

    Sahelanthropus tchadensis (7 million BCE)
    Sahelanthropus tchadensis is an extinct hominid species that lived in West-Central Africa between 7 and 6 million years ago. The species was discovered in 2001 and announced in 2002. The name Sahelanthropus tchadensis comes from the area where the fossils were found and the Greek word for "man".
  • Period: 70,000 BCE to 60,000 BCE

    Sahelanthropus tchadensis

    7 - 6 million BCE
  • 62,000 BCE

    Orrorin tungenesis (6.2 million BCE)

    Orrorin tungenesis (6.2 million BCE)
    Orrorin tugenensis is an extinct genus of primate that lived around 6 million years ago. It is considered one of the earliest hominins, along with Sahelanthropus tchadensis and Ardipithecus.
  • Period: 62,000 BCE to 58,000 BCE

    Orrin tungenesis

    6.2 - 5.8 million BCE
  • 60,000 BCE

    Sahelanthropus tchadensis End (6 million BCE)

    Sahelanthropus tchadensis End (6 million BCE)
  • 58,000 BCE

    Ardipithecus ramidus (5.8 million BCE)

    Ardipithecus ramidus (5.8 million BCE)
    Ardipithecus ramidus, nicknamed "Ardi", is an early human species that lived in Eastern Africa about 4.4 million years ago. The name comes from the Afar language, where "ardi" means "ground" or "floor", "pithecus" is Latinized Greek for "ape", and "ramid" means "root". Ardi may have gone extinct due to a drier climate that reduced its habitat and made it easier for other species to survive. Alternatively, it may have evolved into the australopithecines, which are thought to have become humans.
  • 58,000 BCE

    Orrorin tungenesis End (5.8 million BCE)

    Orrorin tungenesis End (5.8 million BCE)
  • Period: 58,000 BCE to 44,000 BCE

    Ardipithecus ramidus

    5.8 - 4.4 million BCE
  • 57,700 BCE

    Ardipithecus kadabba (5.77 million BCE)

    Ardipithecus kadabba (5.77 million BCE)
    Ardipithecus kadabba is the scientific classification given to fossil remains "known only from teeth and bits and pieces of skeletal bones", originally estimated to be 5.8 to 5.2 million years old, and later revised to 5.77 to 5.54 million years old. the only known differentiation between A. ramidus and A. kadabba is from dental characteristics.
  • Period: 57,700 BCE to 52,000 BCE

    Ardipithecus kadabba

    5.77 - 5.2 million BCE
  • 52,000 BCE

    Ardipithecus kadabba End (5.2 million BCE)

    Ardipithecus kadabba End (5.2 million BCE)
  • 44,000 BCE

    Ardipithicus ramidus End (4.4 million BCE)

    Ardipithicus ramidus End (4.4 million BCE)
  • 44,000 BCE

    Australopithecus bahrelghazali (4.4 million BCE)

    Australopithecus bahrelghazali (4.4 million BCE)
    The genus name Australopithecus means ‘southern ape’. The species name is derived from the location where the fossils were found - Bahr el Ghazal in Chad. Fossils are dated to about 3.6 million years old using beryllium-based radiometric dating, published in 2008. Ascertaining the distribution of this species is difficult as only four fossils have been found, all from nearby sites in Central Chad in Africa. They lived from 4.4 - 1.4 million years ago.
  • Period: 44,000 BCE to 14,000 BCE

    Australopithecus bahrelgazali

    4.4 - 1.4 million BCE
  • 42,000 BCE

    Australopithecus anamensis (4.2 million BCE)

    Australopithecus anamensis (4.2 million BCE)
    Australopithecus anamensis is a hominid species that lived in Eastern Africa between 4.2 and 3.8 million years ago. It is the oldest known Australopithecus species and is widely considered the ancestor of Australopithecus afarensis, also known as "Lucy".
  • Period: 42,000 BCE to 38,000 BCE

    Australopithecus anamensis

    4.2 - 3.8 million BCE
  • 39,000 BCE

    Australopithecus afarensis (3.9 million BCE)

    Australopithecus afarensis (3.9 million BCE)
    Australopithecus afarensis is an extinct species of human ancestor that lived in East Africa from about 3.9–2.9 million years ago. The species is also known as "Lucy's species" and is considered a direct ancestor of humans and other species.
  • Period: 39,000 BCE to 29,000 BCE

    Australopithecus afarensis

    3.9 - 2.9 million BCE
  • 38,000 BCE

    Australopithecus anamensis End (3.8 million BCE)

    Australopithecus anamensis End (3.8 million BCE)
  • 35,000 BCE

    Kenyanthropus platyops (3.5 million BCE)

    Kenyanthropus platyops (3.5 million BCE)
    Kenyanthropus is an extinct hominin genus that lived in Kenya between 3.5 and 3.2 million years ago. The name Kenyanthropus platyops means "the flat-faced man from Kenya".
  • Period: 35,000 BCE to 32,000 BCE

    Kenyanthropus platyops

    3.5 - 3.2 million BCE
  • 33,000 BCE

    Australopithecus africanus (3.3 million BCE)

    Australopithecus africanus (3.3 million BCE)
    Australopithecus africanus is an extinct species of hominid that lived in southern Africa between 3.3 and 2.1 million years ago. The name "Australopithecus" means "southern ape" and "africanus" is a Latinized form of the word "Africa".
  • Period: 33,000 BCE to 21,000 BCE

    Australopithecus africanus

    3.3 - 2.1 million BCE
  • 32,000 BCE

    Kenyanthropus platyops End (3.2 million BCE)

    Kenyanthropus platyops End (3.2 million BCE)
  • 29,000 BCE

    Australopithecus afarensis End (2.9 million BCE)

    Australopithecus afarensis End (2.9 million BCE)
  • 28,000 BCE

    Homo habilis (2.8 million BCE)

    Homo habilis (2.8 million BCE)
    Homo habilis is an extinct species of archaic human that lived in East and South Africa between 2.8 million and 1.65 million years ago. The name Homo habilis comes from the Latin words homo meaning "human" or "man" and habilis meaning "handy" or "skillful".
  • Period: 28,000 BCE to 16,500 BCE

    Homo habilis

    2.8 - 1.65 million BCE
  • 27,000 BCE

    Parenthropus aethiopicus (2.7 million BCE)

    Parenthropus aethiopicus (2.7 million BCE)
    Discovered in 1985 in Kenya, it is known only from one major specimen, the Black Skull, plus a few bone fragments. Its huge eye sockets and large sagittal crest are its striking features. The brain is very small and its teeth are very large. The massive cheekbones and muscle attachments on the skull indicate a powerful chewing adaptation characteristic of most australopithecines. The back parts of the skull resemble the same features in A. afarensis. In most other respects it resembles A. boisei
  • Period: 27,000 BCE to 19,000 BCE

    Parenthropus aethiopicus

    2.7 - 1.9 million BCE
  • 26,000 BCE

    Australopithecus garhi (2.6 million BCE)

    Australopithecus garhi (2.6 million BCE)
    The species name means “surprise” in the Afar language. Crude stone tools made of volcanic rock were found in the discovery site at Gona in Ethiopia and represent the oldest tools known—approximately 2.6 million years old. While most australopithecine species were specialized plant-eaters, this one was an omnivore like ourselves. If it ate meat and made stone tools to butcher game, this is a creature who was occupying the same niche in the environment, and region, as our earliest ancestors.
  • Period: 26,000 BCE to 25,000 BCE

    Australopithecus garhi

    2.6 - 2.5 million BCE
  • 25,000 BCE

    Australopithecus garhi End (2.5 million BCE)

    Australopithecus garhi End (2.5 million BCE)
  • 23,000 BCE

    Paranthropus boisei (2.3 million BCE)

    Paranthropus boisei (2.3 million BCE)
    Paranthropus boisei is a species of hominid that lived in Africa between 1.0 and 2.3 million years ago. It is part of the genus Paranthropus, which also includes Paranthropus robustus and Paranthropus aethiopicus. These species are known as the "robusts" because of their large jaws and molar teeth.
  • 23,000 BCE

    Homo rudolfensis (2.3 million BCE)

    Homo rudolfensis (2.3 million BCE)
    Homo rudolfensis is an extinct species of archaic human that lived in East Africa around 2 million years ago. The species was named in 1986 by Russian scientist V.P. Alexeev.
  • Period: 23,000 BCE to 10,000 BCE

    Parenthropus boisei

    2.3 - 1 million BCE
  • Period: 23,000 BCE to 19,000 BCE

    Homo rudolfensis

    2.3 - 1.9 million BCE
  • 22,700 BCE

    Paranthropus robustus (2.27 million BCE)

    Paranthropus robustus (2.27 million BCE)
    Paranthropus robustus is a species of robust australopithecine from the Early and possibly Middle Pleistocene of the Cradle of Humankind, South Africa, about 2.27 to 0.87 million years ago. It has been identified in Kromdraai, Swartkrans, Sterkfontein, Gondolin, Cooper's, and Drimolen Caves.
  • Period: 22,700 BCE to 8700 BCE

    Parenthropus robustus

    2.27 million - 870,000 BCE
  • 21,000 BCE

    Australopithecus africanus End (2.1 million BCE)

    Australopithecus africanus End (2.1 million BCE)
  • 20,000 BCE

    Homo erectus (2 million BCE)

    Homo erectus (2 million BCE)
    Homo erectus is an extinct species of archaic human that lived from about 2 million to 250,000 years ago. They are considered to be one of the earliest species in the human lineage to have many human-like qualities. H. erectus is also referred to as Upright Man.
  • Period: 20,000 BCE to 2000 BCE

    Homo erectus

    2 million - 200,000 BCE
  • 19,800 BCE

    Australopithecus sediba (1.98 million BCE)

    Australopithecus sediba (1.98 million BCE)
    Australopithecus sediba (Au. sediba) is an extinct hominin species that lived in South Africa between 1.977 and 1.98 million years ago. The name "Australopithecus" means "southern ape" and "sediba" means "fountain" or "wellspring" in the seSotho language.
  • 19,770 BCE

    Australopithecus sediba End (1.977 million BCE)

    Australopithecus sediba End (1.977 million BCE)
  • 19,000 BCE

    Homo ergaster (1.9 million BCE)

    Homo ergaster (1.9 million BCE)
    Homo ergaster is an extinct species or subspecies of archaic humans that lived in Africa between 1.5 and 1.9 million years ago. They were the first human ancestors to have more modern human-like features.
  • 19,000 BCE

    Paranthropus aethiopicus End (1.9 million BCE)

    Paranthropus aethiopicus End (1.9 million BCE)
  • 19,000 BCE

    Homo rudolfensis End (1.9 million BCE)

    Homo rudolfensis End (1.9 million BCE)
  • Period: 19,000 BCE to 15,000 BCE

    Homo ergastor

    1.9 - 1.5 million BCE
  • 18,000 BCE

    Homo georgicus (1.8 million BCE)

    Homo georgicus (1.8 million BCE)
    Homo georgicus “man from Georgia”, is an early hominid discovered by Georgian scientist David Lorkkipanidze made a series of spectacular finds of early hominids far outside of eastern, southern, or even central Africa—and dating to approximately 1.8 million years ago. There are not enough fossils to support an estimated range for this species.
  • 16,500 BCE

    Homo habilis Ends (1.65 million BCE)

    Homo habilis Ends (1.65 million BCE)
  • 15,000 BCE

    Homo ergaster End (1.5 million BCE)

    Homo ergaster End (1.5 million BCE)
  • 14,000 BCE

    Australopithecus bahrelghazali End (1.4 million BCE)

    Australopithecus bahrelghazali End (1.4 million BCE)
  • 10,000 BCE

    Paranthropus boisei End (1 million BCE)

    Paranthropus boisei End (1 million BCE)
  • 8700 BCE

    Paranthropus robustus End (870,000 BCE)

    Paranthropus robustus End (870,000 BCE)
  • 8000 BCE

    Homo antecessor (800,000 BCE)

    Homo antecessor (800,000 BCE)
  • Period: 8000 BCE to 2000 BCE

    Homo antecessor

    800,000 - 200,000 BCE
  • 7000 BCE

    Homo heidelbergensis (700,000 BCE)

    Homo heidelbergensis (700,000 BCE)
    Homo heidelbergensis is an extinct species or subspecies of archaic human that existed during the Middle Pleistocene. It was subsumed as a subspecies of H. erectus in 1950 as H. e. heidelbergensis, but towards the end of the century, it was more widely classified as its own species.
  • Period: 7000 BCE to 2000 BCE

    Homo heidelbergensis

    700,000 - 200,000 BCE
  • 4000 BCE

    Homo Neanderthalensis (400,000 BCE)

    Homo Neanderthalensis (400,000 BCE)
    Homo neanderthalensis, also known as Neanderthals, are an extinct group of archaic humans who lived in Eurasia from about 400,000 to 40,000 years ago. The name Homo neanderthalensis translates to "human from the Neander Valley". The first major specimen was discovered in 1856 in the Neander Valley in present-day Germany.
  • Period: 4000 BCE to 399 BCE

    Homo neanderthalensis

    400,000 - 40,000 BCE
  • 3350 BCE

    Homo naledi (335,000 BCE)

    Homo naledi (335,000 BCE)
    Homo naledi is an extinct species of archaic human that lived in South Africa between 335,000 and 236,000 years ago. The species was discovered in 2013 in the Dinaledi Chamber of the Rising Star Cave system, which is part of the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site. The word "naledi" means "star" in the Sotho language.
  • Period: 3350 BCE to 2359 BCE

    Homo naledi

    335,000 - 236,000
  • 3000 BCE

    Homo sapiens sapiens (300,000 BCE)

    Homo sapiens sapiens (300,000 BCE)
    Homo sapiens is the scientific name for the species that includes all living humans. The name comes from the Latin words homo, meaning "human" or "man", and sapiens, meaning "wise" or "astute".
  • Period: 3000 BCE to

    Homo sapiens sapiens

    300,000 BCE - Present
  • 2850 BCE

    Homo denisova (285,000 BCE)

    Homo denisova (285,000 BCE)
    Denisovans (Homo denisova or Homo altaiensis, as it has not yet been made official in the paleoanthropology community) are an extinct species of archaic human that lived in Asia from 285,000 to 25,000 years ago. They are close relatives of Neanderthals and modern humans, and likely diverged from these lineages around 300,000 to 400,000 years ago. Denisovans are more closely related to Neanderthals than to modern humans.
  • Period: 2850 BCE to 249 BCE

    Homo denisova

    285,000 - 25,000 BCE
  • 2360 BCE

    Homo naledi End (236,000 BCE)

    Homo naledi End (236,000 BCE)
  • 2000 BCE

    Homo heidelbergensis End (200,000 BCE)

    Homo heidelbergensis End (200,000 BCE)
  • 2000 BCE

    Homo erectus End (200,000 BCE)

    Homo erectus End (200,000 BCE)
  • 2000 BCE

    Homo antecessor End (200,000 BCE)

    Homo antecessor End (200,000 BCE)
  • 1000 BCE

    Homo floresiensis (100,000 BCE)

    Homo floresiensis (100,000 BCE)
    Homo floresiensis, also known as "the Hobbit" or "Flores Man", is an extinct species of small, archaic humans that lived on the Indonesian island of Flores between 100,000 and 50,000 years ago. The species' name means "human from Flores".
  • Period: 1000 BCE to 500 BCE

    Homo floresienses

    100,000 - 50,000 BCE
  • 670 BCE

    Homo luzonensis (67,000 BCE)

    Homo luzonensis (67,000 BCE)
    Homo luzonensis is an extinct species of archaic human that lived on the island of Luzon in the Philippines between 50,000 and 67,000 years ago. The species is named after the island where its fossils were found.
  • Period: 670 BCE to 500 BCE

    Homo luzonensis

    67,000 - 50,000 BCE
  • 500 BCE

    Homo luzonensis End (50,000 BCE)

    Homo luzonensis End (50,000 BCE)
  • 500 BCE

    Homo floresiensis End (50,000 BCE)

    Homo floresiensis End (50,000 BCE)
  • 400 BCE

    Homo Neanderthalensis End (40,000 BCE)

    Homo Neanderthalensis End (40,000 BCE)
  • 250 BCE

    Homo denisova (25,000 BCE)

    Homo denisova (25,000 BCE)