Sahelanthropus tchadensis 7 million years ago 2001 Chad

Sahelanthropus tchadensis 7 million years ago 2001 Chad Most distant human ancestor

Australopithecus afarensis - Lucy 3 million years ago Walked on two feet (biped), lived in groups, cared for young

Hadar, Ethiopia 1973

Homo Habilis 2 million years ago “Jack-of-all-trades”, Stones tools, Eats meat, Bigger brain, Had ideas

Chad Lucy Habilis

Homo Ergaster 1. 5 million years ago Good cooling system –Sweat gland, Less hair, Large brain, Better stone tools, Communicate by voice, Interpret their environment well, Able to read others emotions, Visible white of their eyes.

Chad Lucy Habilis Ergaster

Homo Erectus 1. 5 million years ago First Hominid to leave Africa and move into Europe and Asia

Lucy Habilis Erectus

Homo erectus fossils

Homo heidelbergensis 500, 000 year ago Large brains may have given rise to Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens Fossils found from Africa to northern Europe

Homo heidelbergensis

Homo neanderthalensis 500, 000 year ago It is believed 40% of our DNA is Neanderthal in origin. Very tough, lived in extreme conditions as glaciers left Europe after ice age.

Homo neanderthalensis

Neanderthal fossil first found : Engis, Belgium 1829

Homo Sapien Omo, Ethiopia 1967 175, 000 years ago

Brow ridge disappears as skull shapes changes to accommodate larger brain. Homo sapien Neanderthal

DR Y wind Rift Valley

s nd wi a nn Sa va Rain Forest Rift Vall ey Desert WHY ?