Hominin Name Time Features Height/Brain Size Use of Tools

Australopithecus afarensis (Lucy fossil)

3 - 3.8 m.y.a Walked upright- angle of femur

Change in diet- teeth and jaw, less pronounced than

apes etc.

Height: 1 – 1.06 cmBrain Size: 500 cm3 (1/3 of modern humans)*eating more meat increases the intake of protein, possibly increasing the size of the brain.

Limited but some evidence for very simple tools(damaged bones – infer use of rocks)

Australopitheus africanus(Taung child)

2 – 3.3 m.y.a Walked upright- foramen magnum position moving

closer to middle of skull- shortened pelvis

Homo Habilis(handy man)

1.5 – 2.3 m.y.a Made tools- stone flakes- ate meat (other animal fossils found

nearby)Teeth size decreasedFossils found only in Africa

Height: 1.1 – 1.3 mBrain Size: 600 – 700 cm3

Stone flakesRocks

- hammering

Homo erectus 2 m.y.a to 300,000 y.a

Oldest specimen found in Africa‘Newer’ specimens found in other continentsFirst to emigrate out of Africa

- Asia- Europe

Communication- Grunts/noises

Brain Size: 900 – 1000 cm3 Controlled use of fire- Heating, food

Evidence of hunting tools

Homo neanderthalensis 150,000 – 35,000 y.a

Made tools, buried dead, used clothing, made shelterLived concurrently with modern humans – Homo sapiens

Sophisticated tool use

Homo sapiens(modern humans)

130,000 - present

Larger brain size- Skull capacity

Intelligence- Language, art, writing, music

Height: 1.6 – 2.0 mBrain Size: 1350 – 1500 cm3

Extremely sophisticated- Inventions/techology

Australopithicus Homo

Brain Capacity, Skull Size: General Increase

Height: General Increase

Pelvis: Shorter Bipedalism

Jaw/teeth: General decrease

Arms(Legs): Arms shorter when compared with legs Bipedalism