Early Hominid Ancestors

An ancient human ancestor, Ardipithecus ramidus, deals paleontologists a surprise, a surprise supported by intensive research into fossil animal and plant remains, skeletal analysis, and habitat investigations, all reported in the October 2, 2009 issue of Science magazine.

The Acheulean Tradition is an Old World Lower Paleolithic culture, dated from 1.4 million years ago to 100,000 years ago.

The Afar Triangle is the name given to the region of Ethiopia, Africa, known for the identification of very old hominid remains, especially the Australopithicus afarensis.

Australopithecus is one of several species of hominid animals (human-like) who may or may not be Homo sapiens direct ancestor.

Bipedal locomotion means walking on two legs in an upright position.

The Clactonian Tradition refers to the stone tools of the Lower Paleolithic period (ca. 500,000 to 100,000 BP) in Europe, made by Homo erectus.

Hominid is the word used by paleontologists up until recently to refer to humans and our immediate ancestors.

Over the last few years, the word ‘hominin’ has crept into the public news stories about our human ancestors. This is not a misspelling for hominid; this reflects an evolutionary change in the understanding of what it means to be human.

Multiple universities at work on this ancient site perhaps dated as old as 2.3 million years, including maps, pictures of the hominid skulls recovered there, and planned field schools.

The Oldowan Tradition is the name given to a pattern of stone-tool making by our hominid ancestors, some 2.5 million years ago.

Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania is an ancient hominid archaeological site in Tanzania, excavated by the Leakeys in the mid-1950s.

The term osteodontokeratic was invented by the Australian archaeologist Raymond Dart, to describe the tool kit of our hominid ancestor Australopithecus africanus. Great name,isn't it? Too bad he was wrong.

Researchers from the University of Bristol have formulated a method of predicting where well-preserved paleolithic archaeological sites might be located, using geomrphology, climate, and vegetation. From the ever-creative Archaeological Data Service.

Ramapithecus is one of our pre-human ancestors from between 12 and 14 million years ago.