Topic description and stories

A cast of the skull of Homo Heidelbergensis, one of the hominin species analysed in the latest study.

Interspecies competition led to even more forms of ancient human – defying evolutionary trends in vertebrates

17 Apr 2024

Competition between species played a major role in the rise and fall of hominins, and produced a “bizarre” evolutionary pattern for the Homo lineage.

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A cross-section of the polygonal muscle modelling approach, guided by muscle scarring and MRI data.

First hominin muscle reconstruction shows 3.2 million-year-old ‘Lucy’ could stand as erect as we can

14 Jun 2023

Digital modelling of legendary fossil’s soft tissue suggests Australopithecus afarensis had powerful leg and pelvic muscles suited to tree dwelling...

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Femoral head bones of different hominin species. From top to bottom: Australopithecus afarensis (4-3 million years; ~40 kg, 130 cm); Homo ergaster (1.9-1.4 million years; 55-60 kg; ~165 cm); Neanderthal (200.000-30.000 years; ~70 kg; ~163 cm).

Height and weight evolved at different speeds in the bodies of our ancestors

08 Nov 2017

The largest study to date of body sizes over millions of years finds a “pulse and stasis” pattern to hominin evolution, with surges of growth in...

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Tree-nesting.

Earlier relatives may have climbed out of family tree

16 Apr 2012

Chimpanzee behaviour suggests tree-to-ground transition occurred before the emergence of ancient humans.

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A chimpanzee moving bipedally during the study.

One step for early hominins: Study reveals why our ancestors switched to bipedal power

20 Mar 2012

Our earliest ancestors may have started walking on two limbs instead of four in a bid to monopolise resources and to carry as much food as possible...

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