Australopithecus Group

 

Australopithecus africanus 

BH-016. Taung Child

2.3 MYA. The Australopithecus africanus Skull (Taung Child) was discovered by M. de Bruyn in Taung, South Africa in 1924. Anatomy professor Raymond Dart identified this juvenile skull as a new genus and species of hominid in 1925 in Nature (Australopithecus africanus, which means "southern ape of Africa"). Dart considered his new man-like ape to be intermediate between humans and apes. The skull, though immature, features several hominid-like characteristics including: a rounded, high forehead lacking brow ridges, rounded dental arcade, no space between canine and first lower premolar, and a foramen magnum (the hole under the skull from which the spinal cord emerges) positioned forwardly under the skull, indicating bipedal locomotion. On the other hand, the child's cranial capacity is estimated at 405 cc, with a projected adult size of 440 cc., well within the ape range. It was not until other, adult, specimens were discovered in southern Africa during the next twenty years that Australopithecus africanus began to gain acceptance in the established scientific community. In 3 pieces: cranium, jaw and brain.

 

BH-007 Sts 5 “Mrs. Ples” 2.5 MYA

This skull was discovered in 1947 by R.Broom and J.Robinson in Sterkfontein, Transvaal, South Africa. The discovery of this nearly complete cranium of a mature specimen led to a much more positive reception of South African australopithecines as hominids. Originally thought to be a middle-aged female, Sts 5 is now considered by most to be male.

 

Australopithecus afarensis

BH-001. Australopithecus afarensis skull

2.9 to 3.6 MYA. The australopithecines are only known from Africa and are believed to be the earliest known true hominids. None has been found in Europe or Asia. They had strong jaws with large teeth, and ape-sized brains with a cranial capacity from 375 to 530 cc. Like modern gorillas, the male was much larger than the female. This skull is based on a generic male. 

 

BH-021-T. Lucy

3.2 MYA A.L 288-I was discovered by Johanson in 1974 in Hadar Ethiopia. The jaw shares features of both apes and other early hominids. Although the brain was relatively small, skeletal evidence indicates that “Lucy” walked upright, supporting the idea that bipedalism preceded the development of a large brain.