Fossil Hominids

This web site provides an overview of the study of human evolution, and of the currently accepted fossil evidence. It also contains a very comprehensive treatment of creationist claims about human evolution. If you are not interested in creationism, you can easily skip those pages. If you are interested in creationism, you can go directly to the pages on creationist arguments; they contain links to the fossils under discussion when necessary.

What's new in paleoanthropology?

• The Denisovan genome
• Neandertal genes in modern humans
• Discovery of Australopithecus sediba
• An Ardipithecus ramidus skeleton
• First complete Neandertal mtDNA genome
• Skeleton of an A. afarensis child
• Oldest bipedal hominid?
• Oldest modern humans
• Homo floresiensis, the 'Hobbit'
• Transitional skull D2700 from Dmanisi
• More ...

What's new at this site?

• A response to Bergman
• Skeletons in your Closet
• Walter Brown's debate offer
• Icons of Evolution review
• Homo georgicus
• Homo habilis: an invalid taxon?
• More ...

Table of Contents

• Hominid Species (including a timeline)
• Hominid Fossils (a list of the most important hominid fossils)
• Guest Articles

• Further Reading
• Illustrations
• Type specimens
• Biographies

• Feedback
• References

• Fiction
• Humor
• Crackpots
• Misquotes

• Frequently Asked Questions

Creationist Arguments

• Australopithecines
• Homo habilis
• Homo erectus
• Java Man
• Peking Man
• Piltdown Man
• Nebraska Man
• Orce Man
• The Neandertals
• Anomalous Fossils
• Brain Sizes
• Bones of Contention
• Semicircular Canals
• Overview
• Comparison of creationist opinions
• Creationist literature
• Debating creationists

The Paleoanthro Weblog

May 31, 2011: Last year the first draft genome for Neandertal nuclear DNA was published. Genetic sequences for mtDNA and nuclear DNA from a finger bone from Denisova in Siberia were also published, showing that the bone had very ancient mtDNA, but belonged to a sister group of the Neandertals. Fascinatingly, it seems that Neandertals made about a 2.5% genetic contribution to all modern non-African humans, and the Denisovan genes made about a 5% contribution to modern Melanesians. Some posts discussing these finds at the Panda's Thumb:
Neanderthal/human interbreeding - the old-earth response
A Full Genome from Denisova, Siberia
Denisovans and the species problem

May 6, 2010: Last month the discovery of Australopithecus sediba was announced. I'll be updating the site soon to cover that. In the meantime, check out these articles from the Panda's Thumb:
Australopithecus sediba and the creationist response
Creationist vs. creationist on Homo habilis

More ...

Paleoanthropology Links

• AMNH Hall of Human Origins
• Koobi Fora Research Project
• John Hawks' Anthropology Weblog
• Walking with Cavemen (BBC)
• Classic papers from Nature
• Neandertals on Trial (PBS)
• The Lascaux Cave
• More ...

Featured Books

Book cover Smithsonian Intimate Guide to Human Origins
An excellent introduction by science writer Carl Zimmer

This site is updated regularly. Contact the author with corrections, criticisms, suggestions for further topics, or feedback.

Thanks to those who have reviewed or made comments on these pages, including Randy Skelton, Marc Anderson, Mike Fisk, Tom Scharle, Ralph Holloway, Jim Oliver, Todd Koetje, Debra McKay, Jenny Hutchison, Glen Kuban, Colin Groves, and Alex Duncan. Any errors which remain are, of course, mine.
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