A Species known as Man

The skull of Homo sapiens (on the right) features a higher forehead and greater brain capacity than our immediate ancestors. Homo sapiens first appeared some 200,000 years ago.

The Museum's Human Journey exhibit depicts various stages in the evolution of hominids.

Through fossils, we can trace our own history back to primate ancestors. Similarities in muscle and bone structure, shared blood types, behavioural patterns, and susceptibility to the same diseases clearly link humans and their primate relatives.

An early man-like ape about the size of a baboon, Ramapithecus inhabited the border of forest in Asia and Africa about 15 million years ago.

Several species of Australopithecus appear to have inhabited the African savannah close to four million years ago. They had relatively large brains and were the first hominid known to have walked erect.

The first member of our genus, tiny Homo habilis appeared in Africa some seven million years ago.

Homo erectus possessed a larger brain than any previous hominid, walked upright, made and used tools, and may have developed a rudimentary speech.

Large-brained and flat-faced, Homo sapiens migrated to North America across the Bering Land Bridge at least 30,000 years ago. Human culture spread across the continent, leaving evidence of an increasingly sophisticated civilization.

This document was prepared by Wayne Hortensius, Calgary, Alberta, Canada for the Royal Tyrrell Museum Cooperating Society. All information © 1995 Royal Tyrrell Museum. All Rights Reserved.
Updated: April 8, 1995

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