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Famous fossils24 specimens

Famous fossils

The most famous individual fossils of human evolution, from the Black Skull to KNM-ER 1470: what each is, who found it and why it matters.

  2. AL 288-1, Lucy

    Australopithecus afarensis

    Hadar, Ethiopia, about 3.2 million years

  6. DIK-1/1, Selam

    Australopithecus afarensis

    Dikika, Ethiopia, about 3.3 million years

  8. KNM-ER 406

    Paranthropus boisei

    Koobi Fora, Kenya, about 1.7 million years

  9. KNM-ER 1470

    Homo habilis, or Homo rudolfensis

    Koobi Fora, Kenya, about 1.9 million years

  10. KNM-ER 1813

    Homo habilis

    Koobi Fora, Kenya, about 1.9 million years

  11. KNM-ER 3733

    Homo erectus (or Homo ergaster)

    Koobi Fora, Kenya, about 1.6 to 1.8 million years

  13. KNM-WT 15000, Turkana Boy

    Homo erectus (or Homo ergaster)

    Nariokotome, west of Lake Turkana, Kenya, about 1.5 to 1.6 million years

  17. OH 5, Zinj

    Paranthropus boisei

    Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, about 1.8 million years

  18. OH 24, Twiggy

    Homo habilis

    Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, about 1.8 million years

  20. SK 48

    Paranthropus robustus

    Swartkrans, South Africa, about 1.8 to 1.5 million years

  21. Sts 5, Mrs Ples

    Australopithecus africanus

    Sterkfontein Caves, South Africa, about 2.1 to 3.7 million years (disputed)

  22. StW 573, Little Foot

    Australopithecus (species debated)

    Sterkfontein Caves, South Africa, about 2.2 to 3.7 million years (dating disputed)

  23. Taung Child

    Australopithecus africanus

    Taung, South Africa, about 2.6 to 2.8 million years