Australopithecine Collection

Stages in human evolution
Human evolution. Illustration showing stages in the evolution of humans. At left, proconsul (23-15 million years ago) is depicted hypothetically as an African ape with both primitive

Hominid crania
L to R: Australopithecus africanus; Homo rudolfensis; H.erectus; H. heildebergensis; H. neanderthalensis and H. sapiens. Arranged in chronological order these specimens (casts)

Australopithecus afarensis (AL 288-1) (Lucy)
A cast of the partial skeleton (nicknamed Lucy) of Australopithecus afarensis found at the Hadar, North East Ethiopia in 1974 by Donald Johanson

Australopithecus afarensis (AL 288-1) (Lucy)
A partial skeleton (nicknamed Lucy) of Australopithecus afarensis found at the Hadar, North East Ethiopia in 1974 by Donald Johanson

The Makapansgat Pebble
Three-million-year-old Makapansgat Pebble from South Africa. Perhaps the most ancient art object in the world. It is said to have been carried over a distance of four kilometers by Australopithecus

Paranthropus boisei (Zinjanthropus) cranium (OH5)
Cast of the cranium of a young male of Paranthropus boisei discovered by Mary Leakey in 1959 at Olduvai Gorge. The specimen which is the Holotype of Zinjanthropus boisei (Leakey 1959)

Artwork of the stages in human evolution
Human evolution. Illustration showing stages in the evolution of humans. At left, proconsul (23-15 million years ago) is depicted hypothetically as an African ape with both primitive

Hominid reconstructions in chronological order
From left to right: Australopithecus, Early Homo erectus (Java Man), Late Homo erectus (Peking Man), Homo heidelbergensis (Rhodesian Man), Neanderthal man and Homo sapiens (Cro-Magnon)

Model of Lucy, a young female Australopithecus afarensis hominid. The model was created from a cast of Lucys bones, and exhibited at the Kenya National Museum, Nairobi, Kenya

Australopithecus afarensis
Illustration by Maurice Wilson of extinct African hominids (Australopithecus afarensis) living 3-4 million years ago. They walked upright, although they retained the ability to climb trees

Australopithecine or Homo habilis foot (OH8) cast
Cast of a near complete foot (OH 8) from an Australopthecus or Homo habilis discovered at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania by Louis Leakey in 1960. It dates back to 1.75 million years ago

Australopithecus africanus pelvis, STS-14 C015 / 6919
Australopithecus africanus pelvis (STS-14). This fossil specimen was discovered in 1947, in Sterkfontein, South Africa. The entire specimen consists of the pelvis, part of the vertebral column

Australopithecus africanus skull (STS-5) C015 / 6916
Australopithecus africanus skull. This is specimen STS-5, also known as Mrs Ples. It dates from around 2 million years ago and was discovered in Sterkfontein, South Africa, in 1947

Paranthropus boisei anatomy, artwork C013 / 9582
Paranthropus boisei anatomy. Artwork showing a reconstruction of the head of Paranthropus boisei (previously Australopithecus bosei), based on skull OH5 (top left) found at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania

Australopithecus boisei (OH5) & Homo habilis (OH24) crania
Two cranium casts of: (left) Australopithecus boisei known as OH5 and (right) homo habilis known as OH24. Both original specimens were discovered within Bed 1 at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania

Australopithecus africanus skull (STS-71) C015 / 6798
Australopithecus africanus skull. This skull consists of two fossils: STS-71 and STS-36. STS-71 is the upper specimen, discovered in 1947, in Sterkfontein, South Africa

Australopithecus afarensis landscape. Artwork of Australopithecus afarensis male and female hominins (left) walking across African savannah during the Pliocene. A

Silberberg Grotto, South Africa, artwork
Silberberg Grotto, South Africa. Computer artwork showing the layout of the Silberberg Grotto in the Sterkfontein cave system of South Africa

Early hominid killed by a leopard C013 / 9583
Early hominid killed by a leopard. Artwork of leopard in a tree with a Paranthropus robustus hominid it has killed. Also known as Australopithecus robustus

Paranthropus aethiopicus, artwork C013 / 9581
Paranthropus aethiopicus. Artwork of Paranthropus aethiopicus hominids collecting fruit. Paranthropus aethiopicus is an extinct species of hominid that lived during the Pliocene epoch

Australopithecus africanus, artwork C013 / 9570
Australopithecus africanus. Artwork of a family of Australopithecus africanus hominins in a forest. A. africanus, which lived between 3 million and 2 million years ago

Australopithecus afarensis, artwork C013 / 9569
Australopithecus afarensis, artwork. This hominin lived between 3.9 and 2.9 million years ago in what is now eastern Africa. It is thought that A

Australopithecus africanus jaw bone C013 / 6559
Australopithecus africanus mandible (lower jaw) from an adolescent male (of about 12 years). A. africanus was a bipedal hominid that lived between 3.5 and 2 million years ago

Paranthropus robustus jaw bone C013 / 6558
Paranthropus robustus mandible (lower jaw). Also known as Australopithecus robustus, this extinct hominid lived in Africa during the late Pliocene between 2.6 and 1 million years ago

Paranthropus robustus cranium (SK 48)
A cast of the cranium belonging to an adult female Paranthropus robustus discovered at Swartkrans, South Africa by Dr. Robert Broom and J.T. Robinson. P. robustus lived around 1.5 million years ago

Australopithecus africanus model
Model of an adult female Australopithecus africanus reconstructed from remains found at Sterkfontein, South Africa. Probably lived about 2.5 million years ago during the Plio-Pleistocene

Australopithecus sp. hip bone
The hip bone (Os coxae) of Australopithecus from Sterkfontein, South Africa

Australopithecus sp. thigh & hip bone

Australopithecus sediba
Exact fossil replicas of two of the most complete skeletons of early human relatives ever found. These replicas come from the University of Witwaterstand

Lower jaw casts of Paranthropus robustus (Swartkrans 23) and
From Swartkrans, South Africa (left) and Peninj, Tanzania (right)

Paranthropus robustus cranium with perforations
Cast of cranial bones of Paranthropus robustus with two perforations probably made by a leopard. Original skull from Swartkrans, Transvaal, S. Africa

Paranthropus robustus cranium (SK46)
Frontal view of a cast of an adult, probably female, cranium, crushed, with half of braincase, portion of face, palatinum and maxilla. Discovered at Swartkrans, South Africa by Robert Broom and J.T

Casts of Australopithecus boisei jaw bones
Casts of Upper jaw (left) of Australopithecus (Paranthropus) boisei from the Olduvai Gorge; lower jaw (right) of Australopithecus (Paranthropus) boisei from Peninj

Australopithecus africanus cranium & mandible (Sts 5)
Cast reconstruction of cranium & mandible belonging to Australopithecus africanus discovered at Sterkfontein by Dr Robert Broom and J.T. Robinson in April 1947

Paranthropus boisei (based on OH5)
Illustration by Maurice Wilson of a three-quarter view of Paranthropus boisei, a robust australopithecus which lived in Southern and Eastern Africa

Homo neanderthalensis, Neanderthal Man burial site (Teshik-T
Reconstruction of a Neanderthal (Homo neanderthalensis) burial site based on remains discovered at Teshik-Tash, Uzbekistan dating back 70, 000 years

Paranthropus boisei (OH5)

Paranthropus sp. (left) and Homo erectus (right)
Illustration by Maurice Wilson. 2 to 1.5 million years ago parts of Africa were populated by these two hominids. Paranthropus foraged peacefully but here is threatened by Homo erectus

Australopithecus africanus cranium (Sts 5)
Cast reconstruction of cranium belonging to Australopithecus africanus discovered at Sterkfontein by Dr Robert Broom and J.T. Robinson in April 1947

Australopithecus africanus
Model of an adult female Australopithecus africanus reconstructed from remains found at Sterkfontein, South Africa. Probably lived about 2.5 million years ago

Australopithecus africanus mandible (MLD 2)
Mandible and teeth of an adolescent male (of about 12 years) Australopithecus africanus discovered at Makapansgat by A.R. Hughes and S. Kitching in July 1948

Paranthropus robustus jaw bone
Lower jaws of Australopithecus robustus. A robustus lived between 1.8 and 1.5 million years ago in South Africa

Homo sapiens, Australopithecus, Neanderthal and Pan troglody
A display of models of hominids, including human, Australopithecus, Neanderthal and chimpanzee, on display in the Life Galleries at the Natural History Museum, London

Australopithecus africanus, the Taung child
A cast of a skull of Australopithecus africanus from Taung, Cape Province, South Africa. The original skull, thought to be of a child aged between 3-4 was discovered in 1924 by Raymond Dart

Endocranial casts of Australopithecus. An endocranial cast is a cast of the inside of the skull, which can form naturally when sediments fill an empty skull

Skulls of Tuang child and a chimpanzee
Tuang child (Australopithecus africanus) and chimpanzee skulls. The Tuang child fossil (left) was discovered in 1924 in Tuang, South Africa. The child, an example of A

Australopithecus robustus skull
Skull of Australopithecus robustus, front view. A. robustus was a bipedal hominin (human-like primate) that lived in Africa between 2.6

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

"Australopithecine: Unveiling the Enigmatic Hominid Crania" Delving into the depths of human evolution, we encounter the fascinating australopithecines. Among them stands Australopithecus afarensis (AL 288-1), affectionately known as Lucy, an iconic figure in our understanding of our ancient ancestors. These hominid crania offer us glimpses into stages in human evolution, showcasing the remarkable transition from ape-like creatures to early humans. Lucy's remains provide invaluable insights into Australopithecus afarensis and its significance in shaping our lineage. One notable artifact that sheds light on this era is The Makapansgat Pebble, believed to be one of the earliest symbolic thinking by these early hominids. It hints at their cognitive abilities and potential for abstract thought. Another intriguing find is the Paranthropus boisei (Zinjanthropus) cranium (OH5). This robust specimen challenges conventional notions about our evolutionary path and highlights diversity within our ancestral tree. Artwork depicting various stages in human evolution allows us to visualize how these australopithecines gradually transformed over time. From primitive forms to more advanced beings, each reconstruction tells a unique story etched deep within their bones. A model of Lucy serves as a tangible reminder of her existence and helps us appreciate her physical attributes. With her small braincase but bipedal posture, she represents a crucial link between apes and modern humans. The foot cast from OH8 further emphasizes this transitional phase between Australopithecine or Homo habilis. It showcases adaptations towards walking upright while still retaining some characteristics reminiscent of earlier primates. As we explore these hominid reconstructions presented chronologically, we witness humanity's incredible journey through time. Each step forward brings us closer to comprehending who we are today – products of an intricate evolutionary tapestry.