Hominidae Collection (#9)

Homo erectus, Java man
A model of Homo erectus, known as Java man, based on fossil evidence found in archaeological sites along the Solo River, Indonesia. The fossils date back to around 500, 000 to 800, 000 years ago

Homo erectus, Peking man
A model head of Homo erectus known as Peking man, based upon evidence discovered at Zhoukoudian Cave (Locality 1), China dating back 500, 000 years. This model was created by Maurice Wilson

Pongo pygmaeus, orangutan and Gorilla gorilla, western goril

Bronze sculpture of Chimpanzee head
Bronze sulpture of Chimpanzee head in the Primate gallery at the Natural History Museum, London

Pongo pygmaeus, bornean orangutan
A specimen of Pongo pygmaeus, bornean orangutan

Homo neanderthalensis, Neandertal Man skeleton
Life size model of a male Neandertal (Homo neanderthalensis) skeleton. This was created using a modified modern human skeleton and replicas of Neandertal fossil bones

Homo neanderthalensis, Neanderthal Man skeleton
Life size model of a male Neanderthal (Homo neanderthalensis) skeleton. This was created using a modified modern human skeleton and replicas of Neanderthal fossil bones

Homo erectus, Peking man cranium (reconstruction)
Reconstruction of a female Homo erectus cranium based upon the remains from many individuals discovered at Zhoukoudian Cave (Locality 1), China dating back 500, 000 years

Pan troglodytes, chimpanzee

Pongo pygmaeus, orang-outang
The muscles of the Pongo pygmaeus from Orang-Outang sive Homo Sylvestris: or, The Anatomy of a Pygmie Compared with That of a Monkey, an Ape, and a Man by Edward Tyson, 1699

A Tropical Bathing-Place
Plate 10 taken from The Life and Habits of Wild Animals, illustrated by designs by Joseph Wolf, London 1874

Pan paniscus, pygmy chimpanzee
Photographed by Frank Greenaway

Sivapithecus indicus
Illustration by Maurice Wilson of Sivapithecus indicus, thick coated enamelled apes from Turkey and Indo-Pakistan dating from 13 million years ago

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

Homo sapiens (Predmosti) & Homo neanderthalensis (La Ferrass

Paranthropus boisei (OH5)

Gorilla gorilla, gorilla

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

Homo neanderthalensis, Neanderthal Man cranium (Neanderthal
Cranium (cast) of Neanderthal 1, the original Neanderthal man discovered by workmen in 1856 in a cave at Neander Valley near Hochdahl, East of Dusseldorf, Germany

Pongo sp. Mandible and molar (Piltdown 1 & 2)
Lateral lingual view of Piltdown 1 mandible with Piltdown 2 left molar. Held at The Natural History Museum, London

Pongo sp. Mandible with canine (Piltdown 1)
Left lateral view of the Piltdown mandible reported to be that of a newly found homind species in 1913 but then revealed as a forgery in 1953. Specimen held at The Natural History Museum, London

Bronze bust of a chimpanzee

Homo sapiens skeleton (Omo 1)
The skeleton of Homo sapiens discovered by Richard Leakeys team in 1967 at Kibish, north west of Camp Kenya, East of the Omo River, Eithiopia. Dated 130, 000 years old

Gorilla, November 1897
The gorilla shown in an aggressive posture became a popular museum highlight. Epitomised in the 1933 film, King Kong, sensationalist reports by early explorers influenced the way these animals were

Homo erectus femur (Trinil)
A cast of a Homo erectus femur originally discovered at the Trinil site on the Solo River, Java, Indonesia by Eugene Dubois between 1891 and 1892

Professor Chris Stringer with four hominid skulls
Top left: Modern Human (Europe). Top right: Modern Human (Africa). Bottom left: Gibraltar Neanderthal, Forbes Quarry. Bottom right: Broken Hiil Skull, Zambia

Homo heidelbergensis (Broken Hill) & Homo erectus pelvis (
Side view comparison of pelvis (ischium) of a male Homo heidelbergensis, (Broken Hill E719) and a cast of Homo erectus Pelvis (OH28) discovered at Olduvai Gorge

Djebel Kafzeh, Qafzeh Cave, Israel
The cave 2.5 km south of Nazareth, Galilee where fossils of early modern Homo sapiens (Homo sapiens sapiens) were found in 1933 by R. Neuville, in 1935 by R. Neuville & M

Homo heidelbergensis mandible (Mauer 1)

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

Homo erectus, Solo Man cranium (Ngandong 1)
The cranium cast of Solo Man discovered at Ngandong close to the Solo River on the island of Java, Indonesia. The specimen belonging to Homo erectus dates back to no later than 800, 000 years ago

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

Sivapithecus & human mandible
A human mandible (on the left) compared with a Sivapithecus mandible. Sivapithecus, an extinct ape from the Miocene, is believed to have lived 9 million years ago

Sivapithecus sivalensis
Fragments of cranium and mandible of an extinct ape-like primate Sivapithecus sivalensis which lived about 8 million years ago. The specimen was discovered in Potwar, Pakistan

A Homo habilis hammerstone
A hammerstone tool discovered at the Olduvia Gorge, Tanzania dating back to between 1.85 million years ago to 1.6 million years ago

Sivapithecus meteai cranial fragment
A lower fragment of the cranium of Sivapithecus meteai showing maxilla, incisors, canine, premolars and molars. This specimen dates back 9 million years and was discovered in Yassorien, Turkey

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

Modern Homo sapiens. A range of human remains (cranial and p
Cranium fragments belonging to Modern Homo sapiens dating back 12, 000 years ago discovered at Goughs Cave, Cheddar Gorge, Somerset

Modern Homo sapiens cranium (Skhul V)
A front view of a cast of Skhul V discovered in 1932 on Mount Carmel, Israel. The original specimen is held at Harvards Peabody Museum. This specimen dates between 80, 000 and 100, 000 years old

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

Hominid Fossil Collection
A sellection of items from the anthropologigical collections at the Natural History Museum, London

Homo erectus cranium (Trinil 2)
A cranium (cast) belonging to Homo erectus discovered at Trinil near to the River Solo, Java, Indonesia by Eugene Dubois in 1891

1833 Jardine Pithecus satyrus Orangutan
Plate 2 (and 3) Propithecus satyrus. The Red or Asiatic Orangutang" (sic). The orangutan was the first great ape to be well known in Europe and Britain

1833 Jardine Plate 1 Black orang chimp
1833, Plate 1. Troglodytes niger, Black Orang. Probably a chimpanzee. The species was not well known yet with the first arriving in London zoo in 1835

Young Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii). The orangutan is an arboreal (tree-dwelling) great ape endemic to Sumatra. It is a solitary animal, meeting others only to mate

Sumatran orangutans
Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) infant with its mother. The orangutan is an arboreal (tree-dwelling) great ape endemic to Sumatra

Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii). The orangutan is an arboreal (tree-dwelling) great ape endemic to Sumatra. It is a solitary animal, meeting others only to mate

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"Hominidae: Unveiling the Evolutionary Journey of Our Ancestral Family" Delving into the intricate world of Hominidae, we uncover a fascinating tapestry woven by millions of years of evolution. From sensory homunculus to motor homunculus, this captivating journey takes us through the diverse crania of our hominid ancestors. One iconic figure that emerges from the depths of time is Australopithecus afarensis (AL 288-1), affectionately known as Lucy. With her fossilized remains providing invaluable insights into early human history, Lucy stands as a testament to our shared lineage. As we traverse further along this evolutionary path, we encounter Homo neanderthalensis in action at Swanscombe, UK. This depiction brings forth an image of strength and resilience exhibited by our ancient relatives. The allure continues with glimpses into the lives of other remarkable members within Hominidae. The Bornean Orangutan captivates us with her wise and gentle gaze in Tanjung Puting reserve while Eastern lowland gorilla Chimanuka showcases his impressive climbing skills amidst lush surroundings. Intriguingly, it is not only their physical appearances that capture our attention but also their behaviors. Mountain gorilla silverback Gihishamwotsi displays dominance within his group while Tautavel Man - a subspecies of Homo erectus - offers a glimpse into prehistoric life during Arago times. To truly comprehend the vastness and complexity encompassed by Hominidae, reconstructions in chronological order provide us with an awe-inspiring visual narrative. Witnessing these lifelike representations allows us to connect more deeply with our ancestral roots and appreciate how far we have come as a species. Hominidae serves as a reminder that each member holds its own unique story within the grand tapestry of human evolution.