Palaeoanthropology Collection (page 8)

Homo heidelbergensis female, artists impression. H. heidelbergensis lived between 600, 000 and 250, 000 years ago in the Pleistocene era

Paranthropus aethiopicus skull and head
Paranthropus aethiopicus, skull and head. The remains of this hominid were discovered in 1985 at West Turkana in Kenya, Africa. P. aethiopicus lived from 2.5 to 2.7 million years ago (Pilocene era)

Gorham Cave, Gibraltar. This cave was the site of major archaeological excavations between 1995 and 2002. The findings were compared with those from nearby caves

Iron age village, computer artwork. The iron age is the last of the recognised prehistoric periods of human development, after the stone and bronze ages

Iron age village, aerial view, computer artwork. This village contains two large huts and an enclosure of livestock, all protected by a fence

Reconstruction of the face of the Ice Maiden

Early use of fire. Historical artwork of early humans gathered around a fire. There is evidence for the controlled use of fire over one million years ago

Homo antecessor. Artists impression of the skull, head and face of an adult male Homo antecessor. The remains of this hominid were discovered in level TD6 of the Gran Dolina archaeological sites in

Taung Child skull. Artwork, from 1931, showing the appearance and size (scale in millimetres) of the fossil skull discovered by Dart in Taung, South Africa, in 1924

Early human skulls. Artwork of skulls of various human species, taken from Bilder Atlas

Stone Age skeletons and mammoth ivory. The mammoth ivory decorations are in the mouth of the skeleton in the foreground, and in the ornaments on this skeleton and the one in the background

Pazyryk mummy burial, Central Asia
Pazyryk mummy, Central Asian burial ground. The mummified body is seen at centre. The Pazyr or Pazyryk people are a nomadic people that inhabited the Ukok Plateau in the Altai Mountains of Central

Stone tool, Gran Dolina. This stone tool was formed by striking the stone to produce a continuous edge on one or both sides

Prehistoric reindeer bone tools. Assorted tools used by prehistoric man, made out of reindeer bone and antlers. Image taken from Bilder Atlas

Bear tooth, Sima de los Huesos. Tooth from the now extinct Deningeris bear (Ursus deningeri) found next to human fossils at Sima de los Huesos (Pit of Bones)

Animal tooth, Gran Dolina. Tooth from a sabre- toothed tiger (Smilodon sp.), found in level TD10 (upper levels) of the Gran Dolina site

Skull 5, Sima de los Huesos. In 1992, the team working with Professor Juan Luis Arsuaga found skull 5 (Miguelon) at Sima de los Huesos (Pit of Bones), the best preserved skull known world-wide

Fossilised remains, Sima de los Huesos. Reconstructed Homo hiedelbergensis skeleton. This skeleton has been made up from human fossils found at Sima de los Huesos (Pit of Bones)

Bear skull, Sima de los Huesos. Skull of the now extinct Deningeris bear (Ursus deningeri) found next to human fossils at Sima de los Huesos (Pit of Bones)

Fossilised skulls, Sima de los Huesos. These human skulls are amongst many hundreds of pieces of human fossils found at Sima de los Huesos (Pit of Bones)

Bear jaw, Sima de los Huesos. Lower jaw (mandible) of the now extinct Deningeris bear (Ursus deningeri) found next to human fossils at Sima de los Huesos (Pit of Bones)

Fossilised teeth, Sima de los Huesos. These teeth were found at Sima de los Huesos (Pit of Bones) and are the most found for any human species, world-wide

Excavation at Galeria
MODEL RELEASED. Excavation at Galeria. Excavations at this site started in 1982. Occupation floors, or layers of earth that at one time made up the cave floor, were discovered

Human fossils, Sima de los Huesos. These human fossils are a selection of the hundreds of pieces found at Sima de los Huesos (Pit of Bones)

Skull 4, Sima de los Huesos. In 1992, the team working with Professor Juan Luis Arsuaga found skull 4 (Agamenon) at Sima de los Huesos (Pit of Bones), the first intact skull found at the site

Human evolution. Computer artwork of the skeletons of an ape-like animal and a human (Homo sapiens) separated by a molecule of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and surrounded by images of fossils

Stone age axe, computer artwork. Axes such as this, with a sharpened stone head in a wooden haft, are known from the neolithic (new stone age) period, which began around 12, 000 years ago in Europe

Elephants tooth, Gran Dolina
Elephants tooth, Sima del Elefante. This elephants milk tooth was found at Sima del Elefante (Elephant Pit). As well as a rich collection of mammal fossils dating back to between 1.25

Fossilised remains, Gran Dolina. These human fossils, dating back approximately 800, 000 years, are a selection found in level TD6 at the Gran Dolina site betwen 1994 and 1995

Stone tools, Gran Dolina. Examples of stone tools found next to human fossils in level TD6 of the Gran Dolina site. The technique used for the manufacturing of these stone tools was to hit a piece of

Fossilised skull, Gran Dolina. Pieces of childs skull and upper jaw (maxillar). It is thought the child died aged between 10-12 years and has been nicknamed El Nino de la Gran Dolina

Olduwan stone tools. These are the oldest tools found at the Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. The oldest tools here date to around 1.85 million years ago

Horses hoof, Gran Dolina. Horses hoof found at the Gran Dolina site. Gran Dolina is one of several archaeological sites in Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain

Fossilised jaw, Gran Dolina. Piece of childs upper jaw (maxillar). It is thought the child died at between 10-12 years old and has been nicknamed El Nino de la Gran Dolina (The Child of Gran Dolina)

Stone tool, Galeria. This stone tool was formed by striking the stone to produce a continuous edge on one or both sides. The most typical piece, characteristic of the Acheulean

Evolution of man. Artwork depicting man evolving from amoebas, through primitive fish and mammals until reaching its pinnacle with a robot

Fossilised pelvis, Sima de los Huesos. This male Homo heidelbergensis pelvis, nicknamed Elvis, is the only known intact pelvis dating back 400, 000 years

Evolution. Conceptual computer artwork representing the evolution of modern humans (Homo sapiens) from ape-like ancestors

Animal jaw, Gran Dolina. Primitive lower jaw (mandible) of a bovine animal, found in level TD7 of the Gran Dolina site. Gran Dolina is one of several archaeological sites in Sierra de Atapuerca

Dolmen, Sierra de Atapuerca. This Bronze Age dolmen, or portal tomb, was found in the area surrounding Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain (background)

Human evolution. Computer artwork of four stages in human evolution. Comparisons of DNA and fossil records suggest that humans and modern African apes evolved from a common ape-like ancestor (left)

Base of skull 5, Sima de los Huesos. In 1992, the team working with Professor Juan Luis Arsuaga found skull 5 (Miguelon) at Sima de los Huesos (Pit of Bones)

Animal jaw, Galeria. Lower jaw (mandible) of a lion recovered from Galeria. It is thought that Galeria acted as a natural trap and that humans

Fossilised tooth, Gran Dolina. This human tooth, dating back approximately 800, 000 years, was found along with other fossils in level TD6 at the Gran Dolina site between 1994 and 1995

Bone tool, Cueva Mayor. This carved bone tool was used to make holes, in skins for example. Cueva Mayor was first discovered in 1910

Neanderthal skeleton, Kebara Cave, Israel
Neanderthal skeleton. Close-up of the skeleton of a Neanderthal (Homo neanderthalensis) found in the Kebara Cave, Israel, in 1982

Homo floresiensis mandible. Mould made from fragments of the mandible (jaw bone) of Homo floresiensis. This newly discovered hominid species was found in 2003 in Liang Bua cave, Flores, Indonesia

Homo floresiensis skull

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Palaeoanthropology unravels the mysteries of our ancient past, piecing together the puzzle of human evolution. From the intricate Lascaux II cave painting replica C013/7378 to the Trail of Laetoli footprints, every artifact tells a story. Step by step, we explore the stages in human evolution. A glimpse into history reveals a female Australopithecus africanus, standing tall amidst her primitive surroundings. Primate skulls offer insights into our ancestors' cranial structure and brain development. Intriguingly, a scimitar cat attacking a hominid reminds us of the challenges faced by early humans in their struggle for survival. Artwork depicting these stages in human evolution serves as a visual timeline connecting us to our roots. The footprints and skeleton of Lucy provide an intimate encounter with one of our earliest known ancestors - an Australopithecus afarensis who walked this Earth over 3 million years ago. Model replicas bring Homo heidelbergensis back to life, allowing us to marvel at their physical features and speculate about their way of life. Australopithecus boisei stands out with its robust skull and powerful jaw muscles adapted for chewing tough vegetation. Meanwhile, Homo erectus emerges on stage - Java Man cranium (Sangiran 17) cast showcases their distinct facial characteristics that set them apart from earlier hominids. Palaeoanthropology invites us on an extraordinary journey through time as we uncover humanity's origins, and is through these artifacts and discoveries that we gain deeper insight into who we are today – creatures shaped by millions of years of evolutionary progress.