Where was the first human species found in the world?
Africa is the beginning of the human story. In the land generally known as the "Cradle of Humankind," one finds the earliest signs of those who came before humans. But what exactly are these ancient roots, and where did the first human species emerge?
The Origin of Humanity
From the cumulative results of work carried out in the past century, science has learned that the earliest human ancestors, or hominins, appeared in East and Southern Africa, where much of our fossil record has been unearthed.
Rift Valley in East Africa
The most crucial discoveries of human history are located within the Great Rift Valley which stretches through the nations of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania. Examples will include the following:
Lucy: Found in 1974 in Ethiopia, Lucy (Australopithecus afarensis) is one of the most renowned discoveries of fossils in the world. She lived about 3.2 million years ago and walked upright, showcasing a critical step in human evolution.
Homo habilis: Known as one of the earliest members of the genus Homo, this species was discovered in Tanzania’s Olduvai Gorge. Homo habilis lived around 2.4 to 1.4 million years ago and is thought to have been one of the first toolmakers.
Southern Africa: The Cradle of Humanity
The Cradle of Humankind, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located outside Johannesburg in South Africa. Many amazing fossils have come out of this region.
Australopithecus africanus: Fossils of this species, including the "Taung Child" and "Mrs. Ples," were found in South Africa and date to around two to three million years.
Homo naledi is a species found in the Rising Star Cave system that surprised researchers back in 2013 because of its weirdly mixed traits between archaic and modern.
When Did Homo sapiens Appear?
Modern humans, Homo sapiens, appeared between 200,000 and 300,000 years ago, whereas, before us, there existed many species of hominins. The first evidence for our species is found in:
The oldest known fossils of Homo sapiens were discovered in 2017 at Jebel Irhoud, Morocco, which gave fossils of 300,000 years old. This discovery extended our knowledge about the origin of humans beyond East and Southern Africa.
Until the discovery of Jebel Irhoud, fossils from Omo Kibish, Ethiopia, dated to around 195,000 years, were considered the earliest remains of Homo sapiens.
What Makes Africa the Cradle of Humankind?
It is apparent that the geographical and climatic conditions of Africa greatly influenced human evolution. Fluctuating temperatures and changes in landforms several millions of years ago led to quite different habitats, such as forests and savannas, which were quite a challenge for the adaptation and evolution of early hominins.
Genetic studies and the fossil record indicate that modern humans originally migrated out of Africa and then dispersed to other parts of the world. This so-called "Out of Africa" migration event is believed to have taken place between 60,000 and 70,000 years ago.
The Legacy of Early Humans
The discoveries of the early human relics and fossils signify our origin, the mode of life that our ancestors led, how they adapted, and their conditions. These are the people who paved the way for the things we have today, from tool invention to taming fire.
Why Does This Matter?
Knowing where we are coming from situates us with a common human experience. It should remind us, no matter who we are, that our old ancestors have been in Africa.
And let this be at the back of your mind the next time you're impressed with an achievement by any human being: many millions of years ago, it was at the center of Africa that the very first people walked, worked, and dreamed about the world we enjoy living in today.