Paleontologists reconstruct faces of 'primate men'
Paleontologists have been working hard lately, providing us with incredible discoveries and theories about the evolutionary history of countless species, including ours. And to continue this wave of interesting revelations, researchers at the Senckenberg Research Institute in Frankfurt, Germany, have reconstructed 27 heads of prehuman creatures using sophisticated high-tec methods.
The models were created based on skulls, teeth and bone fragments collected in different parts of the world, and the oldest of these models is 6.8 million years old. According to the researchers, these prehistoric beings spent much of their time hanging from trees, and most of them ate mostly vegetables.
Primate man
In addition, these hominids had features present in both primates and humans - such as legs, head, and pelvis - although some features, such as the structure of the arms and some facial details, were more similar to those of apes.
Among the recreated models is Australopithecus sediba - whose image opens up this matter - a species with the characteristics most similar to those of modern humans and whose discovery can change the map of human evolution. Check out some of the reconstructed models:
Sahelanthropus tchadensis
Discovered in the Djurab Desert of Chad, this hominid has been nicknamed “Toumai” and scientists believe it inhabited the earth 8 million years ago.
Australopithecus afarensis
The model above shows the possible appearance of “Lucy”, famous hominid found in Ethiopia. Researchers believe this species lived 3.2 million years ago.
Australopithecus africanus
Hominid known as “Mr. Ples, ”this creature inhabited the earth 2.5 million years ago. His bones were found in South Africa.
Paranthropus aethiopicus
The model recreates a prehuman found in Kenya, which paleontologists dated to 2.5 million years. This specimen is also known as the "Black Skull."
Paranthropus boisei
Nicknamed “Zinj”, the above hominid roamed the earth 1.8 million years ago and was discovered in Tanzania.
Homo rudolfensis
The above “Rodulfo” is 1.8 million years old and was discovered in Kenya.
Homo ergaster
Also discovered in Kenya, the researchers believe that the "primate boy" above, nicknamed Turkana Boy, lived in Africa about 1.8 million years ago.
Homo heidelbergensis
Found in Spain, “Miquelon, ” as it is known, probably inhabited the earth between 500 and 350, 000 years ago.
Homo neanderthalensis
Known as “The Old Man of La Chapelle”, the above hominid was found in France and paleontologists established their age at 56, 000 years.
Homo floresiensis
The above species has given its talk recently thanks to the famous nickname "Hobbit". Also known as the "Flower Man, " the bones of these creatures were discovered in Indonesia, and paleontologists believe they inhabited the earth 18, 000 years ago.
Homo sapiens
Already belonging to the species Homo sapien, the above model was recreated based on fragments found in Israel that scientists believe to be from 100 to 90, 000 years ago.
