The origins of our direct ancestor Homo erectus and its contemporaries . The project aims to investigate the origins of the early human species Homo erectus, our direct ancestor, and other contemporar

Description

The origins of our direct ancestor Homo erectus and its contemporaries . The project aims to investigate the origins of the early human species Homo erectus, our direct ancestor, and other contemporary early human species around 2 million years ago. The project expects to do this by expanding on our discovery of fossils of the oldest evidence of Homo erectus and Paranthropus from Drimolen Cave in South Africa. The project will generate new knowledge by the excavation and analysis of a newly discovered partial skeleton, thought to be Homo erectus, from Drimolen, and the dating of a newly discovered, unique skull from Kromdraai Cave. Expected outcomes and benefits of the project include a better understanding of the shared ancestry of the multi-cultural society that is Australia and all modern humans alive today. . Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 3705 - Geology. Lead: Prof Andy Herries