Australopithecus africanus

Expanding the “Cradle of Humankind”

Developing a broader idea of the habitats and capacities of early hominins

Aug 30 •

Plant-eating and meat-eating in Australopithecus

A new approach to sampling nitrogen-15 in tooth enamel opens a window into the diets of early hominins.

Mar 9 •

Research highlight: Brain of the Taung Child

A new study of the endocast discovered a hundred years ago asks, what if we found this fossil today?

Feb 19 •

The circumstances of the Taung discovery

The textbook story of the fossil leaves out a wider context in which scientists interpreted the first evidence of Australopithecus.

Feb 14 •

Secrets within the teeth of the first Homo fossils

New studies of the enamel-dentin junction show that early members of our genus may have been less distinctive than we think

Jan 14, 2024 •

All the hominins made tools

A study of associations between stone tool evidence and fossil hominin remains shows that a wide range of species made stone artifacts.

Dec 3, 2023 •

Guide to Australopithecus species

These ancient human relatives include the first species with evidence of upright walking and running like humans. They represent more than a third of…

Sep 20, 2023 •

A critical look at the idea of Australopithecus prometheus

A historical perspective on a species name that was associated with fossils from Makapansgat, South Africa.

Jan 2, 2019 •

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