Early Homo at 2.8 Ma from Ledi-Geraru, Afar, Ethiopia.

Authors

Brian A. Villmoare, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
William H. Kimbel, Arizona State UniversityFollow
Chalachew Seyoum, Arizona State UniversityFollow
Christopher J. Campisano, Arizona State UniversityFollow
Erin N. DiMaggio, Pennsylvania State University
John Rowan, Arizona State University
David R. Braun, George Washington University
J. Ramón Arrowsmith, Arizona State University
Kaye E. Reed, Arizona State University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-20-2015

Publication Title

Science

Volume

347

Issue

6228

First page number:

1352

Last page number:

5

Abstract

Our understanding of the origin of the genus Homo has been hampered by a limited fossil record in eastern Africa between 2.0 and 3.0 million years ago (Ma). Here we report the discovery of a partial hominin mandible with teeth from the Ledi-Geraru research area, Afar Regional State, Ethiopia, that establishes the presence of Homo at 2.80 to 2.75 Ma. This specimen combines primitive traits seen in early Australopithecus with derived morphology observed in later Homo, confirming that dentognathic departures from the australopith pattern occurred early in the Homo lineage. The Ledi-Geraru discovery has implications for hypotheses about the timing and place of origin of the genus Homo.

Language

English

Repository Citation

Villmoare, B. A., Kimbel, W. H., Seyoum, C., Campisano, C. J., DiMaggio, E. N., Rowan, J., Braun, D. R., Arrowsmith, J. R., Reed, K. E. (2015). Early Homo at 2.8 Ma from Ledi-Geraru, Afar, Ethiopia.. Science, 347(6228), 1352-5.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.aaa1343