Finding the First Full Hominin Skull | Lucy 50: A Year for Human Origins

Learn about the important discovery of the oldest complete skull of Australopithecus afarensis, an early human ancestor. Found in Hadar, Ethiopia in 1990, the skull contains important information about the features and brain size of our early ancestors. Use this episode of the series Lucy 50—A Year for Human Origins, A Celebration of How We “Became Human” to observe this female skull which reveals the features and shapes of the faces of Australopithecus, which resemble modern day apes. The anthropologist also notes an increase in the size of the brain and cranial capacity. Students will have the opportunity to learn about this especially significant discovery of the physical characteristics of the ancestors of contemporary hominins.