ABSTRACT
The origins of humanity can be traced back, ultimately, to about 7 million years ago. Humans originated among the Order Primates, with the first human ancestors (hominins) appearing in tropical Africa around 4 million years ago. This chapter describes the major hominin forms that emerged after that date, notably the Australopithecines, among whom were the earliest toolmaking humans of about 2.4 million years ago. Important questions surround human origins. When did we first stand on two legs and move into open country, away from trees? Were our earliest ancestors hunters or scavengers, and when did language first develop among hominins? Archaeological excavations reveal details of the earliest toolmaking traditions and lifeways, also insights into their social organization.
