Australopithecus afarensis

Expanding the “Cradle of Humankind”

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

Aug 30, 2025 • John Hawks

New hominin teeth from Ledi-Geraru, Ethiopia

Reviewing new evidence that suggests a presence of Homo and Australopithecus in the time before 2.5 million years ago.

Aug 19, 2025 • John Hawks

Lucy's upcoming Prague visit brings memories of controversy

Scientists resisted the last U.S. tour of the famous fossil. I look into the reasons why some researchers still oppose public exhibit of human…

May 21, 2025 • John Hawks

“Lucy”, superstar of evolution, at fifty

Today's science has broadened enormously since the 1970s but the iconic fossil still has an important place in understanding our ancient past.

Nov 24, 2024 • John Hawks

Guide to Sahelanthropus, Orrorin and Ardipithecus

These fossil species between 8 million and 4.4 million years old include some of the earliest members of the hominin lineage.

Oct 10, 2023 • John Hawks

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 • John Hawks

The real story of myosin, jaw muscles, and ancient brains

The provocative idea that our genus arose with a deactivated muscle gene turned out to be wrong.

Sep 3, 2023 • John Hawks

Fossil profile: AL 400-1 mandible and the curving line of human evolution

Australopithecus afarensis was an early member of the hominin lineage, but it was not intermediate between humans and living great apes in all ways.

Nov 17, 2021 • John Hawks

New footprints from Laetoli shed light on how the science has changed in 40 years

New trails expand our knowledge of body size and behavior of some of the earliest known bipedal hominins.

Dec 26, 2016 • John Hawks

Presentation on species concepts and the hominin fossil record

On a visit to Charles Darwin's home, I share some perspectives on how paleoanthropologists think about species.

Jun 26, 2014 • John Hawks

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