Email Print Share

All Images


News Release 10-051

Geologists Uncover Major Ancient Human Ancestor in South Africa

Fossil hominid skeletons date to nearly two million years ago

This material is available primarily for archival purposes. Telephone numbers or other contact information may be out of date; please see current contact information at media contacts.

Photo of skeletal parts of two-million-year-old Australopithicus sediba, southern ape.

Two-million-year-old Australopithicus sediba (southern ape), a new species of hominid.

Credit: Wits University


Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (830 KB)

Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.

Hill slopes surrounding the newly discovered Malapa site in South Africa.

Hill slopes surrounding the newly discovered Malapa site in South Africa.

Credit: Wits University


Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (798 KB)

Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.

Illustration showing how Austalopithecus sediba may have fallen into a geologic death trap.

Austalopithecus sediba may have fallen into a geologic "death trap."

Credit: Wit University


Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (266 KB)

Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.

Photo of excavations at Malapa, South Africa.

Excavations at Malapa, within the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site in South Africa.

Credit: Wits University


Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (1.2 MB)

Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.

Photo of scientists working at the Malapa site near Johannesburg, South Africa.

Scientists working at the Malapa site near Johannesburg, South Africa.

Credit: Wits University


Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (747 KB)

Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.

Photo showing excavated blocks rich in fossil remains from Malapa.

Excavated blocks rich in fossil remains from Malapa.

Credit: Wits University


Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (623 KB)

Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.

Cover of the April 9, 2010 issue of the journal Science.

The researchers' findings appear in the April 9, 2010 issue of the journal Science.

Credit: Copyright AAAS 2010


Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (901 KB)

Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.