Africa and Human Origins

This Geography Awareness Week, My Wonderful World has been highlighting the many facets of Africa to celebrate its uniquely diverse geography and people.

However, our relationship with Africa begins much further back in history, at the origins of humanity millions of years ago. Fossil and genetic evidence suggests that human history began in the valleys of Ethiopia, called the Cradle of Humanity. Here, paleo-anthropologists discovered the famous early hominid skeleton "Lucy" and, more recently, the world's oldest fossilized hominid skeleton of a child.

Photograph of Ethiopia by Jodi Cobb/National Geographic Image Collection

Test Your Africa IQ with our interactive quiz on Google Earth.

MORE ABOUT HUMAN ORIGINS

The Genographic Project (National Geographic)

The Genographic Project, led by geneticist Spencer Wells, is working to understand the human journey—where we came from and how we got to where we live today. The project is mapping humanity's genetic journey out of Africa. And you can be a part of it! By participating in the Genographic Project, you can discover your deep ancestry and see the migration paths your ancestors took.

General Information

The Human Origins Project (Smithsonian Institution)

The Institute of Human Origins (Arizona State University)

Human Origins (Natural History Museum of London)

Human Evolution Archaeology (Hominidae)

Human Origins (ThinkQuest)

Origins of the Human Race in Africa (BBC)

The Leakey Foundation

Journey of Mankind: The Peopling of the World (Bradshaw Foundation)

Interactive Features

Becoming Human (Institute of Human Origins)

Atlas of the Human Journey (National Geographic)

Outpost: Human Origins (National Geographic)

Human Evolutionary Highway (National Geographic Magazine)

Human Journey (National Geographic Magazine)

Dikka Baby (National Geographic Magazine)

Caveman Facts (BBC)

News

Archaeology and Paleontology News (National Geographic)

Recent stories:
"Lucy's Baby" — World's Oldest Child — Found by Fossil Hunters
Fossil Find Is Missing Link in Human Evolution, Scientists Say
Did Early Humans First Arise in Asia, Not Africa?

FOR EDUCATORS

Classroom Activities

Human Evolution (PBS)

Lesson Plans

From National Geographic Xpeditions

Grades K-2: Bipedalism: Did Hominids Ride Bikes?

Grades K-2: The Dig: Them Bones

Grades 3-5: Paleoanthropology—What Is Bipedalism?

Grades 6-8: Paleoanthropology—A Complex Career Choice

Grades 9-12: Connecting the Dots: Genographic's Markers in Context

Grades 9-12: Genographic: Mapping the Human Journey

Grades 9-12: Genographic: Permanent Markers

Grades 9-12: Genographic's Legacy: Preservation and Projections

Grades 9-12: Paleo-What? The Life and Work of Emerging Explorer Zeray Alemseged

From the Institute of Human Origins

Calculating Cousins

The Chromosome Connection

Building Bodies

Genographic Project

Educators can receive the Genographic Project Public Participation Kit at a special discount.

Geography Awareness Week Home | My Wonderful World Home  |  About My Wonderful World  |  Sign Up for Updates