Skeletons in your closet 2 - Introduction

Before we familiarize you with the area of Olduvai Gorge we would like to introduce you to some of its more famous former inhabitants. One of the most striking things about Olduvai is the number of different hominid species represented within its strata. These include two species of the genus Australopithecus, and three species of the genus Homo.

On the following cards you will find both illustrations of the cranial morphology of these early hominids, as well as artist's reconstructions of what they may have looked like in the flesh. Note that, with the exception of gross size, the postcranial anatomy of all hominids from Lucy to ourselves is very similar. The principal anatomical differences between the species are reflected in changes in the configuration of the head and the brain.


[Prev Page]
[Next Page]
Comments to: george@id.ucsb.edu

All contents copyright © 1990-2003, The Regents of The University of California. All rights reserved.