The face of human evolution
A misplaced ancestor?
29 November 2009 to 28 February 2010
This very special exhibition presents the original skull of the earliest hominin ever found outside Africa. The discovery of this skull in Georgia has raised many questions about human evolution from all over the world. Neither the skulls age of 1.8 million years and small brain size nor the locality where it was found fitted the previous theories on our ancestors' migration.
This is the first time the skull has been taken out of the vaults of the Georgia National Museum in Tbilisi and shown to the public, which makes the exhibition a fitting conclusion to the Darwin year in Naturalis.
Treasury of palaeontology
Archaeologists started unearthing a medieval citadel in Dmanisi, Georgia back in 1936. In 1983 they made an unexpected discovery: bones in a medieval grain-storage pit. These were not ordinary cattle bones, but the bones of a long-extinct rhinoceros, which hinted at the presence of prehistoric fauna. A year later, the archaeologists found some primitive stone tools, and that got them even more interested.
The first human jaw was unearthed in 1995
By now, five very well-preserved hominin skulls have been found. All these skulls resemble those of our early ancestors, exhibiting characteristics of both Homo habilis and Homo erectus, and have been dated at 1.8 million years.
The best-preserved skull has become known as the Dmanisi skull. This skull stands out from the others as it is virtually complete, including associated jawbone. The person died at about 20 years of age and appears to have been only about 1.40 metres tall. The skull is seen as one of the world's top fossils.
Mystery in human evolution
The Dmanisi skull features prominently in scientific debates on the origins of mankind. The fact that this ancestor of Homo erectus turned up in a region outside Africa as early as 1.8 million years ago is astounding. Scholars used to think that our ancestors could not have left Africa until their brains had become larger. But these emigrants had relatively small brains, and so the conventional theories had to be rethought.
The skull's journey on 27 November
Professor David Lordkipanidze, Director General of the Georgia National Museum, is the only person entrusted to travel with the fossil. He will arrive at Schiphol airport on 27 November and travel in an armoured car, with police escort, to Naturalis. There, he will personally place the skull in the exhibition, after which the Treasury will be sealed. We will be counting down to this moment around 13.30 on November 27 on the Naturalis homepage. The exhibition is open to the public on November 29.
Afterwards, a film clip of this exceptional journey can be seen on this site.
Dmanisi symposium on 28 November
On Saturday 28 November, the exhibition will start with a symposium on human evolution in the auditorium: Dmanisi symposium on human evolution. Five internationally renowned scientists will discuss a wide range of aspects of human evolution. The symposium will be in English.
Registration is no longer possible. The symposium is fully booked.
The face of human evolution
A misplaced ancestor?
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