Storiascopio · Era 2 of 12 · primary year 3
The first hominins
about 7 million years ago · Toros-Menalla, Chad
In short
In Africa, about 7 million years ago, lived the first hominins: primates that were beginning to walk on two legs, at least for short stretches. The oldest known fossil, called Sahelanthropus, was found in Chad in 2001. They still had a small brain, similar to a chimpanzee's.
Why it matters Walking on two legs freed the hands: it is the first step in the long human story.
Source: Smithsonian, Human Origins Program, “Sahelanthropus tchadensis”
Where we are in the era “Prehistory”
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
about 7 million years agoEvent 1 of 25about 5,300 years ago
Your turn
Name ______________________ Class ______ Date __________
When did it happen? Find the date at the top and write it here:
Tell it in your own words: what happened?
Draw the scene below.
storiascopio.com/en/event/the-first-hominins/ · free worksheet, you may photocopy it for your class