Anthropology
Discover our range of anthropological images. This image collection documents the origin and development of humankind, including fossil remains, tools and artefacts. There are also reconstructions illustrating the environment of early humans.
2.5m - 250,000 BP
The australopithecines were early human relatives and lived in Africa 2.5 - 4 million years ago. By about 2 million years ago our early relatives had developed distinctive human characteristics such as tool use, and comprised a number of species each belonging to the genus Homo.
250,000 - 35,000 BP
By about 200,000 years ago, modern humans, Homo sapiens, are thought to have evolved in Africa. Another Homo species, the Neanderthals, existed in Europe and Asia at the same time.
35,000 - 12,000 BP
By 30,000 years ago the Neanderthals in Europe had been replaced by a global expansion of modern Homo sapiens. Since then, the main evolutionary changes have been those concerned with local differentiation and adaptation.
Tools & artifacts
View images of a small selection of tools and artefacts used by man through the ages.
Miscellany
Humans are the only living creatures known to manufacture tools - using tools to make more tools. Other animals may select objects to use as tools, and may even modify objects into tools, but are not known to manufacture them as we do.
Picture Library
Image Resources
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