Skull of oldest-known human ancestor ------------------------------------- Palaeontologists have excavated a near-complete skull of an early human ancestor that lived 3.8 million years ago. Until now the only cranial remains of Australopithecus anamensis were jaw fragments ------------------------------------- Skull found at Woranso-Mille Addis Ababa ETHIOPIA KENYA SOMALIA INDIAN OCEAN 800km 500 miles ------------------------------------- 6-8 million years ago: Species that led to humans split from apes, gradually acquiring traits such as bipedal walking, flatter face and increased brain size Australopithecus anamensis ------------------------------------- Australopithecus anamensis: First appeared roughly 4.2 million years ago. Brain capacity of 380-450cm3 is similar to apes ------------------------------------- Homo erectus: Lived between about 1.89 million and 143,000 years ago. Brain capacity increases to 600-800cm3 ------------------------------------- Homo neanderthalensis: Lived between 400,000 and 40,000 years ago. Brain capacity of 1,200cm3 to 1,750cm3 ------------------------------------- Homo sapiens: About 300,000 years ago to present. Brain capacity of nearly 1,500cm3. Modern humans now 1,350cm3 ------------------------------------- Sources: Nature, Reuters Picture: Cleveland Museum Of Natural History © GRAPHIC NEWS 152 words