Muddle over human ancestors ---------------------------------- Researchers have announced a new species of human ancestor, named Homo bodoensis. The hominid lived in Africa around half a million years ago and was the direct ancestor of modern humans ---------------------------------- Middle Pleistocene: 774,000 to 129,000 years ago Holocene 700k 600k 500k 400k 300k 200k 100k ---------------------------------- Homo erectus: 1.9 million-250,000 years ago. Longest surviving of all human relatives. H. erectus developed stone tools and two-sided handaxes. May have made fire – ash and burnt bone fragments found in South Africa Homo heidelbergensis: 700,000-200,000 years ago First species of Homo genus to bury their dead. Previously presumed common ancestor of modern humans, and other human species – Denisovans and Neanderthals Neanderthals: Believed to have descended from H. erectus about 500,000-300,000 years ago. Survived until some 28,000 years ago Homo sapiens: 300,000 years ago-present. Started farming and herding animals just 12,000 Homo rhodesiensis: 400,000-215,000 years ago Also known as Rhodesian Man after discovery in modern Zambia. Until now, H. bodoensis fossils have been identified as either H. rhodesiensis or H. heidelbergensis ---------------------------------- Sources: UPI, Smithsonian Institution Pictures: Getty Images, Erlend Bjørtvedt © GRAPHIC NEWS