Sahelanthropus tchadensis – earliest known hominin candidate
c. 7–6 million years ago·Science, technology & invention·Africa (Chad)·
c. 7–6 million years agoDate
Science, technology & inventionCategory
0Empires active
- Date
- c. 7–6 million years ago
- Category
- Science, technology & invention
- Region
- Africa (Chad)
- Era
- Prehistory
- Significance
Fossils discovered in Chad represent one of the oldest known species on the human lineage after the split from chimpanzees. Features small brain but forward-positioned foramen magnum suggesting possible early bipedalism.
See the world map in c. 7–6 million years ago →More science, technology & inventionThe Prehistory era
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Further reading
The wider story
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