Human Origins: Australopithecus

For millions of years, Australopithecus thrived in Africa's vast landscapes, laying the groundwork for the emergence of the Homo genus. Later, alongside early members of the Homo genus, Australopithecus played a crucial role in shaping human evolution and our present-day existence.In this episode, Tristan welcomes Professor Fred Spoor from the Natural History Museum back to the podcast. Together they delve into what we know so far about Australopiths. From their own evolution to the discovery of the famous partial skeleton 'Lucy' and the extraordinary archaeological findings that have emerged since. Looking at the latest revelations including the remarkable Dikika child - what can these ancient remnants teach us about our earliest ancestors? And how did they contribute to the path of human evolution?You can take part in our listener survey here.Discover the past on History Hit with ad-free original podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by world renowned historians like Dan Snow, Suzannah Lipscomb, Lucy Worsley, Matt Lewis, Tristan Hughes and more.Get 50% off your first 3 months with code ANCIENTS. Download the app on your smart TV or in the app store or sign up at historyhit.com/subscribe.