Scientific Sculptures Visualize the Evolution of Human Faces

Evolution of Human Faces

Sahelanthropus tchadensis

As part of the Safari zum Urmenschen exhibition (translated as Safari to Early Humans) at the Senckenberg Natural History Museum in Frankfurt, Germany, researchers used forensic technology to reproduce the evolution of the human head, spanning over millions of years. The controversial series of models, highlighting 27 molds of human ancestral faces, were carefully constructed based on discovered skulls, teeth, and tiny bone fragments that date back to about 7 million years ago.

The meticulously sculpted heads are the anthropological products of years of excavation in Africa, Asia, and Europe; thoroughly researched by scientists at Senckenberg Research Institute. Each face tells its own story about the lives of humans in their respective era, including: “where they lived, what they ate, [and] their likely cause of death.” The ancestral gallery presents a look at mankind's physical evolution that has been turned into a video by Dan Petrovic, depicting the gradual shift in facial features. Scroll down to view the video.

Researchers used forensic technology to reproduce the evolution of the human head, spanning over millions of years.

Faces of Human Ancestors

Australopithecus afarensis

Faces of Human Ancestors

Australopithecus africanus

Faces of Human Ancestors

Paranthropus aethiopicus

Evolution of Human Faces

Paranthropus boisei

Evolution of Human Faces

Homo rudolfensis

Evolution of Human Faces

Homo ergaster

Evolution of Human Faces

Homo heidelbergensis

Evolution of Human Faces

Homo neanderthalensis

Evolution of Human Faces

Homo floresiensis

Watch how human faces have evolved over time in this visualization by Dan Petrovic:

h/t: [thinx, Discovery, Dan Petrovic]

This article has been edited and updated.

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Pinar

Pinar Noorata is the Managing Editor at My Modern Met. She is a writer, editor, and content creator based in Brooklyn, NY. She earned her BA in Film and Media Studies from CUNY Hunter College and is an alumni of the Center for Arts Education’s Career Development Program in NYC. She has worked at major TV, film, and publishing companies as well as other independent media businesses. When she isn’t writing, editing, or creating videos herself, Pinar enjoys watching movies, reading, crafting, drawing, and volunteering at her local animal shelter.
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