Christian Ashford

Today, when we think of early humans, we imagine powerful hunters that were positioned at the top of the food chain. However, over 2 million years ago, when the first humans, such as Homo habilis and other early hominins, recently arrived, it was not always the case. These ancient human beings may have lived completely … Read more

The modern human species, Homo sapiens, is a member of a genus called Homo. It encompasses every species that is considered “humans”, which means that it includes us and our extinct relatives like Neanderthals and Denisovans. One of the earliest members of this genus is believed to be Homo habilis. They were estimated to have … Read more

Humans and apes share a common ancestor that lived millions of years ago, but Homo sapiens are noticeably different due to our exposed skin. Unlike our fur-covered evolutionary relatives, we walked on this planet nearly, if not completely, naked until our ancestors developed a technological innovation: clothing. This invention was not just for decoration; it … Read more

For almost 2 million years, humans were believed to be hunter-gatherers. It meant that they survived by moving from one place to another to find an environment that would allow them to hunt animals and gather resources. For all those years, their primary way of life was not by settling or staying in one place … Read more

Have you ever looked at jewelry or ornaments and wondered why humans wear these decorations on their bodies? Are the reasons the same as when the first humans made them? Long ago, more than 100,000 years ago, the early humans and other hominins weren’t just surviving; they also began to decorate themselves with jewelry and … Read more

It is estimated that Homo sapiens migrated out of Africa around 50,000 to 70,000 years ago; however, it took them a few thousand more years to reach Europe and establish themselves across the whole continent compared to other regions. Europe was already home to Neanderthals even before the modern human species arrived there, so how … Read more

Scientists believe that the modern human species, Homo sapiens, originated in Africa. Then, around 50,000 to 70,000 years ago, they were able to migrate to the other continents, beginning with Europe and Asia. But, when exactly did they manage to reach the Americas, and how did the early humans do it at a time when … Read more

Around 70,000 to 50,000 years ago, the modern human species, Homo sapiens, was believed to have first successfully migrated out of Africa. They spread through the Middle East, Europe, and Asia; however, fossil records show that around this time, they also reached isolated and distant islands. To do that, they had to cross the open … Read more

Imagine a species of humans that is as small as a child as an adult, but has survived hundreds of thousands of years. That is exactly what scientists have found on the island of Flores in Indonesia. A hominin named Homo floresiensis, but more commonly known as “The Hobbits”. They are a species of archaic … Read more

The modern human species, Homo sapiens, is believed to have only existed for 200,000 to 300,000 years, but one specific species lived almost 10 times longer than us, Homo Erectus. Although now extinct, they have walked on this planet far longer than any other ancient human species. They have survived countless challenges, including changing climates … Read more