Home » Human Evolution Evidence » Human Fossils » Fossils » D3444

D3444

 
Mystery Skull Interactive
Skull visual

When scientists discover a fossil skull, they compare it to skulls that have already been identified as particular early human species. Now you get to be the scientist!

View the Full Content >>
Fossil Forensics Interactive
Animal jawbone teeth sunk into skull

Bones contain evidence of how early humans lived, died, and interacted with other organisms. Explore what kinds of important clues scientists can find on bones.

View the Full Content >>
3D Collection
3D Skull visual

Explore our 3D collection of fossils and artifacts: view, rotate, and explore hundreds of 3D scans!

View the Full Content >>
D3444
Exhibit item
Site: 
Dmanisi, Republic of Georgia
Discovered by: 
A team led by David Lordkipanidze
Age: 
About 1.77 million years old
Species: 
Homo erectus

Old timer

This elderly male belonged to a population of Homo erectus that spread from Africa to the Caucasus Mountains in western Asia. Most of his teeth fell out long before he died, and his jaw deteriorated as a result. Members of his social group must have taken care of him. This is some of the earliest known evidence for this kind of group care and compassion in the human fossil record.

Image of skull; D3444 Dmanisi, Republic of Georgia, 3/4 view
Image Credit: James Di Loreto, & Donald H. Hurlbert, Smithsonian Institution
Image of skull; D3444 Dmanisi, Republic of Georgia, front view
Image Credit: James Di Loreto, & Donald H. Hurlbert, Smithsonian Institution
Image of skull; D3444 Dmanisi, Republic of Georgia, side view
Image Credit: James Di Loreto, & Donald H. Hurlbert, Smithsonian Institution