BECOMING HUMAN

Becoming Human

Forget those genealogy sites. This is the real source for researching your family tree. The site focuses on a 30-minute documentary in which Donald Johanson--finder of the famed Lucy fossil--reviews four million years of human evolution. Along the way, visitors can depart from the tour for more in-depth information on a range of topics in paleoanthropology: they can explore a virtual archaeological dig in Ethiopia, read about reconstruction techniques, eavesdrop on scientific debates involving human evolution and study virtual fossils of many of our key ancestors. In addition, a News and Views section updates ongoing developments in the field and features expert-authored essays in response to readers' questions. And a Resources area of the site hosts related links, an extensive bibliography and a glossary.

Neanderthals and Modern Humans - A Regional Guide

Neanderthals haven't walked the planet for tens of thousands of years. But when new findings about them are discovered, that often make headlines news¿and no wonder. As this site explains, in areas of Europe, Neanderthals and modern humans coexisted for some time before the modern humans supplanted, or perhaps absorbed, the Neanderthals. Exactly what happened? This site sheds light on that intriguing mystery with information about the evidence that's been collected to date, grouped by region.

The Cave of Lascaux

The Cave of Lascaux, whose walls and ceilings are covered with strikingly beautiful, fragile prehistoric paintings of animals, has been off-limits to all visitors but researchers since 1963. Now you can make a virtual visit to this world-renowned paleoanthropological marvel via the slide shows on this well-constructed French-government site.

Dino Russ's Lair: Dinosaur and Vertebrate Paleontology Information

Web links: we can't get enough of them. That's one of the reasons we enjoy Russell J. Jacobson's Lair, which starts right off with a comprehensive compendium of links to useful (or just plain fun) sites on dinosaurs and other prehistoric vertebrates. The extensive and fully annotated offerings cater to all ages and levels of interest in the always-fascinating megafauna of old.

Atapuerca: a Human Heritage Site

Buried in the limestone strata underlying the Sierra de Atapuerca, a small hill in northern Spain, are some of the best-preserved skeletal remains and tools left by two ancient hominid species Homo antecessor (800,000 years before present) and H. heidelbergensis (300,000 years before present). At this Web site, you can take a thorough and entertaining virtual tour of the excavation and learn about its findings.

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