Reconstructed skull (left) of the fossil hominid Homo habilis (OH 24), & a cast of the crushed skull (right) as found in 1968 at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzan

---

Reconstructed skull (left) of the fossil hominid Homo habilis (OH 24), & a cast of the crushed skull (right) as found in 1968 at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. The expedition was led by Mary Leakey. In the foreground are fossil fragments which may be part of the original skull. Fossil evidence for Homo habilis recovered to date gives the species a wide distribution through Africa and a timespan dating from million to million years ago. The estimated mean brain size of the species is 750cc. H. habilis was found in association with stone tools, hence the common name 'handy man'.

---

Size: 3543px × 2795px
Photo credit: © JOHN READER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: anthropology, fossil, habilis, handy, hominid, hominids, hominin, homo, man, palaeoanthropology, palaeontology, paleoanthropology, paleontology