Skip to content
National Geographic logo
  • Donate
  • account icon
    Account
  • Menu
  • Close
  • Account

National Geographic Headquarters
1145 17th Street NW
Washington, DC 20036



Careers  |   Newsroom  |   Privacy Notice  |   Sustainability Policy  |   Terms of Service  |   Code of Ethics  |   Contact Us

National Geographic Society is a 501 (c)(3) organization. © 1996 - 2022 National Geographic Society. All rights reserved.

Donate Get Updates
Connect
Connect

Resource Library | Video

Resource Library
Video

Human Origins

Human Origins

The evolutionary line from apes to humans is not a straight one. Our ancestral tree is complicated, full off offshoots and deviations. Join Biological Anthropologist and National Geographic Emerging Explorer Marina Elliott as she squeezes through tiny passageways deep below the surface of South Africa in search of one of mankind’s closest relatives.

Grades

5 - 12+

Subjects

Anthropology, Archaeology, Biology, Geography, Human Geography, Social Studies, Ancient Civilizations

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Google Classroom
  • Email
  • Print
  • Credits

    Media Credits

    The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited.

    Web Producer

    André Gabrielli, National Geographic Society

  • User Permissions

    For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. They will best know the preferred format. When you reach out to them, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource.

    Media

    If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media.

    Text

    Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service.

    Interactives

    Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. You cannot download interactives.

Related Resources
  • Out of Eden Walk

    Paul Salopek, a National Geographic Fellow and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, is conducting an experiment in slow journalism by retracing the journey of some of our human ancestors’ migration beyond Africa. He began his multiyear journey in 2013 in Ethiopia, and will walk around 33,800 kilometers (21,000 miles) ending at the southern tip of South America. Along the way, he is walking with guides, stopping to speak with local people and document their stories, and sharing his experiences along the way.

    View Collection
  • Explorers Recommend

    Article. 2012 National Geographic Explorers recommend books for all ages.

    View Article
  • History and Branches of Anthropology

    Anthropology is the study of the origin and development of human societies and cultures.

    View Article
  • Explorers Recommend

    National Geographic explorers recommend books for young readers.

    View Article
Related Resources
  • Out of Eden Walk

    Paul Salopek, a National Geographic Fellow and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, is conducting an experiment in slow journalism by retracing the journey of some of our human ancestors’ migration beyond Africa. He began his multiyear journey in 2013 in Ethiopia, and will walk around 33,800 kilometers (21,000 miles) ending at the southern tip of South America. Along the way, he is walking with guides, stopping to speak with local people and document their stories, and sharing his experiences along the way.

    View Collection
  • Explorers Recommend

    Article. 2012 National Geographic Explorers recommend books for all ages.

    View Article
  • History and Branches of Anthropology

    Anthropology is the study of the origin and development of human societies and cultures.

    View Article
  • Explorers Recommend

    National Geographic explorers recommend books for young readers.

    View Article

National Geographic Headquarters
1145 17th Street NW
Washington, DC 20036



Careers  |   Newsroom  |   Privacy Notice  |   Sustainability Policy  |   Terms of Service  |   Code of Ethics  |   Contact Us

National Geographic Society is a 501 (c)(3) organization. © 1996 - 2022 National Geographic Society. All rights reserved.

Donate Get Updates
Connect
Connect
Educational Resources in Your Inbox

Join our community of educators and receive the latest information on National Geographic's resources for you and your students.

sign up

Educational Resources in Your Inbox

Join our community of educators and receive the latest information on National Geographic's resources for you and your students.
sign up