Australopithecus sediba: Hominin #7 - 1/88 Limited Edition

Format: 2160 x 2160 px - MP4 Looping video - 150 dpi

This Hominin bust by the Smithsonian paleoartist John Gurche is built slowly with clay over a cast or 3D print of an ancient skull, from which a silicone mold is taken and the face painted into the mold. Acrylic eyes, and bear or human hair implanted manually and individually.

Materials: clay, casting, 3D printing, silicone, acrylic, paint, bear hair, human hair.

Medium: digital photography, post-production coloring, animation.

In many ways this late species of Australopithecus, dated to 1.98 million years old, resembles the anatomy of A. africanus, but it also shares intriguing features with members of the genus Homo not found in any other australopith. Two partial skeletons show a mix of Australopithecus-like and Homo-like features. Homo-like adaptations include a nose that projects slightly from the face, unlike any other australopith, and precision grip capabilities in the hand useful in toolmaking. A biped on the ground, it still retained powerful climbing muscles. Evidence thus far suggests elongated legs for A. sediba, but more complete leg bones are needed.

What we see here, and the picture will likely change with new finds, are signs of an adaptive shift, as hominins expanded their foraging behaviors, in some lineages, leading to consumption of higher quality foods, including meat. This would result in increased selection for elongated legs, projecting noses and features related to long-distance running and walking.

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