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Developed in partnership with

Origins: Fossils from the Cradle of Humankind may be closed, but that doesn’t mean you’ll miss out! Explore this site to experience additional content and resources or see the exhibition for the first time using the Google 360 Tour.

Journey to South Africa to explore what National Geographic described as “one of the greatest fossil discoveries of the past half century.” Come get face-to-face with our ancient ancestors and uncover traits we share and those that make us different. Along the way, you’ll uncover the remarkable tales of the dedicated scientists making these groundbreaking discoveries and the questions that continue to inspire them. Their stories – and those of these ancient fossils – will inspire your inner explorer to dig deep into our common past and reflect on what it means to be human.

Meet our Ancestors

Karabo

Age: 1.97 million years old
Genus/Species: Australopithecus sediba
Hometown: ~30 miles northwest of Joburg
Lifestyle: walking upright, climbing trees, and hanging and swinging from branches
Diet: softer foods like grasses, gritty tree bark, and fruit

Neo

Age: 335,000-236,000 years old
Genus/Species: Homo naledi
Hometown: ~35 miles northwest of Joburg
Lifestyle: walking upright, climbing trees, possibly working with or creating hand tools, and long walks
Diet: large amounts of small, hard objects, and possibly raw tubers (potatoes)

Making Headlines

The Perot Museum is proud to host the exclusive world premiere of Origins: Fossils from the Cradle of Humankind. With this being the first – and likely only – time these two specimens will ever leave South Africa, the exhibition is making worldwide headlines.

Two of our most famous human ancestors have arrived at the Perot. Here’s how they got here

Dallas Morning News

South African national treasures Homo naledi and Australopithecus sediba travel to the States

Wits University

These Are the Top 20 Scientific Discoveries of the Decade

National Geographic

The Top Ten Scientific Discoveries of the Decade

Smithsonian Magazine

Find more exciting stories about Origins on the Resource Page.

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Two of our most famous human ancestors have arrived at the Perot. Here’s how they got here.

Dallas Morning News
...

The Top Ten Scientific Discoveries of the Decade

Smithsonian Magazine
...

These Are the Top 20 Scientific Discoveries of the Decade

National Geographic
...

Homo naledi and Australopithecus sediba travel to the States

Wits University

Find more exciting stories about Origins on the Resource Page.

Making Discoveries

Truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore our shared human history.
One venue. One time.

Find more videos on our YouTube Channel.

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98 Feet below the surface

The exhibition also will showcase the collaboration and dedication demonstrated by a diverse, multinational scientific team of women and men, led by Professor Lee Berger of the University of the Witwatersrand. The team’s historic breakthroughs depict an inspiring tale of innovation, courage, and collaboration in the search for a deeper understanding of humankind’s shared ancestry. Their experiences also serve as an opportunity to encourage a spirit of curiosity and exploration to spark career inspiration in the next generation.

Learn more about research done at University of Witwatersrand

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Tools of the Trade

Tools of the trade have come a long way. While brushes, trowels, and chisels will always be part of their toolkit, archaeologists today have access to emerging technologies that have proven to be gamechangers in the realm of studying our ancient past.

Google Maps - Satellite view has made scouring a landscape for potential excavation sites something scientists can do from a computer.
LIDAR - Scientists can virtually capture extremely accurate and high resolution data of a landscape without ever having set foot on it.
High-resolution 3D scanning is used to catpure a detailed 3D image of a specimen so it can be studied without risk of damage.

What are they looking for?

There’s no bone too small to make a big impact. Scientists study different parts of ancient remains to help tell the different stories of our evolutionary journey.

Hand fossils help scientists understand if a specimen swung from tree branches or if they could use hand-held tools.
These remains help us understand brain capacity as well as what species a specimen belongs to.
Feet can inform whether a specimen walked upright on its two rear limbs or had the ability to walk long distances.

Dig Deeper

Take a closer look at our shared human journey with a collection of free resources.