Human evolution is one of the mysteries of scientific world. It is being solved piece by piece with the help of fossil findings and genetic studies.

The development of the first primates dates back 70 million years. Monkey fossils found in Africa date back 20 million years.

The earlierst human ancestors lived in the savannas of Africa about five million years ago.

The spread of our ancestors from Africa to other continents began at a time when they had developed adaptations to cooler climates and seasonal variations.

There have been three main stages in human evolution:

• The southern ape of Africa (genus Australopithecus)
• Homo habilis and Homo erectus
• Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthalensis, as well as many other extinct Homo species.

Stages of human evolution. Australopithecus is known as the southern ape of Africa. Neanderthal humans lived at the same time as modern humans, before becoming extinct.