This object is part of the Education and Outreach collection, some of which are in the Q?rius science education center and available to see.
Geologic Age:
Pliocene
Notes:
Red/brown plaster cast skull of "Taung Child," from the species Australopithecus africanus. This 3-year-old child's skull is the first early human skull ever discovered in Africa. The age was determined using the Taung Child?s first molars that had only just begun to erupt through the gum and become visible as teeth, indicating that the fossilized jaw belongs to a child. Closer analysis of dental development, crown formation, and root length has estimated the child?s age at death at 3.3 years. Portions of the cranium and mandible are present. All teeth are present indicated in light gray; black represents missing pieces. "Taung Child" is about 2.8 million years old.