How Do We Know That The Early Man Appeared About 3 Million Years Ago ?

Around 3 million years ago, the higher primates, including the Apes and the early man, first appeared. Apes and humans, however, differed in many ways. Humans like hominids could stand upright. Apes could not do so. Their hand were also different. The hands of Apes were made for climbing and clinging. You might wonder as to how we know about these hominids who lived over 3 million years  ago.

In 1974, a skeleton was found on Africa. The bones were those of a young female,   who must have been approximately 20 years old when she died. Scientists name this "young lady" Lucy. About 3 million years ago , when Lucy was alive, she was rather short , about 4 feet tall, and probably weighed about 50 pounds. Her brain was about the size of an orange. Her bones showed that she probably walked erect, although that she still had the ability to climb trees easily. There was was no signs of broken bones or teeth marks. Scientists suspect that she probably fell into a lake or river and got drowned.