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Approximate age:6,800,000 years old=average of minimum (6.4 Ma) and maximum (7.2 Ma)

Date based on: Biochronology See map of sites with similar ages

Dating reference:

Hominids: Sahelanthropus tchadensis      

Archaeology:      

Important specimens: Toumai, Sahelanthropus tchadensis cranium

Notes: Site of Sahelanthropus tchadensis. "The rich fauna from TM 266 includes a significant aquatic component such as fish, crocodiles and amphibious mammals, alongside animals associated with gallery forest and savannah, such as primates, rodents, elephants, equids and bovids. The fauna suggests a biochronological age between 6 and 7 million years." Vignaud et al. Article Nature 418, 152-155 (11 July 2002) | doi:10.1038/nature00880

Location: Toros-Menalla, Chad
Map location/coordinates reference:

Key references: Brunet, M. Two new Mio-Pliocene Chadian hominids enlighten Charles Darwin's 1871 prediction. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B, 365(1556), 3315-3321. Abstract The idea of an evolutionary sequence for humans is quite recent. Over the last 150 years, we have discovered unexpected ancestors, numerous close relatives and our deep evolutionary roots in Africa. In the last decade, three Late Miocene hominids have been described, two about 6 Ma (Ardipithecus and Orrorin) in East Africa and the third dated to about 7 Ma (Sahelanthropus) in Central Africa. The specimens are too few to propose definite relationship to other species, but clearly these belong to a new evolutive grade distinct from Australopithecus and Homo. Moreover, all of them were probably habitual bipeds and lived in woodlands, thus falsifying the savannah hypothesis of human origins. In light of all this recent knowledge, Charles Darwin predicted correctly in 1871 that Africa is the birthplace of humans, chimpanzees and our close relatives.