Not lost anymore: 'Missing Link' found

  • 14 years ago

The so-called 'missing link' in human evolution has been found in Africa.

With long arms like an ape and a well developed pelvis for walking upright, the almost complete skeletons are being hailed as a new link in our development.

The skeletons were revealed at the Cradle of Humankind in Maropeng 40km from Johannesburg. Both will be displayed for public viewing at the Cradle for the next few days.

The two fossils of a young male and a young female were discovered by a team from the University of Witwatersrand.

Professor Lee Berger called this a ground breaking discovery: "They represent a completely new and unexpected species of human ancestry."

South African President Kgalema Motlanthe said the discovery strengthens the claim that the human race originates from Africa.

He said the find adds: "Another page in the largely unwritten record of our origins."

The University has opened a competition for the children of South Africa to name the male skeleton.

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