Close to the Missing Link -- Oldest Human Ancestor Discovered

Newly discovered species is close to "missing link" and provides more compelling proof of human evolution

If there's one thing that recent paleontological discoveries have taught us, it's to expect the unexpected. A recently discovered miniature T. Rex predecessor cast doubt on many theories, including the idea that T. Rex evolved its bizarre proportions (small arms, huge legs) over time (its ancestor had them too) and that it was a scavenger (the mini-Rex was fast and ideally suited for hunting).

Now an equally appealing discovery had been made. Scientists excavating in the dusty Middle Awash region of Ethiopia have unearthed an amazingly complete skeleton of a new species of hominid -- an ancestor to modern man -- which they have named Ardipithecus ramidus, nicknamed "Ardi".

The find began in 1994 with the unearthing of a hominid hand. One and a half decades later, Ardi was revealed in her full form, a skeleton consisting of over 125 bone pieces. Among the most complete hominid skeletons found to date, Ardi is approximately 4.4 million years old, 1.2 million years older than the famous "Lucy" (Australopithecus afarensis) skeleton. Ardi is in fact the oldest hominid found to date.

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