Hominids

Hominids, from the Hominidae family of primates, are bipedal primates (animals). The Hominids appeared before modern humans. Several species have been discovered from ancient bones. All Hominid species have gone extinct. While Hominids share upright walking (bipedalism) with anatomically modern humans, many other features are very different.

Modern Humans (Homo sapiens sapiens)

For comparison, Modern Human traits are listed here: large cranial capacity (~1300-1350 cc), a vertical forehead, a distinct chin, reduced brow ridges, and a smaller, flatter face compared to those of earlier hominins. Humans have a lighter postcranial skeleton, very unique bipedalism (able to do dance and gymnastics), complex symbolic culture, and advanced cognitive abilities. Humans have less robust bone structure than Hominids. Humans have forward-facing big toes and artistic and religious expression. In the past, Modern Humans were labeled by science as "tool makers." We now know that this past label was incorrect. Hominids, Apes, New Caledonian Crows, and to a lesser degree, Dolphins are now known used tools, to a lesser degree than all Humans. The Bible has stated for 3,500 years that what sets humans apart is that Humans are created in the "Image of God". This is defined as Humans having a "spirit" that animals lack. This spirit is shown in artistic and religious expression. Only humans have moral concerns and think about life after death. Also see Human Origin page Human Uniqueness page

Humans are different than all other living things, past or present, as we have the Image of God. See the Image of God page for details.

All Modern Humans, Homo sapiens sapiens, have thin bones and muscles. All Hominids have thick bones and muscles, same as all the Apes.

Why would God make Hominids? There were no Hominids in Australia or the Americas. When humans arrived, they were able to kill all the large animals there, as these animals had never encountered bipedal hunters. In places such as Africa, animals had already learned to flee from bipedal hunters, hominins. It is also noted that, by killing off large animals in Australia and the Americas, humans later lacked the animals they needed to support the development of high-technology civilizations. Early Australia and the Americas did not even invent the wheel, as they lacked the animals to pull wheel carts. See Nephesh life page

Hominids: The term "archaic" Homo sapiens refers to thick-boned hominids, which are not like modern humans.

Neanderthals

Neanderthals are bi-pedal primate animals. Late Neanderthals coexisted with humans. Human works have been attributed to them. Neanderthals are very different from Humans. Neanderthals had very large sinuses, a large barrel-shaped chest, short arms, heavy thicker bones, a different braincase, different ear bones, a large browridge on their skull, a wider pelvis, and more. There is no evidence of making clothes. Neanderthal technology did not change over their entire time span, ~243,000 to 40,000 years ago (only sticks and rocks, similar to chimpanzees). Because they are so anatomically different from humans, Neanderthals are not the “missing link” between bipedal primates and humans. The large-brain evolution hypothesis has been falsified by the discovery of early hominins with larger brains than later hominin fossils. Neanderthals had a larger brain case, but this was to support the large muscles in their bodies. There are about 20 to 30 skeleton specimens that are considered mostly complete, with about 400 individual Neanderthal fossils with partial fragments.

Between about 60,000 and 40,000 years ago, Neanderthals and humans coexisted in the same region. Neanderthals went extinct about 40,000 years ago. Some estimates suggest a shorter overlap of the coexistence. During this period, there were numerous cultural and technological exchanges; some Neanderthal sites exhibit advanced technologies in their final years, through contact with modern humans. Some have claimed that Neanderthals developed these cultural and technological skills. This is not supported by the data and these claims are disputed. If a chimp today took a boy's wooden slingshot, and we later found that the chimp was dead in the woods with it. Would anyone conclude that the chimp made and used it? This is what all the evidence about Neanderthal technology is. Note: From ~243,000 to ~60,000 years ago, Neanderthals lived without humans around. During this period, the only technology Neanderthals possessed was sticks and rocks, similar to those of modern apes but slightly more advanced. From ~60,000 to 40,000 years ago, Neanderthal lived in the same place and time as humans, thus all the “ evidence” for Neanderthal technology is after ~60,000. So, either Neanderthals stole or were given human technology.

I have found bias in people working to make Neanderthals more human than they are, claiming they are the same as humans with: art, music, clothes, and more. All this “evidence” is within the overlapping time span.

Neanderthals and Interbreeding: Genetic analysis suggests that Neanderthals and modern humans interbred, leaving Neanderthal DNA ( about 1–3%. DNA) in the genomes of modern non-African populations. The problem is that, if this is true, there should be some Neanderthal traits appearing as recessive genes in non-African populations. We see none, no persons with larger sinuses, a more barrel-shaped chest, a different braincase, with a larger browridge, with a wider pelvis, with short arms, with heavier and thicker bones. None of the Neanderthal traits show up. So, what is with Neanderthal DNA in humans? It turns out that humans have more than just Neanderthal DNA in their code. Up to 50% of yeast genes have a counterpart in the human genome; we have not interbred with yeast. Humans and daffodils share about 35% of their DNA; we have not interbred with daffodils. Cats and humans share 90% gene similarity, dogs and humans is 84%. It is not known whether there was Interbreeding, as Neanderthals are substantially different from humans. Chimpanzees, orangutans, and gorillas share very similar DNA, yet they are so anatomically different that they cannot interbreed. Neanderthals and modern humans are so anatomically different that they cannot interbreed. Just because a little bit of DNA matches does not mean there was interbreeding.

Homo Erectus

Homo erectus is a bipedal primate animal, a hominid. Homo erectus did not coexist with humans. Homo erectus appeared about 2 million years ago and went extinct in Indonesia about 100,000 years ago. Homo erectus is very different from Humans. Homo erectus had a small brain capacity (900-950 cc), a robust, stocky body, very thick bones, a longer skull, prominent brow ridges, no chin, a large jaw, and a projecting face, thick skull bones, longer legs, shorter arms, a heavily muscled physique, and a sloping forehead. Homo erectus' development was ape-like. There is no evidence of making clothes. Homo erectus existed for 1.6 million years. Homo erectus technology did not change over their entire time span (sticks and rocks). The entire history of Homo Erectus is built on about 300 very fragmented fossils, including teeth and partial skulls. Homo erectus is not a “missing link” between bipedal primates. Has a small brain. Found many parts: teeth, jawbones, skull pieces. Are about 5 feet tall. Exceptionally thick bones. Turkana Boy is the only skeleton. Homo erectus lived from about 1.9–2 million years ago to about 110,000. With a small brain. Found many parts: teeth, jawbones, skull pieces. Are about 5 feet tall. Exceptionally thick bones. Turkana Boy is the only skeleton. ("Hobbit") skeletal remains, parts of up to 15 individuals in Indonesia. On nearly complete skeletonsabout 100,000 years ago. A chimpanzee has a brain size and is about 3 feet tall. A Hominid.

Australopithecus afarensis - Lucy and the Dikika child

The Lucy find, an Australopithecus afarensis specimen, is dated to approximately 3.2 million years ago. Lucy was found in Ethiopia. Lucy's skeleton comprises 47 of 207 bones, including parts of the arms, legs, spine, ribs, and pelvis (40% complete). Brain size is about 385-550 a chimpanzee-sized brain, with a projecting face. Australopithecus afarensis lived from 3.7 to 3.0 million years ago. Australopithecus afarensis survived for about 700,000 years. About 300 to 400 individual Australopithecus afarensis fragmented fossils have been found, including "Dikika child", which is about 60% of a complete skeleton. A Hominid.

Skhul and Qafzeh cave bones, ~100,000–130,000-year-old, Mount Carmel and Galilee, Israel. Archaic features. Large, thick skull bones, robust skeletons, massive brow ridges, and broad, large-molar jaws. With 27 individuals (including eight partial skeletons). A Hominid.

Herto Remains Ethiopia ~160,000 years ago, robust bones, but not a neanderthal. Three partial skulls and parts of up to 12. A Hominid.

Apidima Cave Greece ~210,000, archaic traits, like thick bones, not a modern human. Two partial skulls. Parts of up to 6. A Hominid.

Florisbad Skull: 259,000 years ago: Heavily built skull. A single fragmentary skull. A Hominid.

Jebel Irhoud in Morocco dating back approximately 300,000 years. Has an archaic braincase, Not a human brain. Parts of up to five individuals, including parts of elongated skulls, jawbones, teeth, and limb bones. A Hominid.

Denisovans small handful of fossil fragments, no complete skeletons. from 300,000 - 146,000 years ago. Robust, thick-boned, heavy brow ridges with large brain. One skull the “Dragon Man” from 146,000 year ago.

Homo heidelbergensis (from about 700,000 to 300,000 years ago, had exceptionally thick, robust bones. Very Neanderthal-like. Had powerful, muscular build. Up to 28 separate individuals found. One complete skull "Miguelón") and one complete pelvis. Others are parts teeth, jaws, and limb bones. A Hominid.

Omo Bones from Ethiopia. ~233,000 years old. Omo skull is too fragmented to determine an exact brain size. Thick bones are not identical to humans today. Found a partial skeleton (Omo I) withpart of a skull, limbs, and vertebrae. (Omo II), two partial skulls, four jaws. A Hominid.

Homo habilis ape-like long arms and a small statureis from East and South Africa about 2.4 million years ago.

Ardi hominid 6-million-year-old femur. (Ardipithecus ramidus) 60 small fragments of ape-like thick bones. A Hominid.

Ref:

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38. https://archaeologymag.com/2025/12/lucy-may-not-have-been-our-direct-human-ancestor/ New fossil evidence suggests that “Lucy” may not have been our direct human ancestor after all by Dario Radley December 23, 2025

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