San Diego Museum of Man - Footsteps Through Time

Timestone 8
2.3 to 1.3 million years ago
Australopithecus boisei

Discovery of the "Zinj" specimen in 1959 was a critical event in paleoanthropology. It helped focus attention on East Africa as a rich source for early hominid discoveries.

A broad, flat face, prominent cheekbones, and a sagittal crest (bony ridge at the top of the skull) were the main characteristics of this species. The massive molars (four times the size of ours) and large premolars (bicuspids) were covered with thick enamel. This increased the chewing surface and strength of the grinding teeth. This line of hominids is not ancestral to our genus Homo, and eventually became extinct.

Cast of fossil skull
Australopithecus boisei-"Zinj" skull
Found at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, in Africa, in 1959 by Mary D. Leakey
Age: 1.75 million years

The Nutcracker Man

Australopithecus boisei was named the "Nutcracker Man" because the huge teeth and jaws had great crushing capabilities. This australopithecine was able to crack hard, fibrous foods, such as tubers and nuts.