John Hawks
@johnhawks.net
Paleoanthropologist | Chair and Professor of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin–Madison 🧪🏺💀https://www.johnhawks.net
Ancestors around the table can try anyone's patience
November 27, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Ancestors around the table can try anyone's patience
We saw these from home last night but it turns out my office had an even better view. Wonderful aurora photo by Xiaomeng Shen in front of the Carillon tower and Social Sciences Building at @uwmadison.bsky.social
November 12, 2025 at 8:59 PM
We saw these from home last night but it turns out my office had an even better view. Wonderful aurora photo by Xiaomeng Shen in front of the Carillon tower and Social Sciences Building at @uwmadison.bsky.social
Great day yesterday sharing fossil hominins with more than a hundred sixth-graders here in Madison. I was able to tell them that—even though many are extinct today—our fossil relatives had families, they came from many parts of the world, and they came in all colors that today's people do. #inktober
October 31, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Great day yesterday sharing fossil hominins with more than a hundred sixth-graders here in Madison. I was able to tell them that—even though many are extinct today—our fossil relatives had families, they came from many parts of the world, and they came in all colors that today's people do. #inktober
The D3444 calvaria was uncovered at Dmanisi, Georgia, in 2002. The individual represented by this cranium lived sometime around 1.77 million years ago, and most scientists attribute the fossil to Homo erectus. The individual had lost nearly all teeth at the time of death. #inktober
October 30, 2025 at 2:38 PM
The D3444 calvaria was uncovered at Dmanisi, Georgia, in 2002. The individual represented by this cranium lived sometime around 1.77 million years ago, and most scientists attribute the fossil to Homo erectus. The individual had lost nearly all teeth at the time of death. #inktober
The skull from near Herto, Ethiopia, BOU-VP-16/1 represents a person who lived sometime between 162,000 and 147,000 years ago. The skull bears two cutmarks on the right parietal and temporal, suggesting that other individuals may have conducted mortuary practices upon his death. #inktober
October 29, 2025 at 9:34 PM
The skull from near Herto, Ethiopia, BOU-VP-16/1 represents a person who lived sometime between 162,000 and 147,000 years ago. The skull bears two cutmarks on the right parietal and temporal, suggesting that other individuals may have conducted mortuary practices upon his death. #inktober
The rockshelter at La Ferrassie in the Dordogne of southern France contained the remains of several Neanderthals. The most complete of the skeletons was La Ferrassie 1, who lived an estimated 70,000 to 50,000 years ago. His body like the others was buried, likely by members of his group. #inktober
October 28, 2025 at 2:11 PM
The rockshelter at La Ferrassie in the Dordogne of southern France contained the remains of several Neanderthals. The most complete of the skeletons was La Ferrassie 1, who lived an estimated 70,000 to 50,000 years ago. His body like the others was buried, likely by members of his group. #inktober
KNM-WT 17000 is one of the most iconic skulls in the hominin fossil record due to its natural manganese staining, rendering it as the Black Skull. At around 2.5 million years old it is one of the first with pronounced large jaw musculature that would characterize big-molared Paranthropus. #inktober
October 27, 2025 at 7:30 PM
KNM-WT 17000 is one of the most iconic skulls in the hominin fossil record due to its natural manganese staining, rendering it as the Black Skull. At around 2.5 million years old it is one of the first with pronounced large jaw musculature that would characterize big-molared Paranthropus. #inktober
The skull known as OH 5 was first uncovered by Mary Leakey in 1959, soon became the type fossil of the species Zinjanthropus boisei. Around 1.75 million years old, I'm sure that this individual would have loved pumpkins if they had existed in Africa at the time. #inktober
October 26, 2025 at 11:04 PM
The skull known as OH 5 was first uncovered by Mary Leakey in 1959, soon became the type fossil of the species Zinjanthropus boisei. Around 1.75 million years old, I'm sure that this individual would have loved pumpkins if they had existed in Africa at the time. #inktober
Great to still have the peak of fall color happening in Wisconsin as I get back from the other side of the planet.
October 26, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Great to still have the peak of fall color happening in Wisconsin as I get back from the other side of the planet.
The fossil sample from Sterkfontein Caves, South Africa, is one of the largest known of human relatives. Sts 71 (left) and StW 505 (right) are close to the extremes of cranial size of fossils from the site that are usually attributed to Australopithecus africanus. #inktober
October 26, 2025 at 12:51 AM
The fossil sample from Sterkfontein Caves, South Africa, is one of the largest known of human relatives. Sts 71 (left) and StW 505 (right) are close to the extremes of cranial size of fossils from the site that are usually attributed to Australopithecus africanus. #inktober
Marcel de Puydt and Max Lohest excavated in the Grotte de Spy, discovering partial skeletons of Neandertals in 1886 including this one, Spy 1. It the first time that Neandertal skeletal remains were recorded in stratigraphic context, keeping associated artifacts and animal bones together. #inktober
October 24, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Marcel de Puydt and Max Lohest excavated in the Grotte de Spy, discovering partial skeletons of Neandertals in 1886 including this one, Spy 1. It the first time that Neandertal skeletal remains were recorded in stratigraphic context, keeping associated artifacts and animal bones together. #inktober
The skull numbered KNM-WT 40000 was first found by Justus Erus in 1999 and is between 3.57 and 3.4 million years old. While broken and distorted, some aspects of its face are different from other contemporary species, leading Meave Leakey and coworkers to name it Kenyanthropus platyops. #inktober
October 23, 2025 at 8:06 PM
The skull numbered KNM-WT 40000 was first found by Justus Erus in 1999 and is between 3.57 and 3.4 million years old. While broken and distorted, some aspects of its face are different from other contemporary species, leading Meave Leakey and coworkers to name it Kenyanthropus platyops. #inktober
The most iconic cranial fossil from Krapina, Croatia, is Cranium C, which represents a female adult Neandertal individual who lived approximately 120,000 years ago. This and other remains were excavated by Dragutin Gorjanović-Kramberger from 1899 to 1905. #inktober
October 22, 2025 at 9:32 AM
The most iconic cranial fossil from Krapina, Croatia, is Cranium C, which represents a female adult Neandertal individual who lived approximately 120,000 years ago. This and other remains were excavated by Dragutin Gorjanović-Kramberger from 1899 to 1905. #inktober
Sima de los Huesos, Spain, contains the remains of more than 27 individuals of an early Neanderthal population, estimated to be around 430,000 years old. Cranium 5 is one of the most complete known so far from the site; it is also the smallest of 15 with estimated brain sizes. #inktober
October 20, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Sima de los Huesos, Spain, contains the remains of more than 27 individuals of an early Neanderthal population, estimated to be around 430,000 years old. Cranium 5 is one of the most complete known so far from the site; it is also the smallest of 15 with estimated brain sizes. #inktober
Bernard Vandermeersch and Ofer Bar-Yosef led excavation at Qafzeh Cave in 1967 when the burials of two skeletons were uncovered. Oafzeh 9 is an adult found in a flexed position, with the Qafzeh 10 child skeleton at its feet. Both lived sometime between 100,000 and 90,000 years ago. #inktober
October 19, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Bernard Vandermeersch and Ofer Bar-Yosef led excavation at Qafzeh Cave in 1967 when the burials of two skeletons were uncovered. Oafzeh 9 is an adult found in a flexed position, with the Qafzeh 10 child skeleton at its feet. Both lived sometime between 100,000 and 90,000 years ago. #inktober
Sts 5 from Sterkfontein, South Africa was considered to be likely a female individual by Robert Broom, who discovered it in 1947. He named the fossil Plesianthropus transvaaensis. Today most scientist consider it to be Australopithecus africanus. #inktober
October 18, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Sts 5 from Sterkfontein, South Africa was considered to be likely a female individual by Robert Broom, who discovered it in 1947. He named the fossil Plesianthropus transvaaensis. Today most scientist consider it to be Australopithecus africanus. #inktober
In 1969, a farmer named Towikromo in central Java was plowing his land and unearthed this fossil skull, known as Sangiran 17 the most complete known of Homo erectus from Sangiran, Indonesia. This individual lived sometime between 790,000 and 900,000 years ago. #inktober
October 17, 2025 at 3:44 PM
In 1969, a farmer named Towikromo in central Java was plowing his land and unearthed this fossil skull, known as Sangiran 17 the most complete known of Homo erectus from Sangiran, Indonesia. This individual lived sometime between 790,000 and 900,000 years ago. #inktober
Any day working in a cave is a great day! Especially when the weather topside is hot, dry, and windy. Cool air underground is a great relief! This is one of the many cave sites within the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site near Johannesburg, South Africa.
October 16, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Any day working in a cave is a great day! Especially when the weather topside is hot, dry, and windy. Cool air underground is a great relief! This is one of the many cave sites within the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site near Johannesburg, South Africa.
Bernard Ngeneo found the first pieces of this skull, KNM-ER 1470, in July of 1972. Sieving from the site produced more than a hundred fragments, which Meave Leakey and Alan Walker reconstructed. The skull came from sediments now thought to be between 1.95 and 2.03 million years in age. #inktober
October 16, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Bernard Ngeneo found the first pieces of this skull, KNM-ER 1470, in July of 1972. Sieving from the site produced more than a hundred fragments, which Meave Leakey and Alan Walker reconstructed. The skull came from sediments now thought to be between 1.95 and 2.03 million years in age. #inktober
KNM-ER 1813 is a skull that scientists have usually attributed to Homo habilis. It was found in 1973 by the famous fossil hunter Kamoya Kimeu, one of his many significant discoveries. The skull is around 1.9 million years old. #inktober
October 15, 2025 at 4:33 PM
KNM-ER 1813 is a skull that scientists have usually attributed to Homo habilis. It was found in 1973 by the famous fossil hunter Kamoya Kimeu, one of his many significant discoveries. The skull is around 1.9 million years old. #inktober
Sorry today to hear about the death of Drew Struzan. He was probably the artist that was most globally well-known without most people knowing his name. He invented an entire style of art, which just like the movies themselves, borrowed from everywhere and became part of our whole culture.
October 15, 2025 at 5:59 AM
Sorry today to hear about the death of Drew Struzan. He was probably the artist that was most globally well-known without most people knowing his name. He invented an entire style of art, which just like the movies themselves, borrowed from everywhere and became part of our whole culture.
On the left is the well-known SK 48, and on the right the more fragmented and lesser-known SK 52, both from Swartkrans, South Africa and attributed to Paranthropus robustus. The two individuals lived in the time between 2.1 and 1.8 million years ago. #inktober
October 14, 2025 at 9:36 PM
On the left is the well-known SK 48, and on the right the more fragmented and lesser-known SK 52, both from Swartkrans, South Africa and attributed to Paranthropus robustus. The two individuals lived in the time between 2.1 and 1.8 million years ago. #inktober
Dorothy Garrod directed excavation of the Tabun Cave from 1929 until 1934, and the workers found a partial skeleton of an individual generally considered today as Neanerthal. #inktober
October 13, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Dorothy Garrod directed excavation of the Tabun Cave from 1929 until 1934, and the workers found a partial skeleton of an individual generally considered today as Neanerthal. #inktober
The first images of this skull, KNM-ER 406, published by Richard Leakey in 1976 included one from this overhead angle, showing the enormous gaps to accommodate temporal muscles for powerful chewing. The skull represents Paranthropus boisei, and lived around 1.65 million years ago. #inktober
October 12, 2025 at 11:58 AM
The first images of this skull, KNM-ER 406, published by Richard Leakey in 1976 included one from this overhead angle, showing the enormous gaps to accommodate temporal muscles for powerful chewing. The skull represents Paranthropus boisei, and lived around 1.65 million years ago. #inktober
AL 444-2 is one of the most complete skulls attributed to Australopithecus afarensis. Around 3.2 million years old, this skull was found in 1992 by Yoel Rak. Its jaw is one of the largest and thickest known for the species, and its brain size at around 550 ml the largest. #inktober
October 11, 2025 at 4:00 PM
AL 444-2 is one of the most complete skulls attributed to Australopithecus afarensis. Around 3.2 million years old, this skull was found in 1992 by Yoel Rak. Its jaw is one of the largest and thickest known for the species, and its brain size at around 550 ml the largest. #inktober