Ideas change everything

A dig for humanity's origins

945,974 plays|

Louise Leakey |

TED2008

• February 2008

Louise Leakey asks, "Who are we?" The question takes her to the Rift Valley in Eastern Africa, where she digs for the evolutionary origins of humankind -- and suggests a stunning new vision of our competing ancestors.

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Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

Louise Leakey asks, "Who are we?" The question takes her to the Rift Valley in Eastern Africa, where she digs for the evolutionary origins of humankind -- and suggests a stunning new vision of our competing ancestors.

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

This talk was presented at an official TED conference.

Read our curation guidelines.

Attend a field school in Kenya to learn about archaeology, paleontology and human origins.

About the speaker

Paleoanthropologist

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Louise Leakey hunts for hominid fossils in East Africa, in the family tradition.

Learn more

A blast to the archaeological past

Find out more about the fossils of the Turkana Basin in an interactive online tour. Even 3D print or laser cut the ancient remains for yourself.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference.

Read our curation guidelines.

Attend a field school in Kenya to learn about archaeology, paleontology and human origins.