Name: The search for humanity's roots
Uploaded: 2007-09-18T07:00:00Z
Duration: 15 min 37 s
Description: Paleoanthropologist Zeresenay Alemseged looks for the roots of humanity in Ethiopia's badlands. Here he talks about finding the oldest skeleton of a humanoid child -- and how Africa holds the clues to our humanity.

Paleoanthropologist Zeresenay Alemseged looks for the roots of humanity in Ethiopia's badlands. Here he talks about finding the oldest skeleton of a humanoid child -- and how Africa holds the clues to our humanity.

Zeresenay Alemseged: The search for humanity's roots

The search for humanity's roots

Discovering Selam, a 3-year-old from 3.3 million years ago, unveils how early humans looked and lived, blending ape-like and human traits.

Selam's brain growth at age three reveals the emergence of 'childhood,' a hallmark of complex social structures in early humans.

A 3.3-million-year-old skeleton reveals early human childhood and social structures evolved over three million years ago.