2006 wilkie memorial lecture

Distinguished Lecture in Human Origins Studies

Professor David Lordkipanidze

Director of the National Museum, Republic of Georgia

“The First Humans Outside of Africa: Evidence at 1.8 Million Years Ago from Dmanisi, Republic of Georgia"

Wednesday, November 8th, 2006, 12:00 Noon Whittenberger Auditorium, Indiana Memorial Union, IU Bloomington

Sponsored by the Stone Age Institute

David Lordkipanidze spoke on the fantastic site of Dmanisi in the Republic of Georgia (between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea) that has revolutionized our ideas about the spread of hominids out of Africa. As the paleoanthropologist directing the Dmanisi project and excavations, he and his international team of scientists are providing exciting new fossil discoveries showing surprisingly early occupation of Eurasia by 1.8 million years ago. Several complete hominid skulls have already been excavated, showing their primitive nature (with brains about half the size of modern humans) and a remarkable range of variation among individuals. This site has also produced thousands of fossil animal bones of extinct species and primitive stone tools.

For more information on Professor Lordkipanidze and his research at this important and fascinating site, please visit:

http://www.dmanisi.org.ge/ (Dmanisi Project web site)