Zinjanthropus Male Skull Replica

Description

Zinjanthropus Male Skull Replica measures 8.8 x 6.3 x 7.4  inches. Zinjanthropus Male Skull Replica is a museum-quality polyurethane resin cast of original specimen. 2-part skull (separate cranium and mandible). 1:1 scale. Made in USA.

Zinjanthropus or Australopithecus boisei was an early hominin, described as the largest of the genus Paranthropus (robust australopithecines). It lived in Eastern Africa during the Pleistocene epoch from about 2.4 until about 1.4 million years ago.

Zinjanthropus or Australopithecus boisei was first discovered by anthropologist Mary Leakey on July 17, 1959, at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, the well-preserved cranium (nicknamed “Nutcracker Man”) was dated to 1.75 million years ago and had characteristics distinctive of the robust australopithecines.

The 1.75 Ma age estimate comes from potassium-argon dating of anorthoclase crystals found in a  volcanic ash bed overlying the stratigraphic horizon where the skull was found. It was the deposition of the pyroclastic ash flow from a nearby volcanic eruption that buried the former owner of the skull at his living site and likely killed him.

Australopithecus boisei as the species was eventually categorized, using Robert Broom’s 1938 definition of its genus proved to be a treasure, especially when the anthropologists’ son Richard Leakey suggested it was the first hominin species to use stone tools.

Scientific Classification

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Mammalia
• Order: Primates
• Suborder: Haplorhini
• Infraorder: Simiiformes
• Family: Hominidae
• Subfamily: Homininae
• Genus: †Paranthropus
• Species: †P. boisei
• Binomial name: †Paranthropus boisei
• Conservation Status: Extinct